List of Nike missile sites
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
The following is a list of Nike missile sites operated by the United States Army. This article lists sites in the United States, most responsible to Army Air Defense Command; however, the Army also deployed Nike missiles to Europe as part of the NATO alliance, with sites being operated by both American and European military forces. U.S. Army Nike sites were also operational in South Korea, Japan and were sold to Taiwan.[1]
Leftover traces of the approximately 265[2] Nike missile bases can still be seen around cities across the United States. As the sites were decommissioned, they were first offered to federal agencies. Many were already on Army National Guard bases who continued to use the property. Others were offered to state and local governments, while others were sold to school districts. The leftovers were offered to private individuals. Many Nike sites are now municipal yards, communications, and FAA facilities, probation camps, and even renovated for use as airsoft gaming and military simulation training complexes. Several were obliterated and turned into parks. Some are now private residences. Only a few are intact and preserve the history of the Nike project.
Belgium
[edit]General Belgian Nike info: The Nike missile system was operational in the Belgian airforce from 1959 until 1990. It was organized into a Missile Group (the overall staffing); a Support Wing (tech and log support), and 2 (9th and 13th) Missile Wings, each with 4 subordinate units. All Belgian Nike sites were in the 2 ATAF part of then West-Germany. Their defending area was the industrial Ruhr area.
- Blankenheim in the federal state of Nordrhein Westfalen (NRW). Unit: 13th Missile Wing, 51st (B) Squadron 1961–1989. Operating 36x Nike Herc. (10x Nuclear armed) US custodians: 43rd (B) USAAD. Former IFC at 50°26'45"N 06°40'27"E. Former LA at 50°26'29"N 6°41'52"E. Unit disbanded and site closed.
- Düren in NRW. Units: Hq 13th Missile Wing; Missile Support Wing; Group Operations Center and 50th (A) Squadron 1959–1990. Former combined IFC/LA location at 50°41'20"N 06°30'13" E when operating 12 x Nike Ajax missiles. This became the IFC when 50th Sq started Nike Herc ops. 36x Nike Herc. (10x Nuclear-armed) US Custodians: 43rd (C) USAAD. LA then moved to 50°42'44" N 6°32'3"E. Unit disbanded, and the site closed.
- Erle in NRW.[3][4] Unit: 13th Missile Wing, 57th (D) Squadron 1974–1984. Note: The site was taken over from the Netherlands air force in 1974, becoming ops in 1975 as 13th Missile Wing/57 Sq operating 36x Nike Herc conventional role. The unit was later reassigned to the 9th Missile Wing/57th Sq as it was the most Northern Belgian site. Former IFC demolished. Former LA at 51°44'21"N 6°53'53"E. Unit disbanded, closing the site.
- Euskirchen in NRW. Unit: 13th Missile Wing, 52nd (C) Squadron 1959–1986. Operating 36 x Nike Herc (10x nuclear-armed) US custodians: 43rd (A) USAAD. Former IFC at 50°37'20"N 06°44'37"E. Former LA at 50°37'36" N 6°45'38" E. Unit disbanded, and the site closed.
- Grefrath in NRW. Units: Belgian Group Missiles 1959–1990; staffing and liaison element between the Nike Wings and the Belgian air force staff. Family lodging was at nearby Kempen; Hq 9th Missile Wing; Group Operations Center; 56th Squadron 51°20'56"N 6°20'02"E.
- Hinsbeck in NRW. 9th Missile Wing, 56th (C) Squadron 1962–1989. Operating 36x Nike Herc (10x Nuclear-armed) US custodians: B team 507th USAAD. Former IFC demolished. Former LA at 51°21'56"N 6°17'25" E. Unit disbanded, closing the site.
- Hombroich in NRW. 9th Missile Wing, 55th (B) Squadron 1962–1985. Operating 36x Nike Herc (10x Nuclear-armed) US custodians: C team 507th USAAD. Former IFC at 51°8'27.30"N 6°37'26.49"E. Former LA at 51°9'6"N 6°38'35"E is now a modern art museum. Military family housing 53rd and 55th Squadrons were nearby Grevenbroich. The unit disbanded, and the site closed.
- Kaster in NRW. 9th Missile Wing, 53rd (D) Squadron 1959–1978. Reassigned 13th Missile Wing / 56th Sq 1979–1985. Operating 36x Nike Herc missiles (10x Nuclear-armed) US custodians: 43rd (A) USAAD. Former IFC at 51°01'25"N 06°58'36" E. Former LA at 51°1'24"N 6°29'49"E. Unit disbanded, and the site closed.
- Xanten in NRW. 9th Missile Wing, 54th (A) Squadron 1971–1989. Operating 36x Nike Herc (10x Nuclear-armed) US custodians: A team 507th USAAD. The former basecamp at 51°38'50"N 06°26'31" E was rebuilt into an automotive area. Former IFC at 51°38'30"N 06°22'34" E. Former LA at 51°38'48"N 6°24'33"E. Unit disbanded, and the site closed.
Denmark
[edit]Greenland Defense Area (Danish sovereignty): Thule US Airbase was defended by 4 Nike batteries constructed in 1957–1958. Initially, these sites were considered part of the former Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) as they were intended to defend the Continental United States. Due to Greenland's climate, the missiles had been stored in underground magazines with a 10-missile capacity. Each battery had 4 magazines, and each magazine 2 missile elevators. 4th Battalion 55th Artillery ceased operations in May 1965, thus ending the Nike missile defense of Thule airbase. The sites have been disused for many years now but the remains are still clearly visible.
As Greenland is Danish and that country refused to host foreign military and nuclear weapons, a bilateral agreement was signed allowing access for all US forces and weaponry in Greenland. This way all Thule batteries could yet be nuclear armed. |
| Copenhagen Defense Area: Copenhagen was defended by a ring of 4 Nike batteries. At first under Army command but as of 1964 under Air Force command and the batteries redesignated as squadrons 531/2/3/4. Initially Nike Ajax and Hercules operated but later on (1973) only Nike Hercules. All Danish Nike squadrons were operating in conventional role only. Hq Nike Group and staffing was located at the Avedøre camp, at grid 55°37'59"N 12°26'55"E. Nike Group Operations Control was at the Vestvolden, a fortification at grid 55°41'23"N 12°26'11"E connected with the Karup Air Force Headquarters |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | IFC | LA | Air Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESK 531 | Ajax / Hercules | Copenhagen | Gunderød | 1959–1981 | 55°54′23″N 12°24′48″E / 55.90639°N 12.41333°E | 55°54′29″N 12°25′51″E / 55.90806°N 12.43083°E | Avderød 55°55'5"N 12°26'1"E |
| ESK 532 | Ajax / Hercules | Copenhagen | Kongenlunden | 1959–1981 | 55°33′44″N 12°33′59″E / 55.56222°N 12.56639°E | 55°34′43″N 12°33′32″E / 55.57861°N 12.55889°E | 55°33'52"N 12°34'10"E |
| ESK 533 | Ajax / Hercules | Copenhagen | Sigerslev | 1959–1981 | 55°19′33″N 12°26′56″E / 55.32583°N 12.44889°E | 55°18′48″N 12°24′35″E / 55.31333°N 12.40972°E | Store Heddinge 55°18'25"N 12°23'27"E |
| ESK 534 | Ajax / Hercules | Copenhagen | Tune | 1959–1981 | 55°35′20″N 12°10′11″E / 55.58889°N 12.16972°E | 55°35′33″N 12°08′37″E / 55.59250°N 12.14361°E | Roskilde Airport 55°35'4"N 12°7'1"E |
ESK 531
ESK 532
ESK 533
ESK 534
Launch control
HQ
NIKE sites around the danish capital of Copenhagen
Missile site, Radar site and Air stations 
Missile launch control center 
Staf/HQ, training and maintenance
Missile site, Radar site and Air stations Missile launch control center Staf/HQ, training and maintenanceGermany
[edit]94th ADA Group, headquartered in Kaiserslautern for most of the Nike-Hercules period had four battalions as follows, with locations:
2/1 ADA headquartered at Wiesbaden Air Base
- A Battery: Wackernheim
- B Battery: Dexheim
- C Battery: Quirnheim
- D Battery: Dichtelbach
5/6 ADA headquartered in Neubruecke
- A Battery: Schoenborn
- B Battery: Wueschheim
- C Battery: Baumholder
- D Battery: Hontheim
2/56 ADA headquartered in Pirmasens
- A Battery: Geinsheim
- B Battery: Landau
- C Battery: Salzwoog
- D Battery: Oberauerbach
3/71 ADA headquartered in Ludwigsburg
- A Battery: Dallau
- B Battery: Grosssachsenheim
- C Battery: Hardheim
- D Battery: Pforzheim
- In Pforzheim (Hagenschieß/Wurmberg), in Baden-Württemberg there is a missile launch site operated by the US-Army until April 1985.
It was part of the Nike-Belt, a defense system which was created to defend Europe against the then newly invented jets. The site fired Nike missiles at potentially incoming jets as part of the Project Nike.
![[icon]](File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
Greece
[edit] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
Italy
[edit]As of 1959 the Italian commanding unit was: Prima Aerobrigata Intercettori Teleguidati ( 1st Guided Missile Brigade) at Padua overseeing the sites:
The Italian Nike units were initially combined Nike Ajax and Hercules equipped but switched completely over to Nike Hercules in the mid-1970s. Each site with a US Custodial Team had an on-site load of 10 nuclear warheads ready to be launched at very short notice. The sites were using mixed warheads; meaning always 2 sections nuclear-capable (W31 selectable 20 or 2 kiloton yield) and 1 section only conventional (T-45 High Explosive) armed.[5] Another 60 spare W31's had been kept in permanent storage at grid 45°28'46"N 11°35'57"E Longare. These were supposed to be airlifted to certain Nike sites in case of deterioration of the international political situation in the world. The logistics train was airlifting by US CH-47's within 6 hrs after receipt of a coded message. This event actually took place in October 1962[6] during the Cuban missile crisis when NATO came on full alert. |
Japan
[edit]On Okinawa, the 30th ADA Brigade was on Okinawa. On Reversion Day, May 15, 1972, all Nike Hercules missile sites were handed over to the JASDF. Battery B,8th Battalion,3rd Air Defense Brigade was located on the Chinen peninsula in southern part of the island. The U.S. reverted the islands to Japan on May 15, 1972, setting back a Ryūkyū independence movement that had emerged.
Netherlands
[edit] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
Norway
[edit]Oslo Air Defense: Its regional missile air defense was composed of:
These were covering the Norwegian capital, the former Kolsås HQ Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH), the Rygge and Gardermoen airbases and the naval base Karljohansvern. Construction of the Nike batteries started in 1959; becoming limited operational in 1960 and fully operational in 1961. Initially operating both Nike Ajax and Hercules but later on only Nike Hercules, the Norwegian Nikes were only conventional armed with the T-45 High Explosive warhead. |
| HQ Nike Battalion at Linderud at grid 59°56'49"N 10°50'37"E |
| A Battery at Asker at grid 59°52'28"N 10°23'0"E |
| B Battery at Nes at grid 60°9'22"N 11°23'36"E |
| C Battery at Trogstad at grid 59°38'0"N 11°20'33"E YouTube footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWYAtR-XgTI |
| D Battery at Våler at grid 59°30'0"N 10°48'6"E |
Spain
[edit] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
Turkey
[edit] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
Taiwan
[edit] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) |
United States
[edit]This list is sorted by state. The "Missile type" code indicates the numbers and types of missiles and other installation details. For example, "2AK/18L-H" means the site contained two Nike Ajax magazines (A), located above ground (K), with eight launchers (8L) being converted to Nike Hercules (H). Many listings will have "FDS" following either the control site or launch site heading, which means that the site has gone through the "Formerly-Used Defense Site" program and has been transferred from DoD control to another party. With the exception of Alaska, in which sites were given a specific name, Nike missile sites were designated by a coding system of the Defense Area Name abbreviation; a two-digit number representing the degree from north converted to a number between 01 and 99 (North being 01; East being 25; South being 50; West being 75), and a letter, L = launch site, C = IFC (Integrated Fire Control) site. The Formerly Used Defense Sites (FDS) program processed many former sites and then transferred them out of Defense Department control.[7]
Alaska
[edit]The Alaska Nike sites were under the control of United States Army Alaska (USARAK), rather than Army Air Defense Command.
