The operations, Stratford said, could have violated the European Convention on Human Rights, an international treaty that the U.K. still remains bound to despite its recent vote to leave the European Union. [16], A detachment of the US Army 704th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade was established at Menwith Hill in 1985. The overhauled main entrance would include a new visitor centre, registration office and gatehouse, as well as new security barriers, roads and car parks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service says. Realtor Services [29], The US Air Force's 421st Air Base Squadron provides Menwith Hill with base and mission support services. In early 2010, the agency revealed in an internal report that it had launched a new technique at the British base to identify many targets at almost 40 different geolocated internet cafs in Yemens Shabwah province and in the countrys capital, Sanaa. The MHO monitors off-base rental listings to ensure that they are safe and adequate. Unlike most co-bases run by the Americans in Europe, this works in a different way. - Providing translation services to establish appointmentsto view available units There were only eight such dishes in the world at those times. Use the resources provided to become familiar with the housing options and support services available to you. This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army. The 421st Air Base Group provides the majority of support services but the base is commanded by an officer of the RAF. Menwith Hills previously undisclosed role aiding the so-called targeted killing of terror suspects highlights the extent of the British governments apparent complicity in controversial U.S. attacks and raises questions about the legality of the secret operations carried out from the base. The MHO provides up-to-date listings of available economy units, translation services, and landlord/tenant mediation. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? [40], On 3 November 1999, the BBC reported that they had confirmation from the Australian Government of the existence of a powerful "global spying network" codenamed Echelon, that can eavesdrop on every single phone call, fax or e-mail, anywhere on the planet" with Britain and the United States as the chief protagonists. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Services/Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the Unites States Air Force does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Plenty of demonstrations took place around the United Kingdom and around the entire Europe. This mission protects our nation and others around the world.. At the same time, the base is part of a comprehensive ECHELON system. Investigations found that during the early 1960s, Menwith Hill was integrated into the General Post Office's microwave relay network known as 'Backbone', via a high-capacity underground cable link to the Hunters Stones communications tower, located approximately 3 miles (4.8km) to the south of the station. What should I do to start planning my move to an overseas location? Were kept entirely in the dark about them. But Menwith Hill is focused on a different kind of surveillance: eavesdropping on communications as they are being transmitted through the air. Harrogate Borough Council approved the erection of three new radar shelters at the site earlier this month. Though the base is officially called RAF Menwith Hill, most of the staff there are US employees of the NSA. Sounds like a good summer homework project for Menwith.. Crucially, however, Menwith Hill has been used for more than just gathering intelligence on people and governments across countries in the Middle East and North Africa. According to documents lodged by the MoD the proposed additions are "required to meet the operational output of the station". Housing Early Assistance Tool (HEAT)creates an easy on-line experience to connect you, the Service Member, with your future destination and offers an on-line venue to obtain housing assistance prior to a PCS transfer. It was alleged the link allowed mass interception of civilian telephone and telex communications between the United States, UK and Europe. [42] Protests also occurred at other US military locations in the UK such as Greenham Common. [21][22][23][24][25][26], In April 2012 activists affiliated with the global Occupy Movement held a four-day campsite at Menwith Hill. DSN: 262-7759/7758. Among operations buildings in which analysts listen in on monitored conversations, there is a bowling alley, a small pool hall, a bar, a fast food restaurant, and a general store. Such links are provided consistent with the purpose of the Web site. They were also concerned that interception of commercial communications could be used for "competitive intelligence-gathering rather than combating corruption. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. The application comes after the councilapproved construction of a single additional radome in November 2018, due to be built in August 2021. It was later re-designated as the 451st Intelligence Squadron on 1 October 1993. The main mission on base is to monitor communications and provide intelligence support service to the UK and the US. Royal Air Force (RAF) Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) When you arrive at RAF Menwith Hill, you will be staying in temporary accommodations until you move into permanent quarters. Moving to a new country can often be confusing and stressful; however, it can also be exciting. [6], During an interview with the Russian government funded broadcaster Russia Today in April 2012, Schofield alleged that Menwith Hill was "involved in drone attacks". The Military Housing Office (MHO) provides all DoD personnel with a personalized service to assist in locating suitable housing in your new host country. The three new radomes would be 21 metres (69ft) in diameter and located in the southern part of the site. The NSAs British Base at the Heart of U.S. At the same time, the garrison hosted here is the 451-st Intelligence Squadron. The site was then one of the earliest to receive sophisticated early IBM computers, with which NSA automated the labour-intensive watch-list scrutiny of intercepted but unenciphered telex messages. CLOSED. [19], During a 1997 court case, British Telecom revealed that in 1975, its predecessor, the Post Office, installed two cables between Menwith Hill and a coaxial cable that connected to the microwave radio station at Hunters Stones, which was part of the long-distance telephone network. Harrogate Borough Council found more radomes "would not materially affect the wider landscapeas the overall impact would remain akin to the present situation". Royal Air Force Menwith Hill or more simply RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England which provides communications and intelligence support. Michael Cook/RAF/PA Wire. After you move into your home, the MHO is available for on-going assistance with translation services should you need to communicate with your landlord. In the late 1980s, international communication networks were revolutionized by new fiber-optic undersea cables. Map of the Area Spy base plans for extra radar antenna shelters, Watch the moment train travels across miniature version of Knaresborough Viaduct, York and Chester council officers to meet to discuss Blue Badge access, Plans to reopen Victorian quarry in Yorkshire mired by concerns over lorries, Malton crew called to fire in garden in early hours, Yorkshire coast route from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby named one of the best coastal walks in the UK by experts, Vehicle fire on major road through North Yorkshire - road reopens, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. It now appears that this was far from the truth.. [36] Duncan Campbell presented a report commissioned by STOA concerning the ECHELON system, at a "hearing of the Committee on Citizens Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs on the subject the European Union and data protection" which prompted the European Union to set up the Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System. Welcome Letter, Where can I find an application for housing? [37], On 5 July 2000, the European Union set up the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System stated that the global system for the interception of private and commercial communications was operating by means of "cooperation proportionate to their capabilities" among the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand under the UKUSA. The listening base plays a role in US and UK intelligence-gathering A plan for extra radar shelters at Menwith Hill communications and intelligence base have been approved. The plan for three shelters - called radomes - at the RAF base in North Yorkshire was lodged by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Both units operate in a very tight collaboration to fulfill the mission of the base. [9], Construction of the station on behalf of the United States Army Security Agency (USASA) began in April 1956. Since the early 1990s, the group has closely monitored activities at Menwith Hill. Only a few specific examples are given, but those cases give a remarkable insight into the extraordinary power of the technology. [20], On 1 October 2000, the 451st Intelligence Squadron, was re-designated as the 451st Information Operations Squadron, before reverting to the 451st Intelligence Squadron on 1 April 2007. In another case in 2007, GHOSTHUNTER was used to identify an alleged al Qaeda weapons procurer in Iraq named Abu Sayf. [3] In 2014, the number of American personnel was reduced as part of a streamlining of operations due to improvements in technology. See All FAQs, An official website of the United States government. UK personnel from the MOD and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) are integrated into both the operational and administrative elements of the site. It hosts a few massive satellite grounds, not to mention about some missile warning services. Find military housing by Hill AFB, apartments and homes for rent, and houses for sale with AHRN.com. This data source alone provides more data for Menwith Hill analysts to sift through than our entire enterprise had to deal with in the not-so-distant past.. Over the history, the ECHELON system was the subject of a huge controversy due to its monitoring power. [17], According to an article in a 2003 issue of an internal NSA newsletter, "Menwith is a large site (several hundred NSA civilians)". Members should use HEAT when preparing to transfer to their new assignment. They were also concerned that interception of commercial communications could be used for "competitive intelligence-gathering rather than combating corruption. Find the travel option that best suits you. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. A spy satellite launched in 2009 and operated from Menwith Hill. AHRN.com Currently Deployed Installations. But his efforts have been repeatedly stonewalled, with British government officials refusing to provide any details on the grounds of national security. Hidden away for years, Britons have until now never had the thrill of seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the intelligence world. A number of other individual protests have also taken place, predominantly related to nuclear proliferation and strategic missile defense. RAF Menwith Hill Stavanger 423d ABG Helpful Agencies 501st CSW Wing Staff Agency The 501st CSW WSA are comprised of 17 different agencies, located at RAF Alconbury and Croughton, that provide a wide range of mission support from finance to chapel services which facilitate operations and assist Airmen and their families across the wing. By 1966, the American ruling was significantly decreased. By 2008, the apparent popularity of GHOSTHUNTER within the intelligence community meant that it was rolled out at other surveillance bases where NSA has a presence, including in Ayios Nikolaos, Cyprus, and Misawa, Japan. The main mission on base is to monitor communications and provide intelligence support service to the UK and the US. Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. Between 2009 and 2012, Menwith Hill spent more than $40 million ona massive new 95,000-square-foot operations building nearly twice the size of an average American football field. Sun. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It was equipped with large high frequency (HF) directional rhombic antennas that could detect signals from around the globe. RAF Menwith Hill: 01638 544138: RAF Mildenhall: 01638 545704 01638 544138 01638 543071 01638 543074: Stavanger: 01638 543074: Support Team : 01638 543540: Allowances: 01638 546101 01638 543065: Local National Direct Hire (LNDH) EMAIL APPLICATIONS TO: 01638 545036 01638 542677 01638 542292 01638 543662 100fss.fsmc3@mildenhall.af.mil: But Menwith Hill is focused on a different kind of surveillance: eavesdropping on communications as they are being transmitted through the air. It was also expanded. Copyright 1998 MilitaryBases.com Not affiliated with any government agencies. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. It is now imperative that the prime minister comes clean about U.K. involvement in targeted killing, Craig said, to ensure that British personnel and resources are not implicated in illegal and immoral activities.. This connection was replaced in 1992 by a new high capacity fibre-optic cable. Store Email: RAFMenwithHill.commissary@deca.mil. Rome2rio makes travelling from RAF Menwith Hill to Harrogate easy. I dont buy this idea that you say the word security and nobody can know anything. The files reveal for the first time how the NSA has used the British base to aid a significant number of capture-kill operations across the Middle East and North Africa, fueled by powerful eavesdropping technology that can harvest data frommore than 300 million emails and phone calls a day. [8], The station initially comprised a headquarters building, barracks, dependent housing and support facilities such as a cinema and social clubs. With all these, the European Parliament decided it is legit and actually useful for the overall safety measures in the area. [13], In 1976, 21 years after the initial tenure arrangements were agreed with the US, the British Government renewed assurances that the site would continue to be available for a further 21 years. Transfer to the National Security Agency (1966 1996), US Army Intelligence and Security Command, Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System, United States Air Force in the United Kingdom, "Unknown territory: America's secret archipelago of UK bases", "Technology led to decision to cut Menwith Hill personnel", "Interception Of Communications - Hansard", "Menwith Hill Station (Hansard, 12 July 1995)", "RAF Menwith Hill (Hansard, 13 May 1996)", "BT condemned for listing cables to US sigint station", "Spanning the GlobeMisawa to Menwith Hill: Part 1", "Lifting the Lid on Menwith Hill: The Strategic Roles & Economic Impact of the US Spy Base in Yorkshire", "Menwith Hill eavesdropping base undergoes massive expansion", "GCHQ intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summit", "Spy base 'golf ball' radar shelters approved", "Report on Planning Application 19/02389/FUL", "Spy base plans for extra radar antenna shelters", "RAF Menwith Hill:Written question - 112002", "The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites) Order 2005", "Report on the existence of a global system for the interception of private and commercial communications (ECHELON interception system)", "Menwith Hill - The Campaign of Opposition", "From Greenham to Menwith: The women's peace campaign at Menwith Hill", "Menwith Hill protests continue for second day", "Why has the US base at Menwith Hill created such a political storm? Most visible from the outside are a cluster of about 30 of the giant white domes. Rome2rio makes travelling from Brixton (Station) to RAF Menwith Hill easy. The military base deals with intelligence and communication services. Get in Touch. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! [8] The UK provided assurances to the US that the site would be available to them for at least 21 years. Originally used to monitor Soviet communications through the Cold War, its focus has since dramatically shifted, and today it is a vital part of the NSAs sprawling global surveillance network. C-3566-02 . The 421st Air Base Group provides the majority of support services but the base is commanded by an officer of the RAF. Menwith Hill Menwith Hill. [16], Objections to the Strategic Defense Initiative have led to demonstrators storming the perimeter fence. The base is in an area of outstanding natural beauty (but officially left out in the early 1990s despite some of us trying to include it! Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules'. To find your next home, click on the installation you want to search for housing in and register as a user. Featured Links [15] In response to the article the NSA said "We do radio relays - material comes in from a variety of places and is rerouted. Within the operations centre was the communications centre which was manned by cryptographers using deciphering equipment, however a large amount of the signals collected were encrypted before being forwarded for processing to the US National Security Agency's Fort Meade facility in Maryland. An aerial image captured by a U.S. satellite in support of a covert GHOSTHUNTER operation. The listening base plays a role in US and UK intelligence-gathering. The NSA developed similar methods at Menwith Hill to track down terror suspects in Yemen, where the U.S. has waged a covert drone war against militants associated with al Qaeda in the Northern Peninsula. The Australian site is known as the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap. It is advised to wait until you arrive to secure housing in order to tour available units. In its early days, Menwith Hills technology was much more primitive. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The NSAs documents describe GHOSTHUNTER as a means to locate targets when they log onto the internet. It was first developed in 2006 as the only capability of its kind and it enabled a significant number of capture-kill operations against alleged terrorists. The selection includes modern properties on housing estates, in apartment blocks or old cottages and conversions of older buildings like barns. But the prediction proved to be wrong. To find your next home, click on the installation you want to search for housing in and register as a user. You need to obtain legal liability and personal property insurance for your possessions and should choose the options and amounts that best fit your needs and lifestyle. The Menwith Hill . , Ryan Gallagher[emailprotected]theintercept.com@rj_gallagher. And for the last 16 years, its members have held a small demonstration every Tuesday outside the bases main entrance, greeting NSA employees with flags and colorful homemade banners bearing slogans critical of U.S. foreign policy and drone strikes. The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. [19] Actions continue into 2006. An environmental screening statement submitted as part of the planning application to Harrogate Borough Council says: "Due to the classified nature of the operations at the base, security is a prominent concern. We route it sometimes to the UK and sometimes to the US". [Menwith Hill] still supplies about 99% of the FORNSAT data used in GHOSTHUNTER geolocations, noted a January 2008 document about the program. Store Hours. Drive 37 min. Housing Allowance Calculator HQ Air Force Housing has successfully implemented HEAT across the AF Enterprise so members can reach out to installations when preparing for transition. Drive from Leeds Station to RAF Menwith Hill 21.4 miles. It is important to know the established cover story for MHS [Menwith Hill Station] and to protect the fact that MHS is an intelligence collection facility, the document stated. Contact the MHO as soon as you know you are moving. [11] The first two radomes, designed to protect satellite receiver and transmission dishes (colloquially known as 'golf balls' and now synonymous with the station) were installed in 1974, at which point around 800 personnel were believed to work there. [4], The site acts as a ground station for a number of satellites operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office,[5] on behalf of the NSA, with antennas contained in numerous distinctive white radomes, locally referred to as "the golf balls", and is alleged to be an element of the ECHELON system.[6]. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. 2023 BBC. The British governments Ministry of Defence, which handles media inquires related to Menwith Hill, declined to comment for this story. [18], On 19 July 2002, US Army INSCOM transferred responsibility for administrative and logistical support for Menwith Hill to the US Air Force, to bring the site in-line with other facilities in the UK made available to the US. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? What housing allowances am I eligible for? The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site and has been described as the largest electronic monitoring station in the world. Royal Air Force Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States. He has sought clarification on a variety of issues, such as how many U.S. personnel are stationed at the site, whether it is involved in conducting drone strikes, and whether members of a British parliamentary oversight committee have been given full access to review its operations. An individual involved in passing that information is likely to be an accessory to murder., GCHQ refused to answer questions for this story, citing a long standing policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters. A spokesperson for the agency issued a generic statement asserting that all of GCHQs work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework, which ensures that our activities are authorised, necessary and proportionate, and that there is rigorous oversight. The spokesperson insisted that U.K.s interception regime is entirely compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.. This debate however, never happened outside of the fringe elements of society."[54]. Community Housing Units The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has applied for an extensive overhaul of the entrance to RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate. The outcome of the operation, however, is unclear, as it is not revealed in the document. Menwith Hill is eight miles west of Harrogate on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, known for its distinctive large white golf ball domes housing radar equipment. [18], In 1995, the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) became the executive agent for Menwith Hill on behalf of the National Security Agency. Find all the transport options for your trip from RAF Menwith Hill to Harrogate right here. Its huge and heavily protected acreage sits on rolling moorland in rural North Yorkshire outside the town of Harrogate. No date has been set for it to consider this latest application. In 1992, the detachment became A Company of the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [33] One of three MDP Central Support Group units is based at Menwith Hill, providing armed officers who can be deployed regionally at short notice, to support wider MDP operations. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? Hundreds of personnel from a number of international intelligence bodies, including staff from the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and America's National Security Agency (NSA), operate from the site. 1000 - 1900 . Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. [10], In the 1960s, as a result of developments in digital technology and the increased use of satellites for signals intelligence, the specialist skills of engineers and technicians within the National Security Agency (NSA) and their contractors became increasingly important. In 2007, for instance, analysts at Menwith Hill used GHOSTHUNTER to help track down a suspected al Qaeda facilitator in Lebanon who was described as highly actionable, meaning he had been deemed a legitimate target to kill or capture. "[10] During the early 1970s, the first of what became more than eight large satellite communications dishes were installed at Menwith Hill. Consequently, Menwith Hill became a vital asset in the U.S. governments counterterrorism campaign after the 9/11 attacks. Rapporteur Gerhard Schmid (11 July 2001). The MHO can assist you by: 44 Raf Menwith Hill Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 44 Raf Menwith Hill Premium High Res Photos Browse 44 raf menwith hill photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Living locallyprovides members and families the chance to experience a new culture and make friends with their host country neighbors. Travel within United Kingdom is: Unrestricted . The American idea was to increase its military power during the Cold War. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. AHRN.com Currently Deployed Installations. Targeted Killing, Elegant Chaos: collect it all, exploit it all, Elegant Chaos: collect it all, exploit it all (plus notes), UK special forces Reaper drone (Jan-Feb-2012), Afghanistan 30 enemy killed (Jan-Feb 2012), Project Sandstorm wifi geolocation (Jan 2011), Yemen backhaul comms collected (Jan 2011), New ops building at Menwith completed, fit up begins, New technique geolocates targets active at Yemeni cafes, Work is progressing on Menwith Hill Stations new operations building, Ghosthunter and the geolocating of internet cafes, Traffic series: is your collection surveyed or sustained, APPARITION becomes a reality new corporate VSAT geolocation capability sees its first deployment, Menwith continues successful counterterrorism survey along Af-Pak border, SIGINT target package leads to USMC capture of al Qaeda weapons procurer, Menwith initiatives maximizing our access, GSM tower mapping made easier and more accurate with new tool, New tool combines multi agency databases for complete target snapshot.