CREATE TABLE table_204_577 (id NUMBER, "name" CLOB, "first operational" CLOB, "numeral system" CLOB, "computing mechanism" CLOB, "programming" CLOB, "turing complete" CLOB)

what name is above may 1944
SELECT "name" FROM table_204_577 WHERE "first operational" < (SELECT "first operational" FROM table_204_577 WHERE "first operational" = 'may 1944') ORDER BY "first operational" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "name" FROM "table_204_577" WHERE "first operational" < (SELECT "first operational" FROM "table_204_577" WHERE "first operational" = 'may 1944') ORDER BY "first operational" DESC FETCH FIRST 1 ROWS ONLY