Draft USAF-RNLAF Technical Arrangement: Weapons Storage at Soesterberg (1963)
Document 10 – Draft USAF-RNLAF Technical Arrangement Concerning Weapons Storage at Soesterberg AIRFIELD: memorandum from Commodore J.W. Thijsen, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, to Chief MAAG [Military Assistance Advisory Group] et al., 7 March 1963, Ref: Letter USAFE, Office of the Commander-in-Chief, dtd 11 December 1961, with Draft Technical Arrangements Proposal attached, Secret
Jur.Zaken KLu.
Draft USAFE-RNLAF Technical Arrangement concerning weapons storage at Soesterberg AIRFIELD.
ie v.d.Boschstraat nr. 8.
TO:
Chief MAAG attn. Chief Air Force Section
(Section enclosure copies 1-6)
XXXX
Afdeling Wetgeving en Publiekrecht [MvD]
(bijlagen ex.nr 7-12)
C-CLV CIN (bijlage ex.nr 14)
Archief )bijlage ex nr 15)
Ref.: Letter USAFE, Office of the Commander-in-Chief dtd December 11, 1961
Reference is made to letter mentioned above, in which CINCUSAFE proposed for my consideration arrangements regarding the storage of US nuclear weapons at Soesterberg Airfield.
For reasons which are well known to you a decision on the question whether storage of the special weapons could be permitted, had to be postponed. I am now in a position however to state that I do in principle agree with the storage of the weapons, on the condition that an agreement will be reached on the provisions which are to be laid down in a technical arrangement to be concluded between CINCUSAFE and myself, concerning the nuclear warhead support of the USAF tactical fighter squadron at Soesterberg Airfield.
The arrangements proposed in the referenced letter are basically acceptable to the RNLAF, but in my opinion additional and more detailed provisions are needed to attain a comprehensive technical arrangement on the subject. To meet this requirement a preliminary draft for such an agreement has been prepared at this Air Staff, in co-operation with other interested MOD-agencies.
Submitted herewith for the transmission to HQ-USAFE are six copies of the abovementioned draft-technical arrangement. It is hoped that this draft will prove acceptable to CINCUSAFE as a basis for negotiations between representatives of CINCUSAFE and myself.
CINCUSAFE is invited to suggest a date for a conference between these representatives. It would be appreciated if such a meeting could take place in the Hague.
Your attention is drawn to the fact that in the text of the proposed draft reference is made to a revised edition of the RNLAF/USAF “Technical Agreement concerning use of Soesterberg Airfield”. Proposals for such a revised edition are at present being prepared at this Air Staff and original plans were to submit these proposals at the same time as the present draft. To pursue these plans would, as has now become clear, result in considerable loss of time and they have therefore been abandoned. It is pointed out that in the revision of the older agreement no substantial changes are foreseen in any of the provisions to which reference is made in the present draft.
For the Chief of the Air Staff, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
J.W. Thijssen, Commodore
Copy nr 13 SECRET
TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF USAFE AND THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF RNLAF FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD SUPPORT OF THE USAF TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON BASED AT SOESTERBERG AIRFIELD.
Pursuant to paragraph 11 of the Exchange of Notes of 26 January 1960 between the governments of the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the stockpiling of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands and in furtherance of the Royal Netherlands Air Force – United States Air Force Technical Agreement concerning use of Soesterberg Airfield revised edition dated ………………….., the Commander in Chief United States Air Forces in Europe and the Chief of the Air Staff Netherlands agree as follows:
- Principal Location of storage site: The United States Air Force (USAF) may establish stocks of nuclear weapons for use by the USAF tactical fighter squadron based at Soesterberg Airfield (Camp New Amsterdam) in the areas placed by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) at the disposal of and for the exclusive use and occupancy of the USAF. The location of the storage building is as shown under letter A on the attached map (Appendix I).
- Establishment of stocks: The establishment by the USAF of stocks of nuclear weapons shall be in accordance with and based upon the Allied Command Europe Plan for the NATO Special Ammunition Storage Program (SHAPE Letter 6430/20 dated 30 March 1961).
- Deployment: The deployment of USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel sections will be coordinated with the Chief of the Air Staff RNLAF.
- Custody and release of nuclear weapons: Custody of nuclear weapons will be the responsibility of the USAF. When the weapons are released by appropriate authority they will be employed by the USAF tactical fighter squadron only in accordance with NATO military plans and procedures established by SACEUR.