| Anchorage Defense Area: Sites were located around Anchorage to defend the city of Anchorage, Fort Richardson, and Elmendorf AFB. Situated at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, the Command Post hosted the regional air defense command and control facility. Manned by the 4th Missile Battalion (redesignated 1st Missile Battalion), 43d Air Defense Artillery in 1972). Site Point was a dual site, having two complete and independent firing systems (Two fire control systems and four launcher sections each having four launchers each and about 28 Hercules missiles) The damage caused by the Good Friday earthquake in 1964 caused one half of the site to be permanently out of action. The other firing system was restored to active duty and remained so, and was in fact the last Nike site in North America to be closed. Air Defense Command/NORAD radar sites at Fire Island AFS (F-1) and King Salmon AFS (F-3) AK were integrated into the Army Nike operations. Radars used at Fire Island were CPS-6B, FPS-8, CPS-4, FPS-20A, FPS-6B. Nike missile operations continued there until 1979 when the site was closed. Afterwards, the Army Air Defense Command Post was moved to King Salmon. Radars were FPS-93A and in 1982 the FPS-117 was installed. King Salmon Long Range Radar Site is still in use. Fairbanks Defense Area: Sites were installed to replace Anti-Aircraft guns defending the Fairbanks area, which included Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB. Manned by the 2nd Missile Battalion, 562d Air Defense Artillery. The sites around Fairbanks were inactivated in 1970 and 1971. The USAF radar site at Murphy Dome AFS, AK (F-2) was shared with the Army for Nike missile-defense system. The CPS-6B radar was removed in July 1958, FPS-8 removed 4Q 1960 until the Nike sites were inactivated in 1971. |  |
| Site name | Missile type | Defense area | Site location | Service dates | Control site condition/owner | Launch site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska (25 mi NE) | March 1959 – May 1979 | The IFC is mostly burned (prior to the fire, the IFC was used as a minimum security prison). Part of the concrete structures and the bases of the radar towers are still standing, and used for paintball wars by the local youth. Buildings are mostly gone, or only standing walls remain. 61°23′53″N 149°51′55″W / 61.39806°N 149.86528°W | Intact Launch remains, no use known. Abandoned and overgrown with trees. 61°24′21″N 149°53′04″W / 61.40583°N 149.88444°W |
| Point | Nike 4AK/16L-H | Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska (10 mi SW) | April 1959 – May 1971 | Obliterated; concrete slabs remain. 61°09′18″N 150°03′21″W / 61.15500°N 150.05583°W | Abandoned. Buildings torn down, launch pads consist of concrete slabs and bunkers. Land was transferred to the Municipality of Anchorage, and has been converted to a park. One of the Launch Bunkers has been converted to a Cross Country Ski Chalet with a large parking lot, and the other three Launch Bunkers are used for storage. 61°09′31″N 150°02′07″W / 61.15861°N 150.03528°W |
| Summit | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska (25 mi NE/Chugach Mountains) | May 1959 – May 1979 | Intact Army ownership, best preserved Alaskan Site. It has been in use as a secured communications site for various federal agencies, including BLM, FAA, FCC, FBI, IRS, and others. It is also used occasionally for communications exercises supporting various US Army operations. There are two adjacent ski recreation areas. Under restoration since 2009. Guided public tours are available June–September through a local non-profit organization. Site Summit is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[8] 61°15′29″N 149°31′42″W / 61.25806°N 149.52833°W | Intact Army ownership, best preserved Alaskan Site 61°14′52″N 149°32′54″W / 61.24778°N 149.54833°W |
| Jig | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Fairbanks | Eielson AFB, Alaska (5 mi S) | March 1959 – May 1970 | Obliterated Private ownership. Nothing remains except large open area. 64°32′04″N 146°59′35″W / 64.53444°N 146.99306°W | Intact, Private ownership, 1 launcher used to store dynamite. Many tractor-trailers on site. 64°31′38″N 146°57′51″W / 64.52722°N 146.96417°W |
| Love | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Fairbanks | Fairbanks, Alaska (10 mi NW) | March 1959 – May 1971 | Obliterated, State of Alaska control, demolished 64°59′02″N 147°53′08″W / 64.98389°N 147.88556°W | Obliterated, State of Alaska control, demolished 64°59′00″N 147°51′16″W / 64.98333°N 147.85444°W |
| Mike | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Fairbanks | Eielson AFB, Alaska (10 mi SE) | March 1959 – May 1970 | Obliterated, Army ownership, demolished 64°34′55″N 146°45′04″W / 64.58194°N 146.75111°W | Army ownership on Ft Wainwright property, The site is overgrown with vegetation, Nike launch buildings are relatively intact. 64°35′13″N 146°43′45″W / 64.58694°N 146.72917°W |
| Peter | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Fairbanks | Eielson AFB, Alaska (15 mi E) | March 1959 – May 1971 | Obliterated, Army terrorism training site, demolished but support structure for target acquisition radar still intact. 64°39′55″N 146°44′28″W / 64.66528°N 146.74111°W | Army ownership on Ft Wainwright property, Army terrorism training site. The site is overgrown with vegetation, Nike launch buildings are relatively intact. 64°40′27″N 146°45′03″W / 64.67417°N 146.75083°W |
| Tare | Nike 2AK/8L-H | Fairbanks | Newman, Alaska (20 mi S) | March 1959 – May 1971 | Obliterated, Corps of Engineers control, demolished 64°47′37″N 147°11′19″W / 64.79361°N 147.18861°W | Partially intact, Launch remains, serves as administration facility for Chena River Lakes Recreation Area 64°45′28″N 147°13′08″W / 64.75778°N 147.21889°W |
California
[edit]| Los Angeles Defense Area (LA): Los Angeles was defended by a ring of 16 Nuclear sites. Headquarters sites were located at Signal Hill, Long Beach, Fort MacArthur, and at the Birmingham Army Hospital. As indicated by the number of sites, Los Angeles, with its aerospace industries, received extensive air defenses. Initially manned by the 1st Missile Battalion, 56th Artillery, later by the 4th Missile Battalion, 65th Artillery. Beginning in the fall of 1958, the LA-40 and LA-43 Nike sites were manned by the 720th AAA Missile Battalion of the California Army National Guard. Eventually, California National Guard units assumed responsibilities for manning the other sites. In 1968, the Army deactivated LA-94. LA-29 closed 3 years later. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) LA-45DC was established at San Pedro Hill AFS, CA in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was initially an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. It was later equipped with the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system. LA-45DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site RP-39 / Z-39 The AADCP was inactivated 1 Sep 1974 along with the remaining Nike Hercules sites. San Francisco Defense Area (SF): San Francisco was defended by 12 Nike sites: SF-08, SF-09, SF-25, SF-31, SF-37, SF-51, SF-59, SF-87, SF-88, SF-89, SF-91 and SF-93.[9] Its defenders included both Regular Army and National Guard units. Sites SF-87 and SF-93 were deactivated in 1971. Three years later, the U.S. Army Air Defense Command deactivated the remaining missile batteries. When the Army abandoned the launch area of SF-88 at Fort Barry in 1974, the National Park Service assumed custody of the site, incorporating it into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Through the efforts of various volunteer groups, as of 1995, this is the only Nike site in the country that has been preserved and is open for public viewing. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) SF-90DC was established at Mill Valley AFS, CA in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. SF-90DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-38 / Z-38 The AADCP was inactivated in mid-1971. Travis AFB Defense Area (T): Established to defend the USAF Strategic Air Command, later Military Airlift Command base. The 436th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was active by 1955. The 436th AAAB was redesignated as an antiaircraft artillery missile battalion on 5 January 1957 and subsequently occupied four Nike Ajax sites, which went to 1st Missile Battalion, 61st Artillery on 1 September 1958. Controlling the SAMs was the 29th Artillery Group (Air Defense).[10] During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Travis battalion assumed responsibility for the remaining active batteries guarding the entire San Francisco region. Inactivated by 1974.  
|
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA-04 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/11L-U, (10L-H) | Los Angeles | Mount Gleason[11] (Angeles National Forest)/ Palmdale, California | 1956 – April 1974 | Abandoned, replanted with pines. No evidence of former IFC site. 34°22′32″N 118°10′33″W / 34.37556°N 118.17583°W | Owned by State of California. Rebuilt as Los Angeles County prison camp 34°22′41″N 118°09′03″W / 34.37806°N 118.15083°W | ||||
| LA-09 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Mount Disappointment/ Barley Flats[12] (Angeles National Forest. | 1956–1961 | Destroyed by fire, former LA County Probation Department work camp. On mountain peak, leveled flat for the base. Some buildings remain, in abandoned condition. Accessible to the public by hiking. No radar towers. 34°14′48″N 118°06′17″W / 34.24667°N 118.10472°W | Obliterated, LA Sheriff's Department Air Station 34°16′42″N 118°04′32″W / 34.27833°N 118.07556°W | ||||
| LA-14 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Los Angeles | South El Monte, California | 1956–1961 | Obliterated, Athletic Field of Rio Hondo Junior College. Fire Control largely preserved and accessible via hiking trail. 34°01′05″N 118°02′17″W / 34.01806°N 118.03806°W | Obliterated. Former missile pads still visible, apparently being used as a storage yard. Most of area now redeveloped into tennis courts, park area. 34°02′37″N 118°03′32″W / 34.04361°N 118.05889°W | ||||
| LA-29 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-UA, (7L-H) | Los Angeles | Brea/Puente Hills, California | 1958 – June 1971 | Private ownership. Site cleared and redeveloped on top of ridge. One old foundation remains of IFC, also some old roads not severely deteriorated Appears to be a radio tower, transmitter site and a large water tank on the site. 33°57′19″N 117°53′44″W / 33.95528°N 117.89556°W | Private ownership, fenced. Launch site abandoned, appears to be above-ground site with launchers located within berms. Concrete foundations badly deteriorated, only some building foundations remain. Much broken concrete lying around site. Large number of commercial bee hives. 33°57′34″N 117°53′10″W / 33.95944°N 117.88611°W | ||||
| LA-32 | Nike 1B1C/12H, 20A/8L-U | Los Angeles | Garden Grove/Stanton, California | 1956 – Mar 1974 | Obliterated, Private ownership, Light Industrial park 33°47′27″N 118°00′43″W / 33.79083°N 118.01194°W | In highly urbanized area. CAArNG, 458th MASH facility. Nike launch facilities obliterated by construction 33°47′32″N 118°00′10″W / 33.79222°N 118.00278°W | ||||
| LA-40 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Long Beach Airport, California | 1956–1963 | Obliterated. Hotel and commercial development. Location now a parking deck. 33°48′32″N 118°08′08″W / 33.80889°N 118.13556°W | Obliterated, Kilroy Airport Center 33°48′32″N 118°08′26″W / 33.80889°N 118.14056°W | ||||
| LA-43 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-UA | Los Angeles | Fort MacArthur, California (upper) | 1955 – Mar 1974 | Located at Battery Leary, Merriam, Upper Reservation, Ft. MacArthur. Fenced-in area, redeveloped with new landscaping. No sign of IFC. 33°42′43″N 118°17′45″W / 33.71194°N 118.29583°W | Intact, City of LA, White Point Park. Double-magazine site with Nike Assembly building evident, also concrete launcher foundations. Launch site roads still in place, overlaid by park facilities. 33°43′00″N 118°18′51″W / 33.71667°N 118.31417°W | ||||
| LA-55 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Los Angeles | Rancho Palos Verdes, California | 1956 – Mar 1974 | Obliterated, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Del Cerro Park 33°45′27″N 118°22′06″W / 33.75750°N 118.36833°W | Missile launch pads intact. Used as City of Rancho Palos Verdes storage area. 33°44′42″N 118°24′18″W / 33.74500°N 118.40500°W | ||||
| LA-57 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Redondo Beach/ Torrance, California | 1956–1963 | Obliterated, City of Redondo Beach, Hopkins Wilderness Park 33°49′45″N 118°22′27″W / 33.82917°N 118.37417°W | In highly industrial area. Missile site partially intact, used by City of Torrance, Torrance Airport Civil Air Patrol. No evidence of launchers. | ||||
| LA-70 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Hyperion/Playa del Rey, California (Shared with LA-73) | 1956–1963 | Obliterated, FDS, vacant lot just west of LAX runway 6R 33°56′48″N 118°22′18″W / 33.94667°N 118.37167°W | Nike launch facilities obliterated. Redeveloped into City of LA Department of Airports, Jet Pets Animal Services 33°57′08″N 118°26′18″W / 33.95222°N 118.43833°W | ||||
| LA-73 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Playa del Rey/LAX, California (Shared with LA-70) | 1956–1963 | Obliterated, Apartments, commercial use 33°57′33″N 118°25′59″W / 33.95917°N 118.43306°W | Launcher area was destroyed/obliterated in the early 1990s when Westchester Parkway was constructed. Also used by City of LA Department of Airports, Jet Pets Animal Service. 33°57′08″N 118°26′18″W / 33.95222°N 118.43833°W | ||||
| LA-78 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U | Los Angeles | Malibu, California | 1963 – Mar 1974 | Obliterated, no evidence of existence at end of former access road. 34°04′41″N 118°39′20″W / 34.07806°N 118.65556°W | Double-battery Nike. Concrete launcher foundations partially intact, Microwave/Communication Facility. Launchers probably intact. The former crew barracks are now used for county fire station personnel and the old launch bays appear to be used for storage. 34°03′35″N 118°38′46″W / 34.05972°N 118.64611°W | ||||
| LA-88 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/11L-U | Los Angeles | Chatsworth, Oat Mountain, California | 1957 – Mar 1974 | Partially intact, administration buildings at entrance standing, with what appear to be military radio towers. Most buildings razed and rebuilt as a Relay site. Many foundations remain with broken concrete spread around area, roads in deteriorating condition. 34°19′35″N 118°35′13″W / 34.32639°N 118.58694°W | Below-ground Triple-magazine Nike-Hercules site built up on high ridge. Largely intact and abandoned. Buildings in poor condition, some roofless, some not. Still fenced with closed access gate. Site is now utilized by the LAPD SWAT team for training. 34°18′41″N 118°36′31″W / 34.31139°N 118.60861°W | ||||
| LA-94 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H-30A/12L-UA | Los Angeles | Los Pinetos/Santa Clarita, California | 1955 – Nov 1968 | Intact, LA County Fire Camp #9 and GTE cellular relay station. On high ridge, elevation 3,750'. All buildings in use in excellent condition. No radar towers. 34°21′09″N 118°24′40″W / 34.35250°N 118.41111°W | Double-battery Nike launch area on top of tall ridge. Is fenced in, with a "No Trespassing" sign, guard shack and many buildings in good repair. Now US Forest Service facility. Magazines probably in good condition, launch area being used for trailer and outside storage. 34°20′55″N 118°24′29″W / 34.34861°N 118.40806°W | ||||
