Pete Azzole's On-line Library

These articles are based on the recorded oral history given by Captain Joseph Rochefort, USN -- a famous WW II cryptologist. He gained historical notoriety for his accomplishments as the CO of the signal intelligence unit at Pearl Harbor. Most notable was his unit's thorough forecast of enemy intentions and plans relative to Midway Island. This information resulted in massive damage to the Japanese Navy during the Battle of Midway, which turned the course of the war. The following are the titles of the articles in this series and their opening paragraphs. View/Download the Rochefort Series via the NCVA Homepage

A Successful Failure; Communications Intelligence and Pearl Harbor "..I have often said that an intelligence officer has one task, one job, one mission. This is to tell his commander, his superior, today, what the [enemies] are going to do tomorrow. This is his job. If he doesn’t do this, then he’s failed..." --Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN--

The Second Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor "...I just threw up my hands and said it might be a good idea to remind everybody concerned that this nation was at war..." --Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN--

Smoking Jackets, Felt Slippers and Cryptanalysis "...I started to wear a smoking jacket over the uniform and I wore this darn thing because it had pockets in it and I could get my pipe and my pouch this way. Then my feet got sore. . . so I started wearing slippers..." --Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN--

The Making of a "Cryppy" "...If you desire to be a really great cryptanalyst, being a little bit nuts helps. A cryptanalyst, from those that I have observed, is usually an odd character..." --Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN--

Leyte Gulf The Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines was perhaps the greatest sea battle in history. From the 23rd to the 26th of October 1944, 282 American and Japanese warships and 190,000 men engaged in every imaginable aspect of naval warfare. The US Navy sunk four Japanese carriers, three battleships, 10 cruisers and 11 destroyers. US losses were three carriers, three destroyers and one submarine. Although Captain Rochefort's comments on this action are sparse, they are interesting. For more information about naval action at Leyte Gulf, visit the site of Capt. Henry Doscher, USNR (Ret.).

The Battle of Midway -- June 1942 "...The atmosphere was very impersonal. . . Admiral Nimitz [would ask] me a question, and I would look over there and I would see four stars, and I would answer his question to the very best of my ability. . . he has the responsibility; along with this responsibility is this horrible thing of making a decision, which people not familiar with military operations never seem to understand. This is an awesome power to give somebody. . . he had bought what we had told him, very fortunately for this country..." --Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN--

View/Download the Rochefort Series via the NCVA Homepage NOTE: Copies of Captain Rochefort's oral history and that of cryptologist Captain Thomas Dyer are available for sale -- or readers may rent copies -- through the lending library of the United States Naval Institute.  For orders or further information please contact their website or write/call the History Division, U.S. Naval Institute, 118 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5035 telephone 410-268-6110.