DELM, History

First Years

The history of the Electronic Matériel Depot started in Soesterberg like so many other units of the Royal Netherlands Air Force — then called Aviation Department. During the First World War, The Netherlands maintained neutrality, or pretty much tried to. Aircraft that made emergency landings throughout the war for one reason or the other were confiscated by the Dutch government.

In 1916, an early example of a transmitter was captured this way by the Dutch armed forces. This transmitter was capable of transmitting morse code from the aircraft to a ground based station and was suited for one-way communication only. After experiments and tests enough knowledge was gained to reproduce this transmitter for the Dutch armed forces.

Early Development

After the First World War, airplanes flew over longer distances and both civil and military aviation employed radio techniques to determine (enemy) airplane positions and to navigate and land under adverse weather conditions.

In 1937 the Radio Department (Radio Dienst) was divided into three different departments: Radio, Instruction, and Aircraft Electrical Department. The latter was responsible for the electrical equipment installed aboard airplanes.

Second World War

In 1939 — on the eve of the Second World War — The Netherlands mobilized its armed forces. The Instruction and Aircraft Electrical departments were moved to Rotterdam and Wassenaar — both in the far west of the country.

The Second World War accelerated developments of new technologies in all kinds of areas, not in the least electronics.

After the war new training was established to train personnel in areas that were new to the Air Force. New infrastructure was established at Soesterberg Air Base to accommodate electronics departments and their personnel and test equipment. In 1947, a radio and radar work center was established for the Air Force: the Depot Verbindings Materieel (Communications Matériel Depot).

Current Location

Photo: Based on RNLAF photo.
F-104 radar system

Due to new developments in electronics, the depot was extended in 1954. By then, Soesterberg had become an operational Air Base and was no longer suited as site location. A new location was found in Rhenen, in a former bicycle factory on the industrial area of the town. Later, the name was changed into Depot Elektronisch Materieel (Electronic Matériel Depot).

In 1963, the Depot Bewapening en Munitie (Armament and Ammunitions Depot) was integrated in the Electronic Matériel Depot. The name was changed from DELM into DEBM (Depot Elektronika en Bewapenings Materieel / Electronics and Armament Depot).

In 1976 the armament section was merged into the Depot Vliegtuig Materieel (Aircraft Matériel Depot) at Gilze-Rijen Air Base (later to become the current Mechanical Aircraft Matériel and Jet Engine Depot or Depot Vliegtuigmaterieel en Straalmotoren at Woensdrecht Air Base).