| LA-96 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U, (8L-H) | Los Angeles | Lake Balboa(formerly Van Nuys) / Encino | 1957 – Sep 1974 | Located on top of a mountain in the middle of the city. San Vicente Peak, has been turned into a Cold War memorial park. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, San Vicente Mountain Park. Buildings, some radar towers. 34°07′43″N 118°30′46″W / 34.12861°N 118.51278°W | In highly urban area. After being closed by the Army it was established as an Air Force installation, the Sepulveda Air National Guard Station. On that date, jurisdiction, control, and authority was transferred to the California Air National Guard. A section of the launch area is used by the CAANG, 261st Combat Communication Squadron. The site also hosts Squadron 3 of the Civil Air Patrol's California Wing. Concrete launch pads still visible. 34°11′06″N 118°28′56″W / 34.18500°N 118.48222°W | ||||
| LA-98 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Los Angeles | Magic Mountain[13] (Angeles National Forest) / Lang[14] (Santa Clarita), California | 1955 – Dec 1968 | Microwave relay site. 34°23′11″N 118°19′45″W / 34.38639°N 118.32917°W | Private owner, construction use. Most of launch site turned into a quarry. 34°25′53″N 118°22′32″W / 34.43139°N 118.37556°W | ||||
| SF-08 SF-09 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | San Pablo Ridge, California (SF-08 and SF-09 shared facilities) | 1955 – Jun 1963 | Obliterated, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. 37°56′56″N 122°17′28″W / 37.94889°N 122.29111°W | Obliterated, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Some berms still visible. 37°55′30″N 122°15′44″W / 37.92500°N 122.26222°W | ||||
| SF-25 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | Rocky Ridge, California | 1956 – July 1959 | Partially Intact, Las Trampas Regional Park and microwave communications facility 37°48′57″N 122°03′44″W / 37.81583°N 122.06222°W | Redeveloped, TRACOR Aerospace, Expendable Technology Center, Las Trampas Regional Park Office 37°48′45″N 122°02′33″W / 37.81250°N 122.04250°W | ||||
| SF-31 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | San Francisco | Lake Chabot/ Castro Valley, California | 1956 – Mar 1974 | Intact, Communications Facility Partially. Buildings, some radar towers. 37°43′25″N 122°07′08″W / 37.72361°N 122.11889°W | Intact, East Bay Regional Park District, Lake Chabot Park, Department of Public Safety, service yard. Missile pads used as part of storage yard and parking lot. 37°43′17.5″N 122°05′56.2″W / 37.721528°N 122.098944°W | ||||
| SF-37 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | Coyote Hills/ Newark, California | 1955 – Mar 1963 | Redeveloped, East Bay Regional Park District, Coyote Hills Regional Park Alameda County Sheriff's Department radio transmitter 37°32′24″N 122°05′03″W / 37.54000°N 122.08417°W | Obliterated, Coyote Hills Regional Park. Launch site buildings bulldozed, dumped into the magazines, magazines sealed shut, soiled over & the whole area re-graded in the early 1970s to make it look like a natural area again, and they did a very thorough job. 37°33′32″N 122°05′46″W / 37.55889°N 122.09611°W | ||||
| SF-51 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | San Francisco | Milagra/ Pacifica, California | 1956 – Mar 1974 | National Park Service, Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA). Buildings removed; foundations and radar tower concrete bases remain. 37°36′48″N 122°27′32″W / 37.61333°N 122.45889°W | Obliterated, Milagra Ridge (GGNRA). Launch pad doors still visible, but concrete has been covered by soil and is now a grassy area. 37°38′22″N 122°28′44″W / 37.63944°N 122.47889°W | ||||
| SF-59 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | Fort Funston/ Mount San Bruno, California | 1956 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into communications site. No evidence of IFC. | Partially Intact on mountain top, Fort Funston Park Picnic Area. Triple-magazine Nike Missile launching concrete pad now a parking lot for the Fort Funston hang gliding area. Buildings in use by park personnel. 37°42′53″N 122°30′06″W / 37.71472°N 122.50167°W | ||||
| SF-87 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | San Francisco | Fort Cronkhite/ Sausalito, California | 1955 – June 1971 | On mountain peak. Partially intact, buildings, some radar towers, tourist area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area 37°49′39″N 122°29′56″W / 37.82750°N 122.49889°W | Obliterated. Redeveloped into Marine Mammal Center. 37°50′06″N 122°31′51″W / 37.83500°N 122.53083°W | ||||
| SF-88 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | San Francisco | Fort Barry/ Sausalito, California | Mar 1958 – Mar 1974 | On high mountain peak. Intact but decaying and falling apart, NPS-GGNRA, camp site, YMCA facility. Most buildings intact and in use, some radar towers. 37°50′32″N 122°31′55″W / 37.84222°N 122.53194°W | Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area) across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, has been preserved as a Nike museum, complete with missiles (inert). This site was given intact to the National Park Service in 1974 after it was decommissioned for use as a legacy of the Nike program. It is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:30 pm. The first Saturday of every month is an "open house" with veterans of the NIKE program at the site. The SF-88L site has been restored by volunteers and National Park Service employees to the condition it was during the 1960s, complete with signage and various pieces of equipment such as the radars and control vans that would have been stationed on hills overlooking the site. One of the two missile magazines has been restored and has a working elevator and launch rail for the inert missiles. Site SF-88 is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Fort Barry Historic District.[15] 37°49′36″N 122°31′39″W / 37.82667°N 122.52750°W
| ||||
| SF-89 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | Fort Winfield Scott, California | 1955 – Mar 1963 | Partially intact, buildings being used, no evidence of radar towers. TV transmitter site. 37°45′28″N 122°27′28″W / 37.75778°N 122.45778°W | Intact, salvage yard. Nike launch magazines abandoned and partially covered by a layer of soil, used for open-air storage. The adjacent buildings are used by an EOD unit. 37°47′32″N 122°28′24″W / 37.79222°N 122.47333°W | ||||
| SF-91 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | San Francisco | Angel Island, California | 1955–1961 | The IFC on the top of Mt. Livermore Angel Island in San Francisco Bay has been permanently removed. The former radar site has been restored to its natural condition and is now enjoyed as one of the best views of the region by hikers and picnickers. 37°51′41″N 122°25′50″W / 37.86139°N 122.43056°W | Intact, NPS-GGNRA, Angel Island State Park. Three launch areas. This is an early Ajax-only site that was never converted to Hercules. The mountain between the launcher and the IFC was "notched" in three places to allow the Missile Tracking Radar to acquire the missile while sitting on the launcher. The three underground magazines are existent and in reasonably good condition. The area is off-limits to visitors at Angel Island State Park. 37°51′23″N 122°25′21″W / 37.85639°N 122.42250°W | ||||
| SF-93 | Nike 3B/18H, 30A/12L-U | San Francisco | San Rafael, California | 1957 – June 1971 | Harry P. Barbier Memorial Park. Two round ground pads, one square ground pad, and one tower with cyclone fence around the top. Nothing else is left. 37°59′52″N 122°30′09″W / 37.99778°N 122.50250°W | Redeveloped into Marin County Waste Water Treatment Plant. Launch "pits" used for reservoirs for the waste treatment plant. Doors have been completely covered with dirt. 38°01′26″N 122°31′15″W / 38.02389°N 122.52083°W | ||||
| T-10 | Nike 3B/18H, 30A/12L-U | Travis AFB | Elmira, California | 1958 – Mar 1974 | Redeveloped as multiple-family housing. Part of the facility exists to the west, with outlines of radar towers visible. Used primarily as a junkyard. 38°18′58″N 121°52′16″W / 38.31611°N 121.87111°W | Redeveloped, Private ownership. Several buildings were reused as warehouses. Nike launching pads are visible, probably all sealed shut. Looks as if it is being used as a storage/junkyard. 38°19′02″N 121°53′37″W / 38.31722°N 121.89361°W | ||||
| T-33 | Nike AG/12A/12L-A | Travis AFB | Dixon/Lambie, California | 1957 – Jan 1959 | Partially Intact, State of California Department of Health Services. Some buildings are in use, but no radar towers. 38°13′07″N 121°50′51″W / 38.21861°N 121.84750°W | Redeveloped, Private ownership, light industrial storage yard. 38°13′19″N 121°51′26″W / 38.22194°N 121.85722°W | ||||
| T-53 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Travis AFB | Potrero Hills, California | 1958 – Jan 1959 | Intact, Explosives Technology. Buildings in use, no radar towers visible. 38°12′32″N 121°56′31″W / 38.20889°N 121.94194°W | The property was transferred from the Army to the Air Force on 31 Jul 1964. On that date, it was designated as Potrero Hills Storage Annex; and jurisdiction, control, and accountability were assigned to Travis AFB. Now under private ownership, Explosives Technology. Launch doors are probably sealed shut but visible along with Nike concrete launching pads. 38°12′10″N 121°56′08″W / 38.20278°N 121.93556°W | ||||
| T-86 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-UA, (8L-U) | Travis AFB | Fairfield / Cement Hills, California | 1958 – June 1971 | Private ownership. Mostly intact, some IFC buildings being used for transmitter support with large radio towers on site. Radar tower outlines are visible. 38°17′57″N 121°59′57″W / 38.29917°N 121.99917°W | Redeveloped Solano County Detention Center and Animal Shelter, FSUSD bus yard. Launch doors are probably sealed shut but visible along with Nike concrete launching pads. Administrative Area buildings intact deteriorated. 38°16′34″N 122°00′08″W / 38.27611°N 122.00222°W | ||||
Connecticut
[edit]| Bridgeport Defense Area (BR): Regular Army units manned these sites after initial activation during 1956 and 1957, with the Guard assuming duties in the waning years. Headquarters facilities were located in Bridgeport. Only site BR-04 was converted from Nike Ajax to Hercules. This battery would become integrated into the New England Defense Area before deactivating in 1971. Hartford Defense Area (HA): Operational in 1956, these sites were first manned by Regular Army and later by Guard Units. Units from the Bridgeport Defense Area assisted in operating the Plainville site. Sites HA-48 and HA-08 were converted to fire the Nike Hercules missile and remained operational until 1968 and 1971, respectively. Both defense areas appear to have been manned by 2nd Battalion, 55th Artillery (Air Defense) at times between 1958 and 1964.[16] |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR-04 | Nike 3B/18H, 30A/12L-U | Bridgeport | Ansonia, Connecticut | 1957 – June 1971 | US Forest Service Insect & Disease Lab. Some buildings remain in use, most razed along with radar towers. In single-family home subdivision built since inactivation of Nike Fire Control Site. Some old roads still exist in the abandoned part of the facility, but no evidence of radar towers. 41°20′23″N 073°02′42″W / 41.33972°N 73.04500°W | Private ownership. Now part of a horse farm. Most buildings are still there, launch magazines filled in, concrete pads obliterated. Horses occupy the Assembly building. 41°21′02″N 073°02′56″W / 41.35056°N 73.04889°W | ||||
| BR-15 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Bridgeport | West Haven, Connecticut | 1956 – Sep 1971 | CTANG(CT Air National Guard), Communications/Radar site. Known as Orange Air National Guard Station. Home now to the 103rd Air Control Squadron. The site totally redeveloped, and no Nike site buildings remain. 41°16′04″N 072°59′31″W / 41.26778°N 72.99194°W | Obliterated. Part of Town of Westhaven, Parks and Recreation Department "Nike State Park" 41°16′18″N 072°58′47″W / 41.27167°N 72.97972°W | ||||
| BR-17 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Bridgeport | Milford, Connecticut | 1956–1963 | Town of Milford, board of education. IFC buildings are being reused in reasonable condition. Parts of the facility exist but are abandoned, lot of vegetation reclaiming the facility. Some radio towers but no evidence of radar. 41°13′41″N 073°00′57″W / 41.22806°N 73.01583°W | Private ownership redeveloped into single-family housing. 41°14′24″N 073°00′17″W / 41.24000°N 73.00472°W | ||||
| BR-65 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Bridgeport | Fairfield, Connecticut | 1956 – Mar 1961 | Town of Fairfield, Fire Training and Canine Center. Completely rebuilt, with no evidence of a Fire Control Site or radar towers. 41°07′42″N 073°15′01″W / 41.12833°N 73.25028°W | Redeveloped into South Pine Creek Park. Launch area is now a soccer field. 41°07′29″N 073°15′48″W / 41.12472°N 73.26333°W | ||||
| BR-73 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Bridgeport | Westport, Connecticut | 1956–1963 | Town of Westport, Westport/Weston Health District, Bayberry. Some IFC buildings still in-use, part of site also used by "Rolnick Observatory" also using old IFC buildings. Two radar towers still standing and evident, one of which now functions as the base for the Rolnick Observatory telescope. Much of site overgrown with vegetation. 41°10′16″N 073°19′43″W / 41.17111°N 73.32861°W | Obliterated. Site redeveloped as Bedford Middle School in 2001. Launch area was immediately north of current school building. 41°09′35″N 073°19′48″W / 41.15972°N 73.33000°W | ||||
| BR-94 | Nike 2B, 1C | Bridgeport | Shelton, Connecticut | 1957 – Mar 1961 | Now owned by Jones Family Farm and used in their wine production. In what turned out to be an ironic twist, the land was initially commandeered by the Army — and then was bought back by the family after the Joneses won a competitive bid against developers when the Army no longer needed the site.[17] 41°19′40″N 073°11′01″W / 41.32778°N 73.18361°W | Redeveloped into "Nike Recreation Fields", Town of Shelton. Baseball fields, recreation Halls, Tennis courts, playground etc. 41°18′29″N 073°10′21″W / 41.30806°N 73.17250°W | ||||
| HA-08 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/10L-U | Hartford | East Windsor, Connecticut | 1956 – June 1971 | "New Testament Church". No evidence of IFC site. 41°52′12″N 072°35′39″W / 41.87000°N 72.59417°W | Redeveloped into USAR Center. Nike launch site totally obliterated. 41°53′30″N 072°36′10″W / 41.89167°N 72.60278°W | ||||
| HA-25 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Hartford | Manchester, Connecticut | 1956 – Jan 1961 | Town of Manchester, Recreation Center. Also lots of single-family housing. No evidence of IFC site. 41°45′05″N 072°32′02″W / 41.75139°N 72.53389°W | Redeveloped into Electric Lighting Company. Nike launch site overgrown with vegetation. 41°44′20″N 072°30′57″W / 41.73889°N 72.51583°W
| ||||
| HA-36 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Hartford | Portland, Connecticut | 1956–1963 | Meshomasic State Forest[18] Abandoned, overgrown, some demolished buildings visible from ground. 41°38′18″N 072°32′42″W / 41.63833°N 72.54500°W | FDS, Abandoned and overgrown. Appears to have been bulldozed over and covered with soil after demilitarization. Some accessibility through a ventilation shaft to a small bunker room. 41°37′54″N 072°33′44″W / 41.63167°N 72.56222°W | ||||
| HA-48 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U, (7L-H) | Hartford | Cromwell, Connecticut | 1956 – Nov 1968 | Overgrown and abandoned. Quite a few of the buildings, except for a metal structure on the north-east corner, are still standing. They are cement-block shells. Totally obliterated, nothing left.
