European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 23, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Page 8 the stars and stripes saturday september 23, 1967 on North sea is in Holland by Ray Wright staff writer ii Oak Van Holland the Netherlands is the 447th signal in opened its new Micro wave relay site Here thursday linking England with Stra com Europe s net on the continent. Ribbon cutting ceremonies put Ting the new communications site in operation were attended by dutch dignitaries and . Military and civilian officials. Cooperation of the local dutch civilian and military Community the Netherlands military assist Ance advisory group and the Stra Toom units that support thersites is symbolic of the improved communications Between Peoples of the world that is needed so badly these Days said it. Col. Wal lace o. Enderle. The Hoek Van Holland communications site necessitated by the re location of . Nato supporting communication facilities fro France houses an advanced and Complex tropospheric scatter sys tem of 120 communications Chan Nels. The installation on the North sea functions As part of the West Ward Extension of the european broadband system of Telephone teletype and data circuits . And nato defences Hieu rope. Forty five foot towers Overlook ing the break water which shelters the Busy dutch Harbor support for 30-foot-diameter  two of the dishes or ears Are beamed toward the . Air Force operated facility at Martel Sham Heath England and toward . Army microwave Sites in Ger Many. The base is 43 feet above sea level and the towers have been built to withstand 100 . A 40-foot building beside the towers houses generators and the important maintenance control Center through which lines fro Bruggen Germany and England Are connected. A Mobile Van contains equipment repair parts. The Hoek Van Holland site Isone of 10 communications Sites in Germany Belgium and in Holland operated by co a 447th signal in at Prem Germany under capt. James w. Johnston. Sgt. 1. C. Edward p. Somerville Coic and site chief and a Crew of 15 staff the station 24 hours a Day i eight hour shifts. The 447th with More than 30 radio and microwave stations is a unit of the 22nd signal group commanded by col. Kenneth Shif let at Mannheim. Brig. Gen. John Kelsey is Stra com Europe cd headquartered at Schwet Zingen. Big ears the new microwave dishes beam across the North sea toward England and also toward Germany is photos by Milnes checking and cutting spec 4 Thomas Mcneeney left checks the Telephone system. At right dutch and americans officially open the station