- Weapon movement: The USAF shall be responsible for the movement of nuclear weapons. All weapon movement to/from Soesterberg Airfield will be carried out by air subject always to the provision of paragraph 3 above.
- Security: The internal security of areas reserved for the exclusive use of the USAF shall be the responsibility of the USAF.
- External Security: The responsibility for the external security of nuclear weapons located at Soesterberg Airfield shall be as determined in Annex C.
- Safety: The USAF shall be responsible for radiological safety in connection with the storage of nuclear weapons at Soesterberg Airfield. Detailed arrangements have been laid down in Annex D.
- Maintenance surveillance and assembly: The USAF will be responsible for the maintenance, surveillance, and assembly of nuclear warhead sections including the provision of personnel and technical equipment for the performance of these functions.
- Construction development maintenance and operation of storage site: The costs of construction, development, and except as otherwise agreed in Annex B, of maintenance and operation of the storage and associated facilities including those required for the support of the USAF nuclear weapons custodial and supporting personnel shall be borne by the USAF.
- NATO Infrastructure: To the extent, however, that the North Atlantic Council agrees to NATO infrastructure funding of NATO atomic stockpile construction costs, the apportionment of costs will be subject to NATO infrastructure procedures.
- Support: It is understood that the provisions of paragraph 6 of the RNLAF-USAF Technical Agreement Concerning Use of Soesterberg Airfield dated ……………….. (hereafter in the Annexes of this arrangement to be referred to as TA-Soesterberg) shall apply to the maintenance and support by the RNLAF of US-units and equipment associated with the storage of the nuclear weapons at Soesterberg Airfield only insofar as will be expressly stated in Annexes A and B to this arrangement.
- Command authority: The presence of the USAF custodial units and supporting personnel at Soesterberg Airfield will not alter the command responsibility and authority of the Commander RNLAF Soesterberg, but with respect to the USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel all functions of command, control, administration, training, and tactical operations will be retained by the USAF unless otherwise authorized by competent US authority. The Senior USAF Commander at Soesterberg Airfield (Camp New Amsterdam) will, however, make every effort to conform with RNLAF procedures and regulations.
- SACEUR-plans: Upon the promulgation of SACEUR-plans regarding the employment of USAF nuclear weapons at Soesterberg Airfield, further technical arrangements may be negotiated between the Commander in Chief USAFE and the Chief of the Air Staff RNLAF.
- Information services: No public release of information concerning USAF nuclear warheads will be made by the USAF or the RNLAF except as mutually agreed.
- Differences of opinion: If in the implementation of this arrangement differences of opinion should arise which cannot be solved at local level, the point in controversy will be submitted to the Commander in Chief USAFE and the Chief of the Air Staff RNLAF.
This arrangement shall enter into force when signed by both parties thereto and will remain valid till the date of expiration of the RNLAF-USAF Technical Agreement concerning use of Soesterberg Airfield or until revoked by either party.
The Hague / Wiesbaden
SECRET ANNEX A: Communications
TO THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF USAFE AND THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF RNLAF FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD SUPPORT OF THE USAF TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON BASED AT SOESTERBERG AIRFIELD.
- In addition to existing communications facilities outlined in paragraphs 19 to 27 inclusive of Annex I of the TA-Soesterberg, the following communications links will be required by the USAF:
- a. Security communications links between elements of the security forces.
- b. Entry into the NATO communications network.
- These communications links will be provided by the RNLAF at the request of the USAF and are to be paid for and manned by the USAF.
SECRET ANNEX B: Administrative and Logistic Support
TO THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF USAFE AND THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF RNLAF FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD SUPPORT OF THE USAF TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON BASED AT SOESTERBERG AIRFIELD.
- The RNLAF will provide administrative and logistic support to USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel as indicated in this annex.
- Installations: USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel may utilize existing installations and facilities outlined in paragraph 1 of Annex I of the TA-Soesterberg. The provisions of the TA-Soesterberg will apply to normal maintenance and operation of these installations and facilities. Any modifications, repairs, or additions to these installations and facilities resulting from such utilization are to be paid for by the USAF.
- Transportation: USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel may utilize existing transport and POL-facilities as outlined in paragraphs 13 and 17 of Annex I to the TA-Soesterberg in connection with the operation of the storage site.
- In the event of emergency evacuation of the nuclear weapons, the Commander RNLAF Soesterberg will provide at no cost to the USAF such additional transportation as may be agreed between himself and the Senior USAF Commander at Soesterberg Airfield.
- Medical Support: The provisions of paragraphs 28 to 32 inclusive of Annex I to the TA-Soesterberg will apply to USAF custodial unit and supporting personnel and their dependents.