| Redeveloped into USAR Center, Transportation Company. Concrete launching pads visible but doors concreted over. 41°34′53″N 072°41′09″W / 41.58139°N 72.68583°W | ||||
| HA-67 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Hartford | Pinnacle Rock, Plainville, Connecticut | 1956 – Mar 1961 | Obliterated, Residential housing. 41°40′48″N 072°49′22″W / 41.68000°N 72.82278°W | Redeveloped into Industrial Area. Nike launch site totally obliterated. 41°42′08″N 072°51′13″W / 41.70222°N 72.85361°W | ||||
| HA-85 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Hartford | Avon/Simsbury, Connecticut | 1956–1963 | Talcott Mountain Science center (buildings/radar pads). 41°48′39″N 072°47′55″W / 41.81083°N 72.79861°W | Redeveloped into Tower View Condominiums 41°49′39″N 072°49′48″W / 41.82750°N 72.83000°W | ||||
Florida
[edit]| Homestead–Miami Defense Area (HM): Despite the undetected arrival of a defecting Cuban B-26 Invader at Daytona Beach Airport in January 1959, the vulnerability of America's southern frontier was not apparent until the Cuban Missile Crisis. As part of America's posturing against the Soviet Union over the issue of missiles in Cuba, a rapid buildup of forces occurred in Florida. Part of this buildup included antiaircraft missile batteries. Command of the arriving missile units was assumed by the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 13th Artillery Group, formerly of Fort Stewart, Georgia, which arrived at Homestead AFB on October 30, 1962. By November 8, this command unit moved 4 miles north to a location at Princeton. Initially deploying MIM-23 Hawk mobile batteries, once it became evident that the missile deployment would be long-term, the batteries were repositioned and permanent structures were built which employed above-ground Nike-Hercules missiles. Hawk missile batteries in southern Florida, manned by 6-65 Artillery (1962–71); 6-65 ADA (1971–72); and 1st Battalion, 65th ADA (13 September 1972 – June 1979)[19] continued on active duty until 1979, well beyond the 1975 demise of Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM). Army Air Defense Command Post (AADCP) HM-01DC was established at Naval Air Station Richmond, FL 25°37′24″N 080°24′16″W / 25.62333°N 80.40444°W in 1961 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. Site equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. In 1965, upgraded to the AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. One height-finder radar was later removed and remaining set modified to an AN/FPS-116 c. 1977. HM-01DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site Z-210. The site was demolished by Hurricane Andrew on 24 August 1992 and subsequently closed. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HM-01 HM-03 | Nike AK-3LH | Homestead–Miami | 2 mi WNW Opa-locka/Carol City, Florida | 1962 – late 1970s | Originally HM-01, Re-designated HM-03 Opa-locka Airport. Admin and IFC facility was located northwest of the intersection of NW 186 St and present-day NW 62 Ave. Razed shortly after closure in 1979 and transferred to US Navy for a Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center. Now Navy Operational Support Center Miami and Marine Corps Reserve Center Miami. 25°56′22″N 080°17′56″W / 25.93944°N 80.29889°W | HM-01 was Nike-Ajax. Upgraded to above-ground Nike-Hercules and re-designated HM-03. Actual missile area had 3 building to hold missiles, and rails to slide them outside. Exists in deteriorated condition east of and adjacent to the Miramar Armory of the Florida Army National Guard. 25°57′42″N 080°18′12″W / 25.96167°N 80.30333°W | C-2-52 Stationed there. | HM-40 | Nike AK-3LH | Homestead–Miami | 1 mi S of Card Sound Road & County Road 905, Key Largo, Florida | 6/1965 – 6/1979 | Relocated from HM-66. Largely intact, however the forest has just about won the battle to reclaim its former areas. Radar towers are almost invisible; access to any of the buildings is nearly impassable. 25°16′35″N 080°18′11″W / 25.27639°N 80.30306°W | Above-ground launch site. Transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1981. In 1982, the Navy transferred 4.2 acres in fee land to the U.S. Air Force, which operated a radio beacon annex from 1983 until at least 1996, first as an off-base installation of Homestead AFB, then as a detached installation. Dates of inactivation and disposal not known. Now mostly overgrown with vegetation. All buildings at the launch site have been torn down. Missile buildings have been completely removed, to include 3 foot thick concrete foundations. Missile maintenance/assembly building is only one still standing. 25°15′42″N 080°18′50″W / 25.26167°N 80.31389°W |
| HM-65 HM-66 | Nike AK-3LH | Homestead–Miami | 8 miles SW of Florida City, Florida | 10/1962 – 6/1965 | Originally HM-65, redesignated HM-66. Constructed during the Cuban Missile Crisis [October 1962]. In a two-week period, 24 hours a day, the Army Corps of Engineers literally built an island in the swamp by bringing in thousands of truck loads of earth fill to build an elevated land surface for the missiles and radars which would keep the equipment elevated above the Everglades water level. Site and unit moved to HM-40, with this site abandoned in June 1965. Buildings vacant, but given the remoteness of this facility appear to be in decent shape. No radar towers. Later re-used as an Aerojet facility but now abandoned. 25°21′43″N 080°33′42″W / 25.36194°N 80.56167°W | HM-65 was Nike-Ajax. Upgraded to above-ground Nike-Hercules and re-designated HM-66. Above-ground launch facility with built-up pads, but no evidence of missile launch facilities remaining. 25°21′38″N 080°33′09″W / 25.36056°N 80.55250°W | ||||||||
| HM-69 | Nike AK-3LH | Homestead–Miami | 12 miles WSW of Florida City, Florida | 1962–1979 | South Florida Natural Resources Center in Everglades National Park, under control of National Park Service. Now open to the public for tours by National Park Service staff. Exterior of the administration building and launch area can be viewed during the tour. Visitors are also allowed access to one of the sections barn's. Buildings in use, no radar towers. 25°23′17″N 080°40′59″W / 25.38806°N 80.68306°W | Everglades National Park, National Park Service. Largely intact and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 25°22′12″N 080°41′04″W / 25.37000°N 80.68444°W | ||||||||
| HM-95 | Nike AK-3LH | Homestead–Miami | 12 miles west of Miami, Florida | 1962–1979 | DOD communications facility. Demolition of this facility began in 2015 and is now complete. No structures appear to remain. 25°44′15″N 080°28′54″W / 25.73750°N 80.48167°W | Tamiami Trail (Now U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Krome Ave Detention Facility) 25°45′01″N 080°29′22″W / 25.75028°N 80.48944°W | ||||||||
| HM-85 | None | Homestead–Miami | 10 miles SW of Miami, Florida | 1962–1979 | Headquarters, Miami-Homestead Defense Area. | |||||||||
| HM-97 | None | Homestead–Miami | Homestead AFB | 1962–1979 | Now under control of 482nd Fighter Wing (Air Force Reserve Command) and Detachment 1, 125th Fighter Wing (Florida Air National Guard) | |||||||||
| HM-99 | None | Homestead–Miami | Homestead AFB | 1962–1979 |
Georgia
[edit]| The Robins AFB Defense Area (R) and Turner AFB Defense Area (TU) were established when the USAF Strategic Air Command based B-52 Stratofortress intercontinental bombers at Robins and Turner Air Force Bases in 1959. Two Nike-Hercules batteries provided air defense for each base and were manned by Regular Army units. These above-ground sites remained active from November 1960 until March 1966. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-88 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Robins | Byron, Georgia | Nov 1960 – Mar 1966 | FDS. Abandoned, buildings appear derelict with lots of junk in the area. Locked and fenced. No radar towers showing in aerial imagery. 32°40′28″N 083°45′55″W / 32.67444°N 83.76528°W | Above ground site with launchers protected by berms. FDS, now private ownership, fenced, restricted access. Appears to be light industrial estate. Many parked cars on site, probably employees. Berms around missile launch sites now around buildings erected in former missile sites. Many tractor trailers and new small business or manufacturing buildings on the site. 32°40′20″N 083°47′09″W / 32.67222°N 83.78583°W |
| R-28 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Robins | Jeffersonville, Georgia | Nov 1960 – Mar 1966 | FDS. Site demolished and cleared. "Missile Base Road". Area has now become a "Academy Sports and Outdoors" distribution facility. 32°37′29″N 083°21′53″W / 32.62472°N 83.36472°W | Former above-ground site with berms protecting launchers. FDS. Private property, with locked fence access. In aerial imagery, launch site appears to be abandoned and overgrown with trees and other vegetation. Difficult to tell with all wild vegetation status of launch site, no buildings appear to be standing, probably earthen berms exist under vegetation canopy. 32°37′42″N 083°21′05″W / 32.62833°N 83.35139°W |
| TU-79 | Nike 3AG/12H | Turner | Albany, Georgia (9 mi NW) | Nov 1960 – Mar 1966 | Anchorage; drug & alcohol rehab center. Many military buildings in use and well maintained. Aerial imagery shows 3 radar towers still erect. 31°38′00″N 084°15′24″W / 31.63333°N 84.25667°W | Redeveloped into single-family housing subdivision "Callaway Lakes". 31°37′50″N 084°16′42″W / 31.63056°N 84.27833°W |
| TU-28 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Turner | Willingsham/ Sylvester, Georgia (4 mi W) | Nov 1960 – Mar 1966 | private retirement home. Buildings well maintained, appears to be 3 radar towers to the east of the buildings still standing 31°33′16″N 083°54′56″W / 31.55444°N 83.91556°W | Above-ground site with launchers protected by berms. Private ownership, berms still in evidence in aerial imagery. Being used as an auto junkyard. Fenced with large number of hubcaps attached. 31°33′23″N 083°54′18″W / 31.55639°N 83.90500°W |
Hawaii
[edit]| Oahu Defense Area (OA): Originally, the United States Army Pacific planned to build eight batteries at six sites around the island. Eventually this plan was scaled back to four. The antiaircraft command post was at Wahiawa and Headquarters facilities were located at Fort Ruger. Unlike many of the stateside sites that housed missiles in underground magazines, these sites were simply open-air launchers mounted on concrete pads surrounded by earthen berms. The sites were deactivated in 1970. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OA-17 | Nike 12H/12L-H | Oahu | Kauka/Kahuku, Hawaii | Jan 1961 – Mar 1970 | On top of mountain ridge, under US Army control. Abandoned and overgrown. Buildings under vegetation, two large radio towers fallen on side visible . Probably facility is complete within the trees and wild underbrush. Access road to site overgrown with vegetation, inaccessible. 21°40′1″N 157°59′59″W / 21.66694°N 157.99972°W | Above ground launching site with berms protecting launchers. Mostly overgrown still under US Army control on Kahuku Army Training Area, abandoned. 21°39′52″N 157°58′55″W / 21.66444°N 157.98194°W |
| OA-32 | Nike 24H/16L-H | Oahu | Bellows/ Waimanalo, Hawaii (dual site) | Mar 1961 – Mar 1970 | On Bellows AFB, remains under US government control but abandoned. Four buildings still standing, no radar towers. 21°19′13″N 157°40′54″W / 21.32028°N 157.68167°W | On Bellows AFS, Twin Nike-Hercules launch underground facilities thoroughly overgrown with vegetation, abandoned. 21°20′55″N 157°42′27″W / 21.34861°N 157.70750°W |
| OA-63 | Nike 24H/16L-H | Oahu | Ewa/ Makakilo, Hawaii (dual site) | Jan 1961 – Mar 1970 | On top of mountain ridge, under US Army control. Two Integrated Fire Control (IFC) sites service the launch site, which contained twice the normal number of batteries. On 18 Sep 1968, IFC-2 was designated the Palehua AF Solar Observatory Research Site, activated, and assigned to Military Airlift Command with jurisdiction and operational control assigned to Air Weather Service. Part of this property (Control Site 5, from the Nike layout) had an even earlier use by the Army Air Forces. The Puu Manawahua Radar Station and Base Camp was a W.W.II Aircraft Warning Station, and continued to list in 1947 and 1948 USAF Installation Directories. Several Buildings standing also some radar towers. Access road to upper control site (IFC-1) inaccessible due to decades of vegetation growth taking back the road up to the top. Lower site (IFC-2) used as a state conservation baseyard. 21°23′10″N 158°06′19″W / 21.38611°N 158.10528°W 21°22′38″N 158°06′43″W / 21.37722°N 158.11194°W | Double above-ground magazines, on top of mountain ridge, under US Army control, Both Nike launch facilities overgrown with vegetation, abandoned. Berms still quite visible under vegetation. concrete pad inside berms partially clear. Access road also overgrown with vegetation, inaccessible. 21°21′51″N 158°06′45″W / 21.36417°N 158.11250°W |
| OA-84 | Nike 12H/8L-H | Oahu | Waialua/ Dillingham, Hawaii | Jan 1961 – Mar 1970 | At the summit of a hill above Dillingham Airfield, on state land. Several buildings standing; radio towers are recent additions. Currently used by the state of Hawaii. 21°32′45″N 158°11′41″W / 21.54583°N 158.19472°W | Dillingham Airport, Above-ground Nike-Hercules launch facilities overgrown with vegetation, no buildings remain abandoned. 21°34′37″N 158°11′42″W / 21.57694°N 158.19500°W |
Illinois and Northwest Indiana
[edit]| Chicago–Gary Defense Area (C): Site (C-98) Fort Sheridan hosted the headquarters of the Fifth Army Air Defense Command. Other regional command facilities were located at the Museum of Science and Industry, site (C-51) Orland Park, and site (C-80) Arlington Heights. Nike Hercules bases remained in operation at C49/50, C-72, and C-93 as well as at sites C-46 and C-47 in northern Indiana, until 1974. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) C-80DC established at Arlington Heights AI, IL in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was initially an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. It was later upgraded to the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system. C-80DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site RP-31 / Z-31. The Air Force ceased radar operations on 30 Sep 1969, and the AADCP was inactivated on 1 Sep 1974. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-03 | Nike 3B, 2C/18H, 20A/20L-UA, (12L-H) | Chicago–Gary | Montrose Harbor / Belmont Harbor | Oct 1955 – June 1965 | FDS. Razed and redeveloped into Montrose Harbor Park (part of the Lincoln Park extension) along the Chicago lakefront; on the former site of the control building is a beach restaurant called The Dock at Montrose Beach. 41°57′51″N 087°38′07″W / 41.96417°N 87.63528°W | FDS. Totally obliterated. Now a grassy area south of Belmont Harbor along the Chicago lakefront in Lincoln Park. 41°56′18″N 087°38′03″W / 41.93833°N 87.63417°W |
| C-32 | Nike 3B/12H, 20A/12L-U | Chicago–Gary | Porter, Indiana | 1957 – Apr 1974 | Partially redeveloped; now the location of National Park Service Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore offices. Some of the original buildings remain intact, but were repurposed by the NPS. The site is approximately half a mile due west of former launch site. 41°37′50″N 087°05′16″W / 41.63056°N 87.08778°W | Fenced and behind a locked gate, largely intact. Privately owned, abandoned and overgrown, surrounded on north and east by a new subdivision. Concrete pad still visible. Launch site buildings still have doors and window glass. Magazine launch doors removed; site appears to be filled in, with vegetation covering fill sites. One of the ready buildings on the south end of the site was sold independently of the main parcel, and is now a private residence 41°37′55″N 087°04′28″W / 41.63194°N 87.07444°W |
| C-40 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Burnham Park (Chicago) | 1955 – Aug 1963 | FDS. Totally obliterated by new construction. You can walk on the former IFC at Lake Shore and E 31st Street; now a nice little park with a playground and good view of downtown, Lake Michigan, Navy Pier and Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. 41°50′16″N 087°36′24″W / 41.83778°N 87.60667°W | FDS. Totally obliterated; formerly a three-magazine (1B2C)/12-launcher facility with battery at Lake Shore Drive off the end of what's now I-55, south of the McCormick Place complex. Now part of the McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary. 41°50′54″N 087°36′44″W / 41.84833°N 87.61222°W |
