NSA MENWITH HILL
40th Anniversary Celebration
Wednesday 17 October
At 9.15am on Wednesday 17 October 2000 the mayor of Harrogate is to unveil a plaque celebrating the 40th anniversary of the base. It is officially a low key event in front of an ‘invitation only’ audience. An earlier request to attend by Radio York was refused by the base authorities.
Anni rang the base to try and find out more details. She was put through to the RAFLO’s office and spoke to Sqadron Leader Humphrey Vincent’s secretary. After some hesitation the secretary thought that there was some kind of plaque ceremony the following morning but didn’t know anything much about it and said unfortunately no-one else was around to ask because they were all in various meetings.
According to a secret Security of Tenure Agreement document disclosed by the High Court during Lindis’ long running Injunction case in the early 90’s the US Army’s occupation of MHS started on 1 June 1957. When Anni asked precisely what the 40 years were being celebrated for she was told it was because the base actually opened in 1960.
Squadron Leader Vincent’s secretary was unaware of the disclosed document and could give no details of the celebration but asked Anni for her name and telephone number so she could ring her back. She said she would try to ring before the office closed for the day but Anni is still waiting.
Unfortunately it was too late organise a presence of protest for the plaque unveiling but Anni gave a recorded telephone interview to Radio York about the lack of accountability of MHS which is due to be broadcast the morning of the celebration.
Update - 18/10/00
Squadron Leader Vincent rang Anni at midday on Wednesday 17 October 2000 having just returned from the MHS 40th anniversary celebration. He confirmed that a small number of US Army veterans were at MHS to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the base in 1960 although agreeing that its construction had begun in 1957 and that it had been 'partly opened' in June 1959.
MHS officially opened as an American Army Wireless Station in 1960 but was taken over by the American National Security Agency (NSA) in 1966 with the agreement of the British Government. There has never been an official reason given for this change of administration and it was not until June 1994 that it was officially admitted to.
In a letter dated 29 June 1994 to Max Madden (then Labour MP for Bradford South who asked many Parliamentary Questions on our behalf) the Conservative MP Jeremy Hanley wrote:
' ... Menwith Hill Station operates as a field element of the National Security Agency, but the Agency does not release into the public record any details about specific personnel assignments.'
Squadron Leader Vincent said that the celebration was really just a way of the US Army veterans staying in touch with each other - they meet up twice a year for a reunion and every so often have an excuse for a bigger celebration and this 40th anniversary was one of them.
We shall be asking more questions about this American Army celebration.