US Army Signal Corps. Ft. Monmouth,NJ.

• Birthplace of US Military Communications: Fort Monmouth, established in 1917, became the primary home of the US Army Signal Corps—responsible for all Army communications and information systems. • Site of Radar Development: In the 1930s and 1940s, Signal Corps engineers at Fort Monmouth developed early radar systems, leading to the first successful detection of an aircraft using radar in the United States. • Project Diana—Bouncing Radar off the Moon: In 1946, Signal Corps scientists at Fort Monmouth conducted Project Diana, the first successful attempt to bounce radar signals off the Moon, proving that communication with space was possible. • Women in the Signal Corps: During World War II, Fort Monmouth hosted the Women’s Army Corps (WACs), with many serving as cryptographers, switchboard operators, and radio operators. • Von Braun and the Army’s First Missile: After World War II, German rocket scientists like Wernher von Braun visited Fort Monmouth as part of Operation Paperclip to assist with Army missile and communications projects. • Birthplace of the Army’s First Computer: The Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth developed the Army’s first digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania. • Role in the Korean War: Fort Monmouth trained and equipped thousands of Signal Corps soldiers for service in Korea, advancing tactical radio and field communications. • Home of the Army Pigeon Breeding and Training Center: Fort Monmouth housed the Army’s pigeon training program during both World Wars, where homing pigeons were trained to carry messages across battlefields. • Cold War Surveillance and Space Race: The base played a crucial role in developing communications for early satellites, including the first US spy satellites and the TIROS weather satellite. • Closure and Legacy: Fort Monmouth was closed in 2011 after nearly a century of service, but its legacy continues in Army communications, with many of its research activities transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.