| C-41 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U | Chicago–Gary | Jackson Park (Chicago) | 1955 – Jun 1971 | On the south side in Jackson Park near the Museum of Science and Industry, at approximately 57th Street. The radar/control towers were built on Promontory Point.[20] Redeveloped; now Promontory Point Park. 41°47′46″N 87°34′32″W / 41.796134°N 87.575549°W | FDS. The administrative, housing, and launch complex area was located just west of South Lake Shore Drive, between the 59th St Harbor and Hayes Dr. The launch batteries and magazines were on the east edge of the Jackson Park Lagoons (facing east), about 3/4 mile away from the IFC radar site.[21] The site has been totally obliterated; now part of the Bobolink Meadow and a golf driving range facility. 41°47′03″N 87°34′49″W / 41.784142°N 87.580163°W |
| C-44 | Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA | Chicago–Gary | Hegewisch / Wolf Lake, Illinois (dual site) | 1955 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Abandoned and overgrown site at the south end of lake/state recreation area. Appears to be largely intact underneath vegetation overgrowth; old access road entrance at Ave J & 133 Street largely obliterated. This area is within the SRA on the southern shore of the lake. 41°39′27″N 087°31′55″W / 41.65750°N 87.53194°W | FDS. Abandoned site at the north end of the SRA/north shore of the lake, where S. Wolf lake Blvd. becomes S. State Line Rd. Roads in very poor condition, main access road overgrown by vegetation. Buildings have been razed but foundations remain; double-Nike-Ajax magazines badly cracked with wild vegetation overgrowing. 41°40′34″N 087°31′40″W / 41.67611°N 87.52778°W |
| C-45 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Chicago–Gary | Gary Municipal Airport, Indiana | 1957 – June 1960 | Redeveloped area in northern tip of airport now has a general aviation hangar, parking lot and ramp area for aircraft parking. Site is across Industrial Highway from former launch site. 41°37′24″N 087°25′02″W / 41.62333°N 87.41722°W | Razed but broken concrete pads still visible; former Civil Defense site. Also used as police firing range for the City of Gary, with former assembly building berm as the back stop. 41°37′28″N 087°24′43″W / 41.62444°N 87.41194°W |
| C-46 | Nike 1B, 1C/12H, 20A/12L-U, (8L-H) | Chicago–Gary | Munster, Indiana | 1957 – Sep 1974 | Completely redeveloped into industrial park on W side of Calumet Ave. N of 45th St. 41°32′41″N 087°30′29″W / 41.54472°N 87.50806°W (Approximate) | Launch site on W side of Columbia Ave. south of 45th Ave. razed in 2008, obliterated; missile magazines filled in, concrete pads removed. Developed into a local hospital system campus. 41°31′40″N 087°30′53″W / 41.52778°N 87.51472°W |
| C-47 | Nike 1B, 1C/12H, 20A/12L-U, (8L-H) | Chicago–Gary | South Haven / Wheeler, Indiana | 1956 – Mar 1974 | Private ownership. Now Blast Camp paint-ball park.[22] IFC is abandoned and very overgrown with vegetation. All buildings are still standing as well as several radar towers. Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 41°31′25″N 087°10′37″W / 41.52361°N 87.17694°W | Currently a paintball site under the name Blast Camp; site is in the middle of farm fields. Locked gate and fence; however, launch facility is abandoned and deteriorating – all buildings are standing, but they are in bad shape. Launch area concrete badly cracked, doors rusting, all of the magazines are filled to surface level with groundwater due to the high water table in the area. The Buildings and radar installations are fenced off as part of the paintball area, but the launch site is situated a quarter mile away, and on farm land. The launch site itself is not part of the paintball area. 41°31′59″N 087°10′01″W / 41.53306°N 87.16694°W |
| C-48 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Chicago–Gary | Gary, Indiana | 1957 – June 1960 | FDS. Redeveloped but abandoned; site of a former automobile dealership on Grant Street, now empty. 41°33′26″N 087°21′16″W / 41.55722°N 87.35444°W | FDS. Redeveloped into commercial/industrial site near NW corner of 35th Avenue and Grant Street. Some broken concrete remains of launch area. 41°33′20″N 087°21′29″W / 41.55556°N 87.35806°W |
| C-49/50 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/11L-U | Chicago–Gary | Homewood, Illinois | 1957 – Apr 1974 | FDS. Leveled and cleared; redeveloped into Patriots Park along 187th Street 41°33′02″N 087°38′51″W / 41.55056°N 87.64750°W | FDS. Totally obliterated; replaced by the South Suburban Rehab Center at 19000 S Halsted St. 41°32′36.0″N 087°38′12.9″W / 41.543333°N 87.636917°W |
| C-51 | Nike 2B, 1C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Alsip, Illinois / Palos Heights, Illinois | 1956 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Being cleared and leveled. 41°39′50″N 087°45′07″W / 41.66389°N 87.75194°W | FDS. Being cleared and leveled. Some traces of building foundations but nothing of missile launchers or magazines. 41°40′17″N 087°46′23″W / 41.67139°N 87.77306°W |
| C-54 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Orland Park, Illinois | 1955 – Dec 1961 | FDS. Site razed in 2006; now a vacant lot with visible concrete debris piled up in several places. Located at the north end of Centennial Park along 153rd St. between Huntington Ct. and Hickory Dr. 41°36′40″N 087°52′08″W / 41.61111°N 87.86889°W | FDS. Site redeveloped to Village of Orland Park Department of Public Works. Formally used as an ESDA facility for the Village. Administrative offices built over Missile magazines and sleeping quarters circa 1991. 41°36′21″N 087°51′29″W / 41.60583°N 87.85806°W |
| C-61 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Chicago–Gary | Willowbrook, Illinois / Darien, Illinois | 1955 – Nov 1968 | FDS. Totally obliterated. Now a forest preserve.[23][24] 41°43′20″N 087°57′50″W / 41.72222°N 87.96389°W | Totally obliterated and redeveloped into the Parkhurst US Army Reserve Center.[23][24] 41°43′41″N 087°58′38″W / 41.72806°N 87.97722°W |
| C-70 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Naperville, Illinois | 1956 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into an office park north of I-88. 41°48′36″N 088°08′50″W / 41.81000°N 88.14722°W | FDS. Redeveloped into Nike Park Sports Complex on Diehl Road 41°47′56″N 088°09′07″W / 41.79889°N 88.15194°W |
| C-72 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/10L-U | Chicago–Gary | Addison, Illinois | 1957 – Apr 1974 | IFC Redeveloped into a public park called Nike Park, in the middle of a much larger industrial park. Base of radar tower and control building remain S.E. of baseball diamond. 41°55′24″N 088°01′46″W / 41.92333°N 88.02944°W | Launch site re-developed into the headquarters building for the Addison Park District; the only remains are the existing fenceline as well as a van pad located to the north of the complex. 41°54′49″N 088°00′59″W / 41.91361°N 88.01639°W |
| C-80/81 | Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA | Chicago–Gary | Arlington Heights, Illinois (dual site) (Shared by C-80/C-81) | 1950 – Aug 1974 | IFC Redeveloped into 2 parks; no remains. 42°03′11″N 087°59′40″W / 42.05306°N 87.99444°W | FDS. Redeveloped into part golf course, part U.S. Army Reserve center. The building that housed the Missile Master site is still standing and concrete paddocks that held radar tower are still visible. 42°03′49″N 087°59′52″W / 42.06361°N 87.99778°W |
| C-84 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Palatine, Illinois | 1956–1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into open greenspace with retention ponds. 42°09′17″N 088°02′49″W / 42.15472°N 88.04694°W | FDS. Redeveloped into a corporate office complex. 42°09′26″N 088°03′30″W / 42.15722°N 88.05833°W |
| C-92/94 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Vernon Hills, Illinois | 1955–1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into Vernon Hills Athletic Complex.[25] 42°13′14″N 087°57′11″W / 42.22056°N 87.95306°W | FDS. C-92 Redeveloped into Vernon Hills Athletic Complex. Excavated into a pond. 42°13′32″N 087°57′26″W / 42.22556°N 87.95722°W Second launch (C-94) area redeveloped into Vernon Hills Water Treatment Plant but missile silos still visible. |
| C-93 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Chicago–Gary | Northfield/Skokie Lagoons Glencoe, Illinois | 1955 – Apr 1974 | The radar and control facility was located on the west side of Forest Way Drive two blocks north of Tower Road. This was a very compact facility. Cleared land, no evidence except a few pipes emerging from below ground; apron off Forest Way still visible. The site today is on the North Branch Trail on a leveled-off hill. 42°07′13″N 087°46′09″W / 42.12028°N 87.76917°W | The missile launchers were in a large bermed compound on the other side of the lagoons adjoining the Edens Expressway, about a quarter of a mile south of Dundee Road. Land cleared and being redeveloped into forested area. Launch area now fenced off and used as a dumping ground for dredging operations and is not open to the public, complex perimeter can be viewed from the bicycle trail. Minor remnants are still visible in the NE corner. Portion of the bike trail from Tower Road to the launch complex was original road used to access the base. 42°07′36″N 087°46′56″W / 42.12667°N 87.78222°W |
| C-98 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Chicago–Gary | Fort Sheridan, Illinois | Jul 1954 – 1963 | IFC existed right along the lakefront, but has now been developed and turned into an open prairie as part of the forest preserve. No remnants remain except some small broken chunks of concrete. 42°13′28″N 087°49′26″W / 42.22444°N 87.82389°W | FDS. At southwest of Fort Sheridan National Cemetery. Concrete pad visible along with launch door (sealed). 42°13′23″N 087°49′22″W / 42.22306°N 87.82278°W |
Kansas
[edit]| Schilling AFB Defense Area (SC): Two sites began construction in April 1960, but never made operational. Construction halted in June 1960 and land sold off to private owners. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC-01 | Nike 3AG | Schilling AFB | Bennington, Kansas (5 mi SSE) | Apr 1960 – Jun 1960 | Site was never operational, Private ownership, four long military buildings still exist with circular access road, usage unknown. 38°58′59″N 097°36′55″W / 38.98306°N 97.61528°W | Above-ground Nike-Hercules site. Never operational. Private ownership, berm and assembly building exits. Other buildings erected and still appear to be in use. Site appears to have been leveled, graded and fenced. Outline of fence evident in aerial photography. 39°00′20″N 097°36′32″W / 39.00556°N 97.60889°W |
| SC-50 | Nike | Schilling AFB | Smolan, Kansas (5 mi SSW) | Apr 1960 – Jun 1960 | Site was never operational. Private ownership, 4 military buildings still exist, usage unknown. 38°40′01″N 097°41′13″W / 38.66694°N 97.68694°W | Site was never operational. Never completed. Site guard shack and owner' house is a reconstructed Crew quarters. The launcher Area has about 7 launch pads with 3 underground bunkers and 1 barn with rails, about 80% finished when construction halted. 38°38′55″N 097°43′06″W / 38.64861°N 97.71833°W |
Louisiana
[edit]| Barksdale AFB Defense Area (BD): Two Nike Hercules sites, BD-10 at Bellevue and BD-50 northeast of Stonewall, were installed to provide protection to Shreveport and Barksdale AFB, which hosted Strategic Air Command bombers. U.S. Army Air Defense Command operated the sites with Regular Army units (possibly from 562nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment) from 1960 until 1966. Battalion Headquarters was located at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant located north of Doyline. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BD-10 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Barksdale | Bellevue, Louisiana | November 1960 – March 1966 | Almost completely intact, Now Criminal Justice Institute, and Bossier Parish School Board. No radar towers. 32°40′19″N 093°31′18″W / 32.67194°N 93.52167°W | Above-ground Nike-Hercules site, missiles protected by berms. Largely intact, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department, Bossier Parish SWAT field training site 32°40′28″N 093°30′35″W / 32.67444°N 93.50972°W |
| BD-50 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Barksdale | Stonewall, Louisiana (4 mi NE) | November 1960 – March 1966 | Now LSU School of Medicine, almost all buildings were torn down with little evidence of IFC. Mostly vacant land in the middle of forested area. 32°18′12″N 093°47′04″W / 32.30333°N 93.78444°W | FDS. Above-ground magazine protected by berms. Missile launch areas now abandoned and overgrown. Some buildings still standing, unknown condition. 32°17′37″N 093°47′16″W / 32.29361°N 93.78778°W |
Maine
[edit]| Loring AFB Defense Area (L): Four Nike Ajax sites were placed around Loring Air Force Base for protection of the USAF Strategic Air Command B-52 Stratofortresses. Headquarters facilities were located at Loring Air Force Base. Manned by the Regular Army 3rd Missile Battalion, 61st Air Defense Artillery, these sites provided defense for Loring and the northeastern approaches to the United States. In 1960, sites L-13 and L-58 underwent conversion from Ajax to Hercules missiles. These sites remained operational until 1966. An Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) was established at Caswell AFS, ME in 1957 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. It was designed for manual operations, using plexiglass plotting boards and telephonic inputs. The AADCP was later integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-80 with FPS-10 (2); FPS-8/GPS-3; FPS-7C and FPS-6A radars. The AADCP inactivated in 1966. |  |
| Site name | Missile type | Defense area | Site location | Service dates | Control site condition/owner | Launch site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-13 | Nike 2C, 1B/18H, 30A/10L-U | Loring Air Force Base | Caswell, Maine | September 1957 – June 1966 | L-13's housing area was taken over by the Air Force after the IFC was closed by the Army, and was redesignated as Loring Family Housing Annex #2. It was inactivated on 1 Oct 1980, declared excess on 15 Dec 1980, then reactivated on 12 May 1981 and remained in use until the closure of Loring Air Force Base in 1995. Now well-preserved in private ownership. Buildings standing, several radar towers. 47°02′07″N 067°49′06″W / 47.03528°N 67.81833°W | FDS. Well-preserved in private ownership. Buildings standing, magazines visible with launch doors visible. Also the lawn is cut! 47°01′42″N 067°48′34″W / 47.02833°N 67.80944°W |
| L-31 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Loring Air Force Base | Limestone, Maine | September 1957 – September 1958 | L-31's housing area was taken over by the Air Force after the IFC was closed by the Army, and was redesignated as Loring Family Housing Annex #5. It was inactivated on 1 Oct 1980, declared excess on 15 Dec 1980, then reactivated on 12 May 1981 and remained in use until the closure of Loring Air Force Base in 1995. Now into multiple-family housing. Site obliterated, little evidence of IFC, overgrown. May be a radar platform in SE corner near "Nike Road". 46°55′37″N 067°47′47″W / 46.92694°N 67.79639°W | FDS. In private ownership, buildings appear standing. Magazines exist, launch doors visible, probably welded shut, appears to be storage area. 46°55′03″N 067°47′31″W / 46.91750°N 67.79194°W |
| L-58 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U | Loring Air Force Base | Caribou, Maine | September 1957 – June 1966 | FDS. Partially intact. After the Nike-Hercules site was inactivated in 1966, used by the Air Force until Loring's inactivation in the early 1990s as part of SAC's GCCS (Global Command & Control System. L-58's housing area was taken over by the Air Force after the IFC was closed by the Army, and was redesignated as Loring Family Housing Annex #2. It was inactivated on 1 Oct 1980, declared excess on 15 Dec 1980, then reactivated on 12 May 1981 and remained in use until the closure of Loring Air Force Base in 1995. Now L-58C is used as a Long Range Radar (LRR) site by the FAA, designated "J-63" equipped with ARSR-4 Radar. Also used by the Air Force as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS) for NORAD. 46°53′10″N 067°58′13″W / 46.88611°N 67.97028°W | FDS. Partially intact. Buildings standing, magazines visible with launch doors probably welded shut. 46°53′02″N 068°00′33″W / 46.88389°N 68.00917°W |
