Central Bureau
The Central Bureau was one of two Allied signals intelligence (SIGINT) organisations in the South West Pacific area (SWPA) during World War II. Central Bureau was attached to the headquarters of the Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, General Douglas MacArthur. The role of the Bureau was to research and decrypt intercepted Imperial Japanese Army (land and air) traffic and work in close co-operation with other SIGINT centers in the United States, United Kingdom and India. Air activities included both army and navy air forces, as there was no independent Japanese air force.
| Central Bureau | |
|---|---|
Plaque at 21 Henry St, Ascot, Queensland | |
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Country | Australia, United States |
| Branch | United States Army, Australian Army, US Navy, Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Signals Intelligence |
| Engagements | Second World War
|
| Commanders | |
| Director | Spencer B. Akin (US) |
| Assistant Director | Mic Sandford (2nd AIF) |
| Assistant Director | Roy Booth (RAAF) |
| Deputy Director | Abraham Sinkov (US) |
The other unit was the joint Royal Australian Navy/United States Navy Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL), which reported directly to CINCPAC (Admiral Chester Nimitz) in Hawaii and the Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Ernest King) in Washington, D.C.
Central Bureau is the precursor to the Defense Signals Bureau, which after a number of name changes is (from 2013) called the Australian Signals Directorate.