Oakwood Unsung Heroes is pleased to partner with the National Cryptologic Museum and Wright Memorial Library in Oakwood, Ohio, to present the exhibit “Codebreakers: How Dayton Helped Win WWII.”
The exhibit includes rare codebreaking artifacts on loan from the museum, including an Enigma Analog machine, Bombe Rotor, and ephemera that tells the story of Joseph Desch, the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), and the rigorous yet secretive daily routine of decoding German war communication that ultimately changed the trajectory of WWII.
Interpretive panels, designed by Oakwood resident Lucy Davies, give context to the complicated process of encryption and decryption, and how Desch’s work gave leverage to U.S. military against the German enemy.
The idea for the exhibit originated with Andrew and Cheryl Lloyd, founders of Oakwood Unsung Heroes, a citizen’s group dedicated to raising awareness of Oakwood’s notable residents.
The Enigma Analog exhibit is now open to the public during library hours. Wright Library is located at 1776 Far Hills Avenue and is open 10 am – 9 p.m. M-F; 10 am to 5 p.m.Saturdays; and 1 pm to 5 pm Sundays.
This exhibit was made possible with support from the National Cryptologic Museum, a division of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service; Oakwood Unsung Heroes; National Aviation Heritage Area honoring Montgomery County as an American World War II Heritage designation; and the Wright Memorial Public Library Foundation.