| L-85 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Loring Air Force Base | Connor, Maine | September 1957 – June 1966 | FDS. Well-preserved in private ownership. After the Nike site was closed in 1966, was taken over by the Air Force which used it as a communications facility and satellite tracking site. Closed in 1993 with the inactivation of Loring Air Force Base. Radar towers removed. L-85's housing area was taken over by the Air Force after the IFC was closed by the Army, and was redesignated as Loring Family Housing Annex #3. It was inactivated on 1 Oct 1980, declared excess on 15 Dec 1980, then reactivated on 12 May 1981 and remained in use until the closure of Loring Air Force Base in 1995. 47°00′05″N 068°00′11″W / 47.00139°N 68.00306°W | FDS. Partially intact. Buildings removed, appears to be totally abandoned with no known use. Missile magazines exist however launchers appear to be concreted over. 47°00′30″N 068°01′06″W / 47.00833°N 68.01833°W |
Maryland/District of Columbia/Northern Virginia
[edit]| Washington–Baltimore Defense Area (BA, W): Numerous Nike installations were built in Maryland to defend Baltimore and the nation's capital. Several also were built in the northern suburbs of Virginia. Baltimore Area Headquarters facilities were located at Towson, Fort Smallwood, Edgewood Arsenal, and Owings Mills. Headquarters facilities on the Maryland side of Washington's defenses were located at Fort Meade and Suitland. During the 1950s, Fort Meade also hosted the Headquarters, 2nd Region, Army Air Defense Command. All but W-44 remained active until 1974. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) W-13DC established at Fort Meade, MD in 1957 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. Site was both an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master and later AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE Radar Direction Center. W-13DC was the first Missile-Master DC to become operational. On 1 October 1961 W-13DC was integrated with USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site RP-54/Z-227. Air Force operations ended 1 October 1972. AADCP inactivated 1 September 1974 and dissolved as part of the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. |  |
| Site name | Missile type | Defense area | Site location | Service dates | Control site condition/owner | Launch site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA-03 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-UA, (8L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Phoenix/ Sweet Air, Maryland | November 1955 – April 1974 | FDS. Redeveloped into single-family housing. No evidence of IFC site. Manning was by A/602nd (11/55-8/56), A/54th (8/56-9/58), A/4/1st (9/58-12/62) and MDArNG D/1/70th (12/62-4/74). 39°30′31″N 076°34′46″W / 39.50861°N 76.57944°W | FDS In private ownership, the barracks north of the launch area were demolished in 2010 but were previously used as the Jacksonville Senior Center. The Launch Area is still fenced in, although the access road to the magazine area leads to a storage yard and Commercial Driver Training course. Most structures are still present but have been repurposed as storage buildings. A new structure adjacent to "A" Section houses offices formerly used by the Baltimore County Fire Department Rescue Academy but now houses the Baltimore County Department of Public Works Safety Office and Training Academy. Magazines are intact, per Baltimore County personnel, are locked and dry, and are used for Confined Space Entry and Rescue Training. 39°30′59″N 076°34′11″W / 39.51639°N 76.56972°W |
| BA-09 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Fork, Maryland | November 1955 – December 1962 | After being inactivated by the Army, BA-09C was taken over by the Air Force sometime before 15 September 1967. It was used until 15 December 1975 for Civil Air Patrol use, being called Fork CAP Annex. Redeveloped into single-family housing. The Integrated Firing Control Site buildings & radars (formerly located at the end of Hutschenreuter Road in Fork were removed sometime in the early 1980s, and the property is now in private hands. Manning was by D/54th (11/55-9/58), D/4/1st (9/58-9/59) and MDArNG D/1/70th (9/59-12/62) 39°26′55″N 076°27′41″W / 39.44861°N 76.46139°W | Launch site with three intact missile pits located at the end of Stocksdale Road in Kingsville, MD. Assembly buildings are still standing but now in private hands. The entrance road has many abandoned trailers and also much junk along the sides. The Magazine area is overgrown with vegetation and appears abandoned. Buildings were torn down.[26] Magazine area looks like a storage/junkyard, concrete badly cracked. Launch doors are visible, probably welded shut more junk lying around as well. 39°26′49″N 076°26′52″W / 39.44694°N 76.44778°W |
| BA-18 | Nike 2B, 4C/18H, 30A/23L-UA (12L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland | 1954 – April 1974 | Partially Intact, Maryland Army National Guard. Most buildings were razed, with no radar towers. Operating units were C/54th (/55-9/58) and C/4/1st (9/58-4/74) 39°24′55″N 076°16′22″W / 39.41528°N 76.27278°W | Partially Intact, Maryland Army National Guard. Double magazine, launch doors appear to be concreted over, some buildings erected on firing pads. The buildings appear to be in use and in good condition. 39°25′27″N 076°15′58″W / 39.42417°N 76.26611°W |
| BA-30/31 | Nike 2B, 4C/18H, 30A/23L-UA, (12L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Chestertown, Maryland (9 mi W) | 1954 – April 1974 | FDS. Buildings in use as "4-H Park and County Fairgrounds". Appears to be in good condition, no evidence of radar towers. Units assigned were D/36th (/54-9/58), D/1/562nd (9/58-12/62) and D/4/1st (12/62-4/74). 39°12′49″N 076°13′54″W / 39.21361°N 76.23167°W | FDS. Barracks buildings in use, double magazine site. Facility fenced but appears to be open. Roads in fair condition, both magazines appear to be concreted over, large gravel pile on them, generally badly deteriorated. Remaining buildings in deteriorated condition. 39°12′14″N 076°14′12″W / 39.20389°N 76.23667°W |
| BA-43 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Jacobsville, Maryland | 1954 – Apr 1974 | FDS. Redeveloped as Anne Arundel County Schools Maint & Operations center. Buildings in good shape, no evidence of radar towers. Manned by C/36th (/54-9/58), C/1/562nd (9/58-3/60) and MDArNG A/1/70th (3/60-12/62) 39°08′13″N 076°29′49″W / 39.13694°N 76.49694°W | FDS. Double magazine site, now a storage yard. Buildings torn down, Launch doors visible, now welded shut. 39°07′43″N 076°29′48″W / 39.12861°N 76.49667°W |
| BA-79 | Nike 2B, 4C/24H, 20A/24L-UA, (16L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Granite, Maryland | Dec 1954 – Mar 1974 | FDS. Obliterated. Concrete slabs and some wooden curb stops remain, but all buildings have been removed. Some roads still exist as unconnected concrete. Formerly manned by the A/54th (12/54-8/56), A/602nd (8/56-9/58), A/4/5th (9/58-8/60), B/4/1st (8/60-12/62), MDArNG A/2/70th (12/62-3/63), HHB 1/70th (10/62-8/74) and B/1/70th (12/62-4/74) 39°20′45″N 076°51′23″W / 39.34583°N 76.85639°W | FDS. Double magazine in good shape. Most buildings being used by the Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol with small area used by the Maryland State Police K-9 Division. Thoroughly fenced in. Launch area well maintained shows both Ajax and Hercules elevators, and per Maryland State Police are welded shut. Site leased in about 2014 and is now Wing Headquarters for the Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol. Site is actively being restored by volunteers of Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol.[27] The Griggs House featured at the end of the movie, 'The Blair Witch Project' was located immediately behind the site, but has since been torn down. |
| BA-92 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A | Washington–Baltimore | Cronhardt, Maryland | 1955 – September 1963 | Mostly sold off. Small part US Army Reserve center. The buildings are all new; the motor pool, up a rise slightly, has a couple of older structures, but the place otherwise has been cleaned off. Units assigned are the 2071st USAR School, 326th Maintenance Battalion and 214th MI Company. Little evidence of IFC site remains. Formerly manned by the B/54th (12/54-9/58), B/4/1st (9/58-9/59) and MDArNG D/2/70th (9/59-9/53) 39°27′24″N 076°43′44″W / 39.45667°N 76.72889°W | FDS. Redeveloped into high-end single-family housing. A large planter covering the elevator of the "B" Section and some berms is all that remains of the launch site. 39°26′28″N 076°42′50″W / 39.44111°N 76.71389°W |
| W-25 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Washington–Baltimore | Davidsonville, Maryland * Nike Missile Base W-25 | Jun 1955 – Apr 1974 | Private ownership, complete and buildings look in good shape. No towers. After the Army closed the Nike facility, It was gained as an off-base installation of Andrews AFB on 21 Feb 1975, under Headquarters Command. At some later time it transferred to Military Airlift Command, and on 1 Jun 1992 transferred to Air Mobility Command. Closed by 1997. Units assigned: B/36th 96/55-9/58), B/1/562nd (9/58-12/62), B/1/71st (12/62-/65), B/4/1st (/65-11/68) and MDArNG A/1/70th (11/68-4/74). 38°54′12″N 076°39′07″W / 38.90333°N 76.65194°W | Former twin magazine site, intact, now Anne Arundel County Police Training Academy. Some construction on launching area, launch doors concreted over, but one of the two magazines had been converted into a gym. As of 2019, entire launch site covered by new police academy. Some administration buildings still stand. 38°54′09″N 076°38′28″W / 38.90250°N 76.64111°W |
| W-26 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U, (8L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Skidmore/ Bay Bridge, Maryland | 1955 – Nov 1968 | FDS. Redeveloped into Asbury Broadneck Methodist church. No evidence of IFC site. The units assigned were A/36th (/55-9/58), A/1/562nd (9/58-12/62) and MDArNG A/1/70th (12/62-11/68) 39°01′42″N 076°27′00″W / 39.02833°N 76.45000°W | FDS. Partial remains. Launch site now the parking lot for the Children's Theatre of Annapolis and athletic fields. The generator building, guard house and warheading building are present and largely intact. The northern missile magazine is still exposed but has been fenced off and is modified into an underground machine shop. The elevator is present but the hydraulics have been removed. This magazine is currently abandoned and is flooded to a depth of several inches. The other magazines are buried beneath a modern parking lot and have been filled with soil. 39°01′39″N 076°25′42″W / 39.02750°N 76.42833°W |
| W-35 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Croom/ Marlboro, Maryland | 1955 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into Croom Vocational High School. Some older buildings deteriorated. No evidence of radar towers. The units were HHB and B/75th (11/54-9/58), HHB and B/3/562nd (9/58-6/60) and MDArNG B/3/70th (6/60-3/63) 38°46′29″N 076°44′41″W / 38.77472°N 76.74472°W | FDS Redeveloped into Croom Vocational High School, the launch site is identified as the auto, building trades, and grounds keeping school. Ajax launch covers visible, some obscured by buildings, two launch doors for Hercules, probably welded shut. |
| W-36 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Brandywine/ Naylor Maryland | 1957 – Dec 1961 | The housing area in Brandywine, Maryland, supported Washington Nike Site W-36 from approximately 1957 – 1961. It was transferred from the Army to the Air Force (Headquarters Command) on 10 Jun 1963. At that time it was redesignated; and Jurisdiction, Control, and Accountability assigned to Andrews AFB. At some later time it transferred to Military Airlift Command, and on 1 Jun 1992 transferred to Air Mobility Command. Current status is unknown.[28] The IFC is now abandoned. Most buildings in deteriorated state, large amount of vegetation overgrowth. Radar towers appear overgrown also. Manned by D/75th (11/54-9/58) and D/3/562nd (9/58-12/61). 38°42′38″N 076°46′14″W / 38.71056°N 76.77056°W | FDS. Private owners, buildings in good shape, appears to be single-family homes built on site. Magazine area is in good shape, launch doors visible, probably welded shut. Looks like some vehicles are parked on concrete pads. 38°42′25″N 076°45′38″W / 38.70694°N 76.76056°W |
| W-44 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-UA | Washington–Baltimore | Mattawoman/ Waldorf, Maryland | 1955 – Jun 1971 | Maryland Indian Heritage Society, Melwood Horticultural Training Center. Buildings mostly razed, part of facility remains in SW corner. Operations were by C/75th (11/54-9/58), C/3/562nd (9/58-12/61), A/1/71st (12/61-3/63), MDArNG A/3/70th (12/61-3/63) and MDArNG C/1/70th (3/63-6/71). 38°39′09″N 076°52′07″W / 38.65250°N 76.86861°W | Maryland Indian Heritage Society. Launch site looks abandoned, buildings in deteriorated condition. Ajax and Hercules launch doors visible, probably welded shut. |
| W-45 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Accokeek, Maryland | 1955 – Dec 1961 | FDS. IFC site was largely torn down. A few buildings, mostly forested. W-45 was manned by the A/75th (11/54-9/58), A/3/562nd (9/58-6/60) and MDArNG B/3/70th (6/60-12/61) ADA. 38°38′33″N 077°00′45″W / 38.64250°N 77.01250°W | FDS. Launch site relatively intact, magazines visible however appears launch doors concreted over. Perimeter fencing is intact and sturdy. Site was formerly the Naval Research Lab-Field Site lower Waldorf; the small observatory on the barracks associated with this usage has been removed. Signage indicates that it is being redeveloped as residential housing. 38°38′37″N 077°00′55″W / 38.64361°N 77.01528°W |
| W-64 | Nike 2B, 2C/24H, 60A/24L-UA, (16L-H) | Washington–Baltimore | Lorton, Virginia (dual site) | 1954 – Sep 1958 | This site was co-located with the now closed Lorton Reformatory. Now the site of South County Middle School. Units assigned were C/71st (7/54-9/58), C/1/71st (9/58-8/63), VAArNG A/1/280th (9/59-3/63) and VAArNG A/4/111th (8/63-4/74). | Double launch magazine now District of Columbia minimum security prison. All six magazines are concreted over. Barracks buildings remain intact and little altered. 38°42′32″N 077°15′10″W / 38.70889°N 77.25278°W |
| W-74 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Fairfax/Pohick, Virginia | 1954 – Mar 1963 | Fairfax County ownership, maintenance yard. Only a couple of buildings standing. Two towers are still standing, covered with corrugated sheet steel. Manned by D/71st (7/54-9/58), D/1/71st (9/58-9/59) and VAArNG B/1/280th (9/59-3/63) 38°48′56″N 077°20′35″W / 38.81556°N 77.34306°W | Launch area obliterated, owned by Fairfax County and repurposed as Popes Head Park; a marker close the site, Virginia Historic marker E98 states: "During the Cold War a ring of Nike anti-aircraft missile sites defended the nation's capital, reminiscent of the perimeter of forts that protected it during the Civil War. Just east of here was located the launch control equipment for one of the three Nike complexes in Fairfax County. To the west stood the missiles, poised on above-ground launchers. The U.S. Army (1954–1959) and the Army National Guard (1959–1963) operated this battery. Built to oppose Soviet air attack, this complex and those in Great Falls and Lorton were three of thirteen Nike sites that surrounded Washington and Baltimore."[29] Both magazines were unroofed and backfilled with earth. Perimeter fencing intact. Some ruins are visible along the west boundary, including the crushed fuelling stand and parts of the acid storage sheds. |
| W-83 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Herndon/ Dranesville, Virginia | 1954 – November 1962 | Redeveloped into "Observatory Park". IFC was operated by B/71st (7/54-9/58) and B/1/71st (9/58-11/62)[30] 38°59′43″N 077°18′45″W / 38.99528°N 77.31250°W | Redeveloped into "Great Falls Nike Missile Park" 38°59′30″N 077°19′44″W / 38.99167°N 77.32889°W |
| W-92 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U | Washington–Baltimore | Rockville, Maryland | 1954 – April 1974 | FDS. Redeveloped into US Consumer Products Safety Commission Engineering Laboratory, awaiting conversion into Pleasant View Park by the City of Gaithersburg. IFC units assigned were A-71st (/54-9/55), D/602nd (9/55-9/58), D/4/5th (9/58-8/60), D/1/71st (8/60-/65) and A/4/1st (/65-4/74)[31] 39°06′23″N 077°13′23″W / 39.10639°N 77.22306°W | Formerly under US government control, National Institute of Standards and Technology. Remains in secure area, used as a storage area by NIST, but awaiting rezoning for residential development. Magazines were electrified under NIST control and used for covered underground storage. The elevator still works in one magazine and is used at times to move the larger equipment. 39°07′01″N 077°13′11″W / 39.11694°N 77.21972°W |
