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

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 NULLS LAST LIMIT 1