Office of the Historian

94. Memorandum From the Director for Plans and Policy, Joint Staff (Johnson) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Hoopes)1

J–5M 1335 1967
Washington, November 14, 1967.

SUBJECT

  • Contingency Planning for Relocation of Military Functions from Wheelus Air Base (U)
1.
(U) Reference is made to your memorandum,2 dated 28 August 1967, which requested that a study be conducted of alternative relocation possibilities, and associated costs, for the functions now being performed at Wheelus.
2.
(S) The requested study3 has been completed by the Air Force and is forwarded as requested. The study recommends that:
a.
Wheelus Air Base be retained.
b.
In the event the Air Force is forced to withdraw from Wheelus Air Base, the Weapons Training Center be relocated at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, and the other functions being performed at Wheelus Air Base be relocated as outlined in individual sections of the study.
c.
Preliminary negotiations with the Government of Spain not be undertaken at this time. However, in renegotiation base rights with Spain (scheduled for late 1968/early 1969), care should be exercised that the agreement does not foreclose the option of future relocation at Zaragoza Air Base.
3.
(C) This study has not been addressed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff; therefore, it is recommended that the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff be requested prior to any action being taken in regard to relocation of Wheelus Air Base activities.
Nels C. Johnson
Vice Admiral, USN
  1. Source: Department of Defense, JCS Files, 842/365 (28 Aug. 67) IR 2543 Sec. 1. Secret.↩
  2. Attachment to JCS 2264/41. [Footnote in the source text. The memorandum is attached but not printed.]↩
  3. Distributed separately; on file in Joint Secretariat. [Footnote in the source text. The study is attached but not printed.]↩