VE DAY EVENTS IN NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

INTERNATIONAL AUTHOR COMMEMORATES VE DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY IN DAYTON:

Sir Dermot Turing, nephew of British codebreaker Alan Turing, joins two free events.

DAYTON, OH — On Thursday, May 8, events throughout the National Aviation Heritage Area will honor the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), when Nazi Germany formally surrendered to the Allied forces, marking the end of World War II in Europe.

Sir Dermot Turing photo KT Bruce

International author and speaker Sir Dermot Turing will participate in two public events on May 8. He is the nephew of Alan Turing, the British mathematician and cryptographer who developed the machine that helped break Nazi Germany’s Enigma encryption codes. Sir Dermot is in the United States researching his seventh book on cryptography, World War II, and international collaboration.

The Dayton International Peace Museum will host a panel presentation featuring Sir Dermot on Thursday, May 8, at 11 a.m. "Partnering for Peace: WWII and Beyond" will explore international collaboration during and after the war. Additional panelists include Dr. Renate Frydman, Holocaust survivor and educator; Dr. Vaughn Shannon, Wright State University Professor of Political Science; and Jeff Kempton, Wright State University lecturer and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base analyst. Vick Mickunas of WYSO and the "Book Nook" will moderate the panel.

The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended. To reserve your seat, please visit the Dayton International Peace Museum’s website at https://www.peace.museum/. Copies of Sir Dermot’s book "X, Y & Z: The Real Story of How Enigma Was Broken" will be available for purchase at the event.

That evening, Carillon Historical Park will host a point-counterpoint discussion between Sir Dermot and author, Jim DeBrosse at 7 p.m. Dr. DeBrosse wrote "The Secret in Building 26", a history of Dayton’s role in codebreaking. The free event will include a Q&A session. Individuals can make reservations by calling 937-293-2841 ext. 220 or emailing semmons@daytonhistory.org. Sir Dermot and Dr. DeBrosse will both have books available for purchase.

“It is a privilege to be coming to Dayton for the first time, and a bit of a pilgrimage. It is about a life-and-death moment in World War II when German U-boats started using a new type of Enigma machine to encipher their messages,” said Sir Dermot. “It was at the National Cash Register corporation, through the genius of Joe Desch, that new technology was brought to bear on the problem. My famous uncle Alan Turing came here to work with Joe Desch on that in 1942, and to follow in his footsteps is very exciting.” 

The National Park Service named Montgomery County — home to Dayton, Ohio — the state’s only American World War II Heritage City in 2022. The designation recognizes the region’s contributions during the war—such as Joe Desch’s engineering innovations and the service of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)—as well as its ongoing efforts to preserve and share that legacy.

“It’s an honor to welcome Sir Dermot to Dayton on the 80th anniversary of VE Day,” said Mackensie Wittmer, Executive Director of the National Aviation Heritage Area. “His visit highlights the international collaboration and innovation that helped end the war, and that still inspires us today.”

For more information, visit https://visitnaha.com/ve-day-80th-anniversary/.

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About the National Aviation Heritage Area:

The National Aviation Heritage Area is the recognized center of aviation heritage tourism and aerospace innovation, sustaining the legacy of the Wright Brothers. Our mission is to preserve and develop the assets in the National Aviation Heritage Area and promote the heritage and future of aerospace. More information about the American WWII Heritage City Program at www.visitnaha.com.

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