| W-93 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Derwood, Maryland | 1955 – August 1960 | FDS. Redeveloped into American Foundation for Autistic Children. IFC site operated by B/602nd (9/55-9/58) and B/4/5th (9/58-8/60) 39°12′37″N 077°05′24″W / 39.21028°N 77.09000°W | Still under US government control, Naval Surface Warfare Center. Magazine used as Olney Support Center, within a fenced area, manned and guarded 24/7. The assembly building still stands and is used as a warehouse. The generator building is still in use. 39°12′33″N 077°06′20″W / 39.20917°N 77.10556°W |
| W-94 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Washington–Baltimore | Gaithersburg, Maryland | 1955 – March 1963 | FDS. Obliterated, residential area. Now Nike Missile Park run by MNCPPC. 39°09′37.8″N 077°10′33.4″W / 39.160500°N 77.175944°W | Part of Army Reserve Center, in back of facility. Used as a storage yard/junkyard. Former Ajax installation with 12 launchers. Magazines were sealed during environmental hazards assessment in the 1990s but were then opened and badly vandalized. They have since been demolished to build a training facility. The land at 770 Muddy Branch Road (Excess Land Sale Only) is one of fourteen federal properties listed for disposal by the Public Buildings Reform Board in their 2019 recommendations.[32] The battery was manned by C/602nd (9/55-9/58), C/4/5th (9/58-6/60) and MDArNG C/2/70th (6/60-3/63) 39°10′51.1″N 077°10′35.5″W / 39.180861°N 77.176528°W |
Massachusetts
[edit]| Boston Defense Area (B or BO): Boston's Nike Batteries were manned initially by Regular Army troops. In 1959, National Guard units assumed control of B-03, B-15, B-55, and B-63. In 1964, the Army turned sites B-36 and B-73 over to the Guard. After the phase-out of the Nike Ajax system, sites B-05, B-36, and B-73 remained supplied with Hercules missiles. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) B-21DC established at Fort Heath, MA in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. In early 1965 the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system was installed. B-21DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site MM-1. The Boston Defense Area merged with Hartford & Providence Defense Areas in 1962, becoming the New England Defense Area. Air Force operations at the site ended in 1962, and Nike operations were inactivated in 1974. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-03 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Reading, Massachusetts | Jun 1955 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into multi-family housing. 42°30′26″N 071°05′53″W / 42.50722°N 71.09806°W | FDS. Redeveloped into a skating rink. 42°32′28″N 071°05′05″W / 42.54111°N 71.08472°W |
| B-05 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-UA, (7L-H) | Boston | Danvers, Massachusetts | Nov 1956 – Apr 1974 | Remains an Army Reserve facility. Former buildings still in use, mostly cleared no sign of any radar towers. 42°35′18″N 070°56′43″W / 42.58833°N 70.94528°W | FDS. Overgrown and abandoned. Mostly intact. 42°36′28″N 070°56′57″W / 42.60778°N 70.94917°W |
| B-15 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Beverly, Massachusetts | Feb 1957 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Abandoned. Appears to be a large water tower built on site. 42°34′47″N 070°52′34″W / 42.57972°N 70.87611°W | FDS. FEMA team headquarters, and missile site still accessible. 42°35′21″N 070°54′41″W / 42.58917°N 70.91139°W |
| B-17 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Nahant, Massachusetts | Feb 1957 – Mar 1963 | Located at Bailey's Hill Park. Appears to be the base of a radar tower remaining, no buildings. 42°25′09″N 070°55′46″W / 42.41917°N 70.92944°W | Now Northeastern University Marine Science Center. Launchers obliterated. 42°25′05″N 070°54′14″W / 42.41806°N 70.90389°W |
| B-36 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Boston | Fort Duvall/ Hull, Massachusetts | Jan 1956 – Apr 1974 | Formerly located on Hog Island, formerly Ft. Duvall. Now obliterated, Private ownership, housing. 42°18′01″N 070°53′46″W / 42.30028°N 70.89611°W | Formerly located on Hog Island, formerly Ft. Duvall. Now obliterated, Park, ownership by Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 42°18′06″N 070°53′50″W / 42.30167°N 70.89722°W |
| B-37 | Nike 2B/20A | Boston | Webb Memorial State Park/ Weymouth, Massachusetts | Jan 1956 – Dec 1961 | FDS. Now Nickerson Beach/Chappel Rock Park. Obliterated, overgrown. Perhaps some structures in the overgrowth. 42°18′12″N 071°00′41″W / 42.30333°N 71.01139°W | FDS. Located on Webb State Park/South Shore Association for Retarded Citizens (Mess Hall, EM Barracks and Missile Test & Assembly Building remain, pits buried but vents & ducts are visible). 42°19′01″N 070°58′03″W / 42.31694°N 70.96750°W |
| B-38 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Cohasset/ Hingham, Massachusetts | Nov 1956 – Dec 1961 | FDS. Now "Turkey Hill Park". One small IFC building remains. 42°14′23″N 070°51′08″W / 42.23972°N 70.85222°W | FDS. Now County highway maintenance storage facility. 42°14′14″N 070°49′50″W / 42.23722°N 70.83056°W |
| B-55 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Blue Hills/ Randolph, Massachusetts | Jun 1955 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Largely obliterated, now Massachusetts Audubon education center. 42°13′20″N 071°03′42″W / 42.22222°N 71.06167°W | FDS. Former triple Ajax battery. Very deteriorated state. 42°12′00″N 071°04′21″W / 42.20000°N 71.07250°W |
| B-63 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Needham, Massachusetts | Jun 1955 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Now The Charles River Center. 42°17′26″N 071°15′17″W / 42.29056°N 71.25472°W | FDS. A small not-for-profit community farm provides outdoor education on part of the site. |
| B-73 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Boston | South Lincoln/Wayland, Massachusetts | Jan 1956 – Apr 1974 | FDS. Now Massachusetts Audubon Society, Drumlin Farm. 42°24′29″N 071°19′56″W / 42.40806°N 71.33222°W | FDS. Obliterated, no evidence of launch site. Residential housing built in place. 42°24′35″N 071°21′37″W / 42.40972°N 71.36028°W |
| B-84 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Boston | Burlington, Massachusetts | Jan 1956 – Aug 1963 | FDS. Owned by Burlington Recreation Commission. Buildings are current home to "Burlington Players" community theatre company. Evidence of IFC structures on hill behind buildings. 42°29′24.38″N 071°10′39.49″W / 42.4901056°N 71.1776361°W | FDS. A parking lot for Northeastern University Suburban Campus (Innovation Campus at Burlington). 42°28′41″N 071°11′30″W / 42.47806°N 71.19167°W |
| B-85 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Boston | Bedford, Massachusetts | Nov 1956 – Dec 1961 | After being closed in 1961, the lease for this former Nike IFC site was transferred to the Air Force in 1965. Used as the Bedford Electronics Research Annex. The Air Force used the property until 1976. Today, partially Intact, Private ownership. Redeveloped into single-family housing. 42°29′29″N 071°18′13″W / 42.49139°N 71.30361°W | Missile pads partially Intact, Harvard University. 42°30′28″N 071°17′41″W / 42.50778°N 71.29472°W |
Michigan
[edit]| Detroit Defense Area (D): Built during the mid-1950. Headquarters facilities were posted at Selfridge AFB as well as the Detroit Artillery Armory. Between 1958 and 1961, the Army converted sites (D-06, D-16, D- 26, D-58, D-61, and D-87) from Nike Ajax to Nike Hercules. 3rd Battalion, 55th Artillery (Air Defense) helped man these sites. The Michigan National Guard assumed manning responsibilities for many of the sites in the 1960s. Sites D-06, D-58, and D-87 Hercules batteries remained active until 1974. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) D-15DC established at Selfridge AFB, MI in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was initially an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. It was later upgraded to the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system. D-15DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-20 / Z-20 The Air Force ceased radar operations when the Army no longer needed radar support and the AADCP was inactivated 1 Sep 1974. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-06 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Detroit | Utica, Michigan | 1955 – Apr 1974 | FDS. Abandoned, now known as the Rochester-Utica State Recreation Area and the Shadebush Environmental Educational Center. 42°38′37″N 083°03′33″W / 42.64361°N 83.05917°W | FDS. Owned by the Utica School District. New building and landscaping to the west of the former missile pads. Pads have been removed, with just disturbed earth and a cleared area where they were. 42°39′01″N 083°04′06″W / 42.65028°N 83.06833°W |
| D-14 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Detroit | Selfridge AFB, Michigan (Shared with D-16) | 1955 – Feb 1963 | After inactivation, the property reverted to Selfridge AFB. Partially Intact, Army Engineering Support Buildings 42°35′55″N 082°49′04″W / 42.59861°N 82.81778°W | After inactivation, the property reverted to Selfridge AFB. Now obliterated, although largely intact. Command, maintenance, and fueling buildings now serve as the U.S. Border Patrol's Detroit Sector Headquarters 42°35′45″N 082°50′55″W / 42.59583°N 82.84861°W |
| D-16 | Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U | Detroit | Selfridge AFB, Michigan (Shared with D-14) | 1955 – Jun 1971 | After inactivation, the property reverted to Selfridge AFB. Partially Intact, Army Engineering Support Buildings 42°35′55″N 082°49′04″W / 42.59861°N 82.81778°W | After inactivation, the property reverted to Selfridge AFB. Now obliterated, although largely intact. Command, maintenance, and fueling buildings now serve as the U.S. Border Patrol's Detroit Sector Headquarters. 42°35′57″N 082°49′50″W / 42.59917°N 82.83056°W |
| D-17 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Detroit | Algonac/ Marine City, Michigan | 1957 – Feb 1963 | Private ownership, redeveloped into single-family housing. The perimeter fence appears to remain. 42°41′51″N 082°34′30″W / 42.69750°N 82.57500°W | Private ownership. Appears to be a storage area for tractor-trailers. Magazines appear intact. 42°41′41″N 082°33′43″W / 42.69472°N 82.56194°W |
| D-23 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Detroit | Detroit City Airport, Michigan (Shared double Launch facility with D-26, separate IFCs) | 1955 – Dec 1960 | Obliterated, City of Detroit. Land incorporated within Alfred Brush Ford Park (also known as Ford Brush Park) at the foot of Lenox Ave. Nothing remains of the IFC except the MTR and TTR towers. 42°21′24″N 082°56′28″W / 42.35667°N 82.94111°W | Obliterated, City of Detroit. Located on Belle Isle, south of Blue Heron Lagoon, East side of Lakeside Drive 42°20′43″N 082°57′20″W / 42.34528°N 82.95556°W |
| D-26 | Nike 2B, 2C/12H, 20A/12L-UA, (8L-H) | Detroit | Belle Isle, Michigan (Shared double Launch facility with D-23, separate IFCs) | 1955 – Nov 1968 | Obliterated, City of Detroit. Now a part of Maheras-Gentry Park 42°21′22″N 082°56′58″W / 42.35611°N 82.94944°W | Obliterated, City of Detroit. Located on Belle Isle, south of Blue Heron Lagoon, East side of Lakeside Drive 42°20′43″N 082°57′20″W / 42.34528°N 82.95556°W |
| D-51 | Nike 1B, 2C/20A/8L-A | Detroit | Naval Air Station Grosse Ile (Now Grosse Ile Airport), Michigan | 1955 – Feb 1963 | FDS. Abandoned lot now filled with junk belongs to the Township of Grosse Ile and is leased to a landscaping company 42°06′28″N 083°09′18″W / 42.10778°N 83.15500°W | FDS. Has been completely demolished and made into a nature conservatory. A semi-circular embankment protecting the fueling area remains. This area is currently being run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 42°05′52″N 083°09′15″W / 42.09778°N 83.15417°W |
| D-54 | Nike 4B, 2C/30A/24L-AA | Detroit | Riverview/ Wyandotte, Michigan (dual site) | 1955 – Feb 1963 | FDS. Redeveloped into Immanuel Lutheran Church and a multi-story light office building 42°10′59″N 083°11′47″W / 42.18306°N 83.19639°W | FDS. The launcher area is now a public park with a Nike-Hercules missile and a plaque dedicating the site. The pits are still there, under the park, behind the fire station. There is one original building left near the launch site, which has been refurbished and turned into a hall to host Cub Scout events and such. 42°10′28″N 083°11′49″W / 42.17444°N 83.19694°W |
| D-57/58 | Nike Carlton: 3B/20A/12L-A Newport: 3B/18H, 30A/12L-UA | Detroit | Carleton/ Newport, Michigan (shared double launch, separate control sites) | 1955 – Apr 1974 | FDS Derelict, but partially intact. The Radar towers, Generator bldg., Van pads, and connecting building foundation are all there. D-58 control site is currently being auctioned to general public by General Services Administration.[33] 42°00′06″N 083°22′04″W / 42.00167°N 83.36778°W | FDS Redeveloped into single-family housing. D-57 site demolished, redeveloped into Ford Motor Co. automotive parts distribution center in 2021.[34] |
| D-61 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-UA | Detroit | Romulus/ Dearborn, Michigan | 1957 – Jun 1971 | Northwest side of what is now Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. 42°13′42″N 083°21′34″W / 42.22833°N 83.35944°W | East side of what is now Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. 42°12′08″N 083°21′06″W / 42.20222°N 83.35167°W |
| D-69 | Nike 2B/20A/8L-A | Detroit | River Rouge Park, Michigan | 1956 – Feb 1963 | Partially Intact, City of Detroit, River Rouge Park. 42°21′29″N 083°15′12″W / 42.35806°N 83.25333°W | Obliterated, City of Detroit. Redeveloped into Howard Cassidy Park. 42°20′27″N 083°14′59″W / 42.34083°N 83.24972°W |
| D-86 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Detroit | Franklin/ Bingham, Michigan | 1957 – Feb 1963 | Site is now the location of a couple of office buildings. 42°29′12″N 083°17′43″W / 42.48667°N 83.29528°W | Partially intact. It resides within an Army Reserve facility. 42°29′30″N 083°18′29″W / 42.49167°N 83.30806°W |
| D-87 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U, (10L-H) | Detroit | Commerce/ Union Lake, Michigan | 1955 – Apr 1974 | FDS. Almost intact – buildings still exist but are vandalized and a section has major fire damage. It is also owned by the Michigan DNR. It was being used as a Day Camp for children, but is now abandoned.[35] 42°35′48″N 083°28′15″W / 42.59667°N 83.47083°W | FDS. Demolished, open lot owned by Michigan DNR. 42°35′57″N 083°28′00″W / 42.59917°N 83.46667°W |
| D-97 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Detroit | Auburn Hills, Michigan | 1955 – Feb 1963 | Obliterated, Oakland Community College 42°38′41″N 083°13′24″W / 42.64472°N 83.22333°W | Obliterated by 1997. Oakland Community College. Was used as a storage site for construction supplies by the university's building contractors at first. 42°38′35″N 083°14′01″W / 42.64306°N 83.23361°W |
Minnesota
[edit]| Minneapolis–St.Paul Defense Area (MS): In operation from 1959 until 1971, the following four Nike Hercules batteries guarded the approaches to the Twin Cities. The Birdie command and control facility, located at Snelling Air Force Station, provided target designation information to the batteries. Headquarters facilities were also located at Snelling. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS-20 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Roberts, Wisconsin | Oct 1959 – Jun 1971 | Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to Saint Croix County 45°01′18″N 092°33′41″W / 45.02167°N 92.56139°W | Launch site in good condition. Fenced and gated. Also used as a self-storage site. 45°01′47″N 092°33′13″W / 45.02972°N 92.55361°W |
| MS-40 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Castle Rock, Minnesota | Oct 1959 – Jun 1971 | USAR Center. 44°38′36″N 093°09′50″W / 44.64333°N 93.16389°W | Is on County Road 80S in Castle Rock, Minnesota. Used to be well preserved for its years of age and disuse, but the underground batteries were demolished and filled in 2001. It was formerly under private ownership, used as an Airsoft gaming facility, most notably by the Minnesota Airsoft Association. The owner had planned to use it as a Law Enforcement Training facility, however, after rejecting a bid submitted by a construction company owned by the Planning Commission Chairman, the owners requests for permits were rejected. The site is currently for sale. It is home to a MNDOT radio tower. It is also a safe haven for deer chased by hunters in the area, as it is completely fenced in. 44°34′17″N 093°04′37″W / 44.57139°N 93.07694°W |
