Cryptologic Dates in History Calendar

"On This Date in Cryptologic History" Calendar

Learn about a wide variety of historical events related to cryptology, computers, math, cybersecurity, Intelligence, and more.

February 2026

This Month

Go to Previous Go to Next

Feb 1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1942: German Navy introduced 4-rotor Enigma	1962: Air Force Security Service began operations in South Vietnam	1945: Truck lost at Colmar, France causes theater-wide search		1973: EC-47 with the callsign Baron-52 shot down over Laos	1802: Sir Charles Wheatstone, cipher inventor, born.	1919: Lt. William Friedman left AEF G6A2 to return to U.S.
1942: FRUMEL established to assist General MacArthur	1462: Birthday of Johannes Trithemius	1963: Intercept operations began at Phu Bai		1969: USAF EC-47, "CAP 72," lost in Vietnam	1963: Genevieve Young Hitt, early U.S. female cryptologist, born in 1885 and died on 6 Feb 1963.	1943: Naval Security Station moved to Nebraska Ave.
1943: SIS began Venona Project				2010: Peter Calvocoressi died.		1960: Inventor Gilbert Vernam died.
1949: USAFSS received first cryptologic units from the ASA.				1944: Colossus activated by Bletchley Park.		1930: David Kahn, noted cryptologic historian was born.

8	9	10	11	12	13	14
1587: Mary, Queen of Scots, executed for treason.	1926: Enigma introduced into German Navy as Radio Key C.	1952: Inventor Edward Hebern died.	1970: RAND Corp published Ware Report	1944: Signing of King-Marshall Agreement		Sweetheart Codes
1941: First Americans visit Bletchley Park.		1962: Gary Francis Powers was Released After Spending 21 Months in a Soviet Prison.	Inventors' Day & the Wadsworth Cipher
		1943: Establishment of the 805th Signal Service Company for operation of the SIGSALY.

15	16	17	18	19	20	21
1946: The ENIAC computer begins operating.	1973: Ribbon-cutting for National SIGINT Operations Center (NSOC)	1960: Howard Engstrom - Exceptional Service	1933: Government seizure of cryptologist Herbert Yardley's "Japanese Diplomatic Secrets."		1939: Japanese first use of PURPLE	1846: Sarah G. Bagley became first female telegrapher.
President's Month OTD - DEC Alpha	1976: "Village Voice" Published Full Pike Report	1972: NSCID 6 established CSS.				1777: Benedict Arnold overlooked for promotion.

22	23	24	25	26	27	Feb 28
1996: Memorial Wall in OPS2B (at NSA) was dedicated.	1927: Radio Act of 1927.	1954: First NSA Historian - CAPT Thomas Dyer, USN	1863: US govt took control of commercial telegraphs during Civil War.	1881: Joseph Mauborgne, code & cipher expert, was born.		1917: President Wilson was informed of the contents of the Zimmermann telegram.
	1932: Boris Hagelin receives first cryptographic patent.	2001: Claude Shannon, cryptologic pioneer, died.		1981: NSA sponsored exhibit opened at Smithsonian.		1991: Cessation of Gulf War hostilities.
	1996: Lt Gen Kenneth Minihan, USAF, became DIRNSA.			1993: al-Qaida terrorists bombed World Trade Center.

1802: Sir Charles Wheatstone, cipher inventor, born.

All Day
1963: Genevieve Young Hitt, early U.S. female cryptologist, born in 1885 and died on 6 Feb 1963.

All Day

1926: Enigma introduced into German Navy as Radio Key C.

All Day

1944: Signing of King-Marshall Agreement

All Day

Sweetheart Codes

All Day

1933: Government seizure of cryptologist Herbert Yardley's "Japanese Diplomatic Secrets."

All Day

1939: Japanese first use of PURPLE

All Day

1996: Memorial Wall in OPS2B (at NSA) was dedicated.

All Day

1863: US govt took control of commercial telegraphs during Civil War.

All Day

VISIT THE ARCHIVES

Check out the Cryptologic Bytes Archives for a wide variety of articles on all topics related to cryptology, codes and ciphers, related publications, Museums, and more.

LEARN MORE