SECRET ANNEX C: Security
TO THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF USAFE AND THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF RNLAF FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD SUPPORT OF THE USAF TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON BASED AT SOESTERBERG AIRFIELD.
- Criteria: Security measures and procedures will be equal to those specified in SHAPE document 6430/20 (ACE Plan for the NATO SAS-Program).
- Security Plans: The Commander RNLAF Soesterberg in coordination with the Senior USAF Commander at Soesterberg Airfield will prepare security plans for the protection of storage areas at all times and especially in the event of subversive activity, civil riot, or similar emergency.
- The Senior USAF Commander and the Commander RNLAF Soesterberg will maintain close contact in order to be fully and currently informed of matters affecting security of the storage site.
- Right of access: The determination of the right of access to areas reserved for the exclusive use of the USAF custodial unit shall be the responsibility of the USAF.
- Responsibility for security of the airbase: The provision of paragraph 6 of the TA-Soesterberg establishing the responsibility of the RNLAF to provide security of the airbase… does pertain to additional security requirements resulting from the storage of nuclear weapons… only insofar as indicated in this Annex.
- Security Guard Force: The security guard force comprising the security detachment, the security guard resere, including roving patrols and the security standby alert forces, will be provided by the USAF.
- Augmentation Alert Force: The RNLAF will secure the provision of an augmentation alert force with a strength equivalent to one rifle company which must be capable of reinforcing the security guard force at Soesterberg Airfield within four hours after notice has been received.
- Emergency plans: The Senior USAF Commander at Soesterberg Airfield (Camp New Amsterdam) n agreement with the Commander RNLAF Soesterberg will prepare plans for the evacuation of warhead sections in the event of subversive activity, disaster, civil riot, and any other condition of emergency.
- The USAF is responsible for destruction of USAF nuclear warhead sections and equipment when such action becomes necessary. Destruction orders will be in accordance with plans developed by the USAF in agreement with the Chief of the Air Staff RNLAF. In making these plans the following will be considered:
- a) Risk inherent in destruction
- b) Possible loss of the warhead seaction to unauthorized persons
- c) The operational aspects
- Intelligence Support: The RNLAF will provide intelligence support at the request of the Senior USAF Commander at Suesterberg Airfield (Camp New Amsterdam). In coordination with the appropriate civil authorities the RNLAF will maintain a continuing survey of the local population in order to provide an estimate of the actual or potential threat as posed by hostile intelligence or subversice sabotage groups.
- Security Clearances: RNLAF personnel whose duties require or permit access to classified information shall possess an appropriate security clearance. The definition of “classified infomration:” and the criteria used fo determining eligibility for security clearances will be as provided in article X and the Security Annex with the Appendices A and B of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Goverment of the Kingdom if the Netherlands dated 9 May 1959
SECRET ANNEX D: Safety
TO THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMANDER IN CHEIF USAFEAN DHTE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF RNLAF FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD SUPPORT OF THE USAF TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON BASED AT SOESTERBERG AIRFIELD.
- Radiological safety. The USAF will devise and apply strict safety rules and procedures with respect to all weapons operations and will carry out an adequate safety inspection program. Minimum requirements of the applicable Netherlands safety rules will be met by the USAF, insofar as such rules are applicable to the armed forces of the Netherlands.
- The USAF will be responsible for giving the RNLAF authorities adequate warning and advice on any radiological hazards caused by fissionable materiel in USAF custody.
- Should RNLAF personnel be associated with the weapons operations because of their assigned duties, they will be informed by the USAF of applicable safety rules and procedures.
- The USAF will insure that USAF and RNLAF personnel will not be subjected to radiological hazards, external or internal, which are in excess of those permitted by their respective national standards.
- Decontamination. The USAF will be responsible for decontamination of operational and storage areas. The RNLAF will provide such assistance to support USAF decontamination efforts, as may be agreed between the Commander RNLAF Soesterberg and the Senior USAF Commander at Soesterberg Airfield (Camp New Amsterdam).
APPENDIX I [Map Reference: Storage buildings at Soesterberg Airfield, Scale 1:5000]
This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive.
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META DATA
Volkel Air Base remained the sole site for U.S. nuclear bombs in the Netherlands, but the possibility of expanding the storage sites to Soesterberg Airfield was under consideration in early 1960. Apparently, consideration of Soesterberg began with a request by the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), which the RNLAF followed up with a formal proposal. For reasons that remain to be learned, the matter evidently went no further.