| MS-70 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota | Oct 1959 – Jun 1971 | Private ownership. Partially intact, on "Nike Road". 44°56′07″N 093°45′24″W / 44.93528°N 93.75667°W | FDS Private ownership in good condition. 44°57′05″N 093°46′52″W / 44.95139°N 93.78111°W |
| MS-90 | 3D/18H/12L-U | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Bethel/ Isanti, Minnesota | 1959 – Jun 1971 | Isanti County Sheriff's Department. 45°26′22″N 093°20′16″W / 45.43944°N 93.33778°W | Private ownership, largely intact. 45°26′52″N 093°20′46″W / 45.44778°N 93.34611°W |
Missouri
[edit]| Kansas City Defense Area (KC): Two Nike Hercules batteries, dubbed Lawson and Lone Jack, guarded the eastern approaches to Kansas City. The Corps of Engineers Kansas City District commenced work on these sites in late spring 1958. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) KC-65DC was established at Olathe AFS, KS in 1959 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. KC-65DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-72 / Z-72. Air Force operations ended 8 Sep 1968; the AADCP inactivated in 1969 St. Louis Defense Area (SL): The Chicago District of the Corps of Engineers oversaw the design and construction. Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) SL-47DC was established at Belleville AFS, IL in 1959 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. SL-47DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-70 / Z-70. The site was closed on 18 June 1968. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC-10 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Kansas City | Lawson, Missouri | Nov 1959 – Feb 1964 | Private Ownership. Three well preserved buildings are in good shape, and several others deteriorated; sidewalks between buildings exist as also the base of the flagpole. Several radar towers standing, several buildings in radar area deteriorating, and some loose concrete on site. Area fenced and gated. 39°24′55″N 094°10′24″W / 39.41528°N 94.17333°W | Private ownership. Buildings deteriorated but intact. Concreted areas cracked and in poor condition. Magazine area appears to be an auto junkyard, although intact, appears to be a large garage, auto dismantling building erected over the magazine. 39°26′06″N 094°10′22″W / 39.43500°N 94.17278°W |
| KC-30 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Kansas City | Pleasant Hill, Missouri | Nov 1959 – Feb 1969 | Private ownership, development company. Buildings torn down, foundations remain. Roads exist with severe cracking in poor shape. 38°49′52″N 094°09′41″W / 38.83111°N 94.16139°W | Intact appears to be in private hands. Buildings were torn down, some new structures erected, and a bunch of old boats and trucks stored on site; may be a junkyard. Concrete around magazines severely cracked both Ajax and Hercules doors. Bay doors and elevators still work and are still in use by owners. 38°48′59″N 094°09′22″W / 38.81639°N 94.15611°W |
| KC-60 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Kansas City | Gardner, Kansas (2 mi S) | Nov 1959 – Feb 1969 | Redeveloped into Gardner Unified School offices. The site totally redeveloped with new buildings. No evidence of IFC remains.... 38°46′34″N 094°55′42″W / 38.77611°N 94.92833°W | FDS. Located behind single-family home subdivision 20260 South Garnder Road. The old missile site is clearly visible with satellite imagery, including the three silos. 38°45′38″N 094°56′04″W / 38.76056°N 94.93444°W |
| KC-80 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Kansas City | Fort Leavenworth, Kansas | Nov 1959 – Feb 1969 | Redeveloped. Single-family home. Large wooded area around the home appears to be totally redeveloped with no evidence of IFC, although may be parts of the facility in the woods to the southwest of the house. 39°20′29″N 094°57′04″W / 39.34139°N 94.95111°W | Mix of new and old buildings. Currently used as the Rod & Gun Club and the 35th Infantry Division (Mech) motor pool/maintenance facility. The vehicle park is on top of the three magazines. Large number of cars, boats, large RVs. Doors probably welded shut. 39°21′42″N 094°56′24″W / 39.36167°N 94.94000°W |
| SL-10 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Saint Louis | Marine, Illinois | May 1960 – Dec 1968 | Access road to highway 4 only remnants of IFC site. Contaminated soil remediated on site. The village has constructed wastewater treatment lagoons on 1/3 of the site. The rest of the site is used by farmers. Fenced. | Private ownership, Old Army building still standing most in good condition, along with the roads. The concrete area around magazines, in good shape, appears to be used as a storage yard. 38°49′56″N 089°47′25″W / 38.83222°N 89.79028°W |
| SL-40 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Saint Louis | Hecker, Illinois | May 1960 – Dec 1968 | Private Ownership – Purchased 7-12-14 by Ron Mertens of Smithton IL. Beck VoTech School. Buildings appear in excellent condition. | FDS. Abandoned. Most buildings remain, Concrete in magazine area cracked. Launchers appear to be concreted over. Fenced. |
| SL-60 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Saint Louis | Pacific, Missouri (5 mi S) | 1960 – Dec 1968 | Private ownership, now MPL Industries. On "Nike Base Road". Mostly redeveloped, many buildings remain in good shape, sidewalks still connecting buildings. Troop barracks are used for storage for Nike Elementary School in the Meramec Valley R-3 school district. Air strip is now part of Evergreen Lakes subdivision. 38°24′30″N 090°45′16″W / 38.40833°N 90.75444°W | Road back to launch site from IFC in good shape. Fenced and gated. Site is now used as a bus parking lot for Meramec Valley R-3 school district. Some buildings exist, launcher area intact. 38°24′13″N 090°45′18″W / 38.40361°N 90.75500°W |
| SL-90 | Nike 3D/18H/12L-U | Saint Louis | Alton/ Pere Marquette May, Illinois | 1960 – Dec 1968 | Intact, Abandoned, Pere Marquette State Park. Overgrown, most buildings underneath veneration canopy. Still behind locked gate and fenced. 38°58′55″N 090°30′32″W / 38.98194°N 90.50889°W | Abandoned, Pere Marquette State Park, kits if debris on the launchers, site used as a storage yard. 38°59′43″N 090°30′36″W / 38.99528°N 90.51000°W |
Nebraska
[edit]| Lincoln AFB Defense Area (LI): The missiles provided defense for SAC B-47 bombers and Atlas missiles stationed at and around Lincoln AFB between 1960 and 1966. Offutt AFB Defense Area (OF): Provided a Nike Hercules defense for Omaha's Offutt AFB, which was the Headquarters of the Strategic Air Command. Offutt also hosted SAC tankers and Atlas missiles were deployed around the area in the early 1960s. An Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) was established at Omaha AFS, NE in 1959 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. The AAFC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-71 / Z-71. The site was inactivated on 8 Sep 1968. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI-01 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Lincoln | Ceresco/Davey, Nebraska | 1960 – Jun 1966 | Raymond Central High School some buildings intact but site greatly modified for school 41°01′24″N 096°44′50″W / 41.02333°N 96.74722°W | Above-ground magazines protected by berms. Abandoned, in private hands. Buildings standing and in use. Being used as an auto junkyard, large numbers of junk cars stored in missile firing pads. 41°02′10″N 096°44′25″W / 41.03611°N 96.74028°W |
| LI-50 | Nike 3AG/12H/!@L-H | Lincoln | Martell, Nebraska | 1960 – Jun 1966 | In private ownership. Buildings in good condition and in use. Undetermined purpose Site largely intact barracks has been torn down. One radar tower standing. 40°39′18″N 096°49′41″W / 40.65500°N 96.82806°W | Fenced and gated above-ground magazines protected by berms. Buildings still standing, missile firing area in good condition. A few vehicles being stored in abandoned berm area, appears in good shape. Used for herding rams and storage. 40°38′45″N 096°49′25″W / 40.64583°N 96.82361°W |
| OF-10 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Offutt AFB | Treynor, Iowa | 1960–1966 | Green Hills Area Education Agency Central Office. Buildings in good shape. 41°13′50″N 095°42′49″W / 41.23056°N 95.71361°W | Above-ground firing site, although no berms visible. Private ownership, good shape. 41°13′50″N 095°41′57″W / 41.23056°N 95.69917°W |
| OF-60 | Nike 3AG/12H/12L-H | Offutt | Louisville, Nebraska | 1960–1966 | FDS. In private hands. Buildings in good shape, Radar tower bases visible. 40°59′18″N 096°04′26″W / 40.98833°N 96.07389°W | FDS. In private hands, appears in good shape. 40°59′00″N 096°05′28″W / 40.98333°N 96.09111°W |
New Jersey
[edit]| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH23/25 | Nike Ajax and Hercules[36] | Philadelphia | Lumberton | 1956–1974[36] | Demolished Nov 2015 for a housing development. Two radar towers remain on the property of a landscape business. 39°57′46″N 74°46′51″W / 39.96278°N 74.78083°W | Buildings Demolished Sept 2015 Magazines are there and part of a municipal maintenance facility |
Links: Sandy Hook Tours :: Site NY-56 :: Gateway National Park :: NJ 14 Missile Bases :: NY-56 History :: Trip Advisor :: Highlands Air Force Station
New Mexico
[edit]| Walker AFB Defense Area (W): As a Strategic Air Command base, it was determined that Walker should be defended by a Nike Hercules battalion. The 6/2d was activated at Walker on 20 April 1960; it was then inactivated on 25 June 1960, without ever being declared operational, the construction then subsequently abandoned. |  |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-10 | Nike 3AG (never operational) | Walker | Roswell, New Mexico | Never operational | Intact, NMArNG Miliray Academy. Buildings standing, looks abandoned. 33°25′20″N 104°20′50″W / 33.42222°N 104.34722°W | Intact, MNArNG training site. Abandoned. |
| W-50 | Nike 3AG (never operational) | Walker | Hagerman, New Mexico | Never operational | Demolished, Roswell Correctional Center Partially 33°08′27″N 104°32′34″W / 33.14083°N 104.54278°W | Intact, abandoned. Built on a former World War II auxiliary field (#3) of Roswell AAF. 33°07′34″N 104°32′38″W / 33.12611°N 104.54389°W |
| Launch Site One | Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-UA, (7L-H) | No Defense Area | McGregor Guided Missile Range, New Mexico | 1957 – Dec 1992 | FDS | FDS |
New York
[edit]| Niagara Falls–Buffalo Defense Area (NF, BU): Buffalo and Niagara Falls were separate Defense Areas until their merger in December 1961. Before consolidation, the Niagara Falls Defense Area was commanded from historic Fort Niagara. Both Regular Army and Army National Guard Units operated these batteries. The Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) NF-17DC established at Lockport AFS, NY in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. NF-17DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-21 / Z-21. Nike operations at the site inactivated in 1962. New York Defense Area (NY): Combined with the sites located in New Jersey, the New York sites composed one of the largest defensive nets in the nation. Headquarters facilities were located at Tappan, Fort Totten, Fort Wadsworth, and Roslyn. Initially, New York's air defenses had been manually coordinated from Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Later, Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) NY-55DC was established at Highlands AFS, NJ in June 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. Later the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system was installed. NY-55DC was integrated with the USAF Air Defense Command/NORAD Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense radar network as Site P-9 / Z-9 Air Force operations at the site ended on 1 July 1966, and Nike operations were inactivated on 31 Oct 1974. As in several other states, during the 1960s the National Guard assumed a greater role in operating the sites. |   |
| Site Name | Missile Type | Defense Area | Site Location | Service Dates | Control Site condition/owner | Launch Site condition/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BU-09 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | Niagara/ Buffalo | Ransom Creek/ Millersport, New York | 1956 – Dec 1961 | FDS. Some military buildings being used by city as offices. Most of site has been obliterated, fenceline visible in aerial imagery. 43°03′14″N 078°43′13″W / 43.05389°N 78.72028°W | FDS. Buildings in good condition, magazine area in use by the city police department as a vehicle storage area. |
| BU-18 | Nike 3B/18H, 30A/12L-U | Niagara/ Buffalo | Lancaster/ Milgrove, New York | 1956 – Mar 1970 | FDS. Lancaster (town) Police Department and local government office. Largely redeveloped, although several old IFC buildings still used. 42°55′46″N 078°37′12″W / 42.92944°N 78.62000°W | FDS. Appears in good condition, buildings in use. Magazine area used by construction company for equipment repair/storage. Electrified with working elevators. |
| BU-34/35 | Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA | Niagara/ Buffalo | Orchard Park, New York (dual site) | 1956 – Mar 1963 | FDS. Vacant land. Some IFC roads exist, no structures. 42°47′34″N 078°41′56″W / 42.79278°N 78.69889°W | FDS. Largely obliterated. Buildings at beginning of entrance road, former underground double magazine. Aerial image shows faint evidence of launcher area appears to be covered with soil. |
| BU-52 | Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA | Niagara/ Buffalo | Hamburg, New York (dual site) | 1956 – Dec 1961 | The IFC was located off New Lake View Road, at 2 E. Heltz Road, and is now offices for the Town of Hamburg and as part of Lakeview Road Recreation Area. Obliterated. 42°42′37″N 078°53′30″W / 42.71028°N 78.89167°W | Was a double-site Launcher and Integrated Fire Control Area for Nike-Ajax Missiles. In use by state highway department and is currently covered by a bike track, a Hamburg Town Park, and Bulk Storage.[37] New buildings erected. 42°42′37″N 078°54′06″W / 42.71028°N 78.90167°W |
| NF-03 | Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA | Niagara/ Buffalo | Model City, New York (dual site) | 1955–1963 | FDS. Abandoned IFC site. Porter Center Road divides site into west and east sections. Buildings exist on east side of road, appear to be in poor condition and overgrown. West side of site largely forested with little evidence of use. | FDS. Former double-magazine site abandoned and mostly overgrown with vegetation. The launcher site was acquired by the USAF in 1965 and become the Youngstown Test Site. This site was the western end of a test range under the jurisdiction of Griffiss AFB. Closed at an unknown date. Today, a few foundations of buildings visible, launch area exists, condition unknown probably filled with water. 43°13′43″N 078°57′46″W / 43.22861°N 78.96278°W |
| NF-16 | Nike 2B, 4C/18H, 30A/24L-UA, (11L-H) | Niagara/ Buffalo | Sanborn/ Cambria, New York (dual site) | 1955 to Mar 1970 | Private ownership. Barracks building in use, several radar towers still standing. Appears to be light office building. | Cambria Municipal offices, appears to be converted into maintenance storage yard. Few buildings left, faint traces of one magazine but very little of Launch site remains. 43°09′41″N 078°49′06″W / 43.16139°N 78.81833°W |
| NF-41 | Nike 1B, 2C/18H/11L-U | Niagara/ Buffalo | Grand Island, New York (Formerly dual NF-74/NF-75) | Apr 1959 – Mar 1970 | Private ownership. Is now known as Nike Base Town Park; as such, it hosts Grand Island's Senior Citizen Center, a town-sponsored safe hangout for teens known as Reality Cafe, and space for group meetings. A few military buildings still in use, new construction. | Is now used as the Grand Island Central School District's Eco Island Ecology Reserve. Former triple-magazine site now abandoned. Large piles of earth on top of magazines, some vehicles parked in magazine area visible in aerial images. LC buildings along Staley road still in use. |
| NY-03/04 | Nike 2B, 1C/18H, 30A/24L-UA, (12L-H) | New York | Orangeburg/ Mount Nebo, New York (dual site) | 1955 – Apr 1974 | Some old IFC buildings in use being used by the Town of Orangeburg. 41°01′57″N 073°57′03″W / 41.03250°N 73.95083°W | Intact, USAR Center – Orangeburg. Batteries paved over with asphalt, new building construction. 41°02′16″N 073°56′29″W / 41.03778°N 73.94139°W |
| NY-09 | Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A | New York | Kensico/ White Plains, New York | 1955–1963 | FDS. Now "Nike Overlook Park". IFC mostly taken over by woods, some buildings still stand, asphalted area badly cracked. |