Nike missile
The United States Army's Nike Ajax was the world's first operational guided surface-to-air missile (SAM), entering service in 1954. Nike Ajax was designed to attack conventional bomber aircraft flying at high subsonic speeds and altitudes above ...
sites operated by the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
. This article lists sites in the United States, most responsible to
Army Air Defense Command Army Air Defense Command, previously Army Anti-Aircraft Command, was a major command of the United States Army which existed from 1957 to 1974. The previous ARAACOM was created in 1950 and was redesignated ARADCOM in 1957. It was formed to command t ...
; however, the Army also deployed Nike missiles to Europe as part of the
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
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
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
Leftover traces of the approximately 265 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
The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...
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
Airsoft is a team game in which participants eliminate opposing players by tag (game), tagging them out of play with airsoft pellets, spherical plastic projectiles shot with mock air gun, air weapons(usually powered by an electronic motor) call ...
gaming and
military simulation
Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. Military simulations are seen as a useful way to develop tactical, strategi ...
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
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
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. Their defending area was the industrial
Ruhr
The Ruhr ( ; german: Ruhrgebiet , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr area, sometimes Ruhr district, Ruhr region, or Ruhr valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km ...
area.
*
Blankenheim Blankenheim may refer to:
Places
*Blankenheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, a municipality in western Germany
* Blankenheim, Saxony-Anhalt, a municipality in eastern Germany
*Blankenheim Castle, a schloss above the village of Blankenheim in the Eifel mo ...
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
Düren (; ripuarian: Düre) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between Aachen and Cologne on the river Rur.
History
Roman era
The area of Düren was part of Gallia Belgica, more specifically the territory of the Eburones, a people ...
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.
* in NRW. 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
Euskirchen (; Ripuarian: ''Öskerche'') is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the district Euskirchen. While Euskirchen resembles a modern shopping town, it also has a history dating back over 700 years, having been granted to ...
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
Grefrath () is a municipality in the district of Viersen, in the western part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
It is situated in the Lower Rhineland region (''German: Niederhein''), which is located between the river Rhine and the borderlin ...
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°2'2"N 6°20'2" 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
Grevenbroich () is a town in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the river Erft, approximately 15 km southwest of Neuss and 15 km southeast of Mönchengladbach. Cologne and Düsseldorf are in a 30 ...
. The unit disbanded, and the site closed.
*
Kaster
Kaster is a village in West Flanders, Belgium. According to the 2005 census it has a population of 803. The neoclassical St Peter's Church of Kaster, located in the eastern part of the village, dates from 1818.Xanten
Xanten (, Low Rhenish: ''Santen'') is a town in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the district of Wesel.
Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological open air museums in the wor ...
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
Germany
94th ADA Group, headquartered in Kaiserslautern for most of the Nike-Hercules period had four battalions as follows, with locations:
2/1 ADA headquartered in Wackernheim
- 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
Pforzheim () is a city of over 125,000 inhabitants in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, in the southwest of Germany.
It is known for its jewelry and watch-making industry, and as such has gained the nickname "Goldstadt" ("Golden City") ...
(Hagenschieß/Wurmberg), in
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
there is a missile launch site operated by the
US-Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
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 missile
The United States Army's Nike Ajax was the world's first operational guided surface-to-air missile (SAM), entering service in 1954. Nike Ajax was designed to attack conventional bomber aircraft flying at high subsonic speeds and altitudes above ...
s at potentially incoming jets as part of the
Project Nike
Project Nike (Greek: Νίκη, "Victory") was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft mi ...
.
Greece
Italy
Japan
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 8,8th 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
Norway
Spain
Turkey
Taiwan
United States
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
Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS or FDS) are properties that were owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the United States Secretary of Defense. The term also refers to the U.S. military pr ...
(FDS) program processed many former sites and then transferred them out of Defense Department control.
Alaska
The Alaska Nike sites were under the control of
United States Army Alaska
United States Army Alaska (USARAK or "America's Arctic Warriors") was a military command of the United States Army located in the U.S. state of Alaska. A subordinate command of I Corps, USARAK was the ground element of the Alaskan Command. USARA ...
(USARAK), rather than Army Air Defense Command.
California
, Owned by State of California. Rebuilt as Los Angeles County prison camp
, -
, LA-09
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, Los Angeles
, Mount Disappointment/ Barley Flats (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.
, Obliterated, LA Sheriff's Department Air Station
, -
, LA-14
, Nike 2B/20A/8L-A
, Los Angeles
, South
El Monte, California
}
El Monte (Spanish for "The Mountain") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley, east of the city of Los Angeles.
El Monte's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte" and is historically ...
, 1956–1961
, Obliterated, Athletic Field of Rio Hondo Junior College. Fire Control largely preserved and accessible via hiking trail.
, Obliterated. Former missile pads still visible, apparently being used as a storage yard. Most of area now redeveloped into tennis courts, park area.
, -
, 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.
, 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.
, -
, LA-32
, Nike 1B1C/12H, 20A/8L-U
, Los Angeles
, Garden Grove/
Stanton, California
Stanton is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The population was 37,962 at the 2020 United States Census. The city was incorporated in 1956 and operates under the council–manager form o ...
, 1956 – Mar 1974
, Obliterated, Private ownership, Light Industrial park
, In highly urbanized area. CAArNG, 458th MASH facility. Nike launch facilities obliterated by construction
, -
, LA-40
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, Los Angeles
,
Long Beach Airport, California
Long Beach Airport is a public airport three miles northeast of downtown Long Beach, in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is also called Daugherty Field, named after local aviator Earl Daugherty. The airport was an operating bas ...
, 1956–1963
, Obliterated. Hotel and commercial development. Location now a parking deck.
, Obliterated, Kilroy Airport Center
, -
, LA-43
, Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-UA
, Los Angeles
,
Fort MacArthur, California
Fort MacArthur is a former United States Army installation in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California (now the port community of Los Angeles). A small section remains in military use by the United States Air Force as a housing and administrative annex ...
(upper)
, 1955 – Mar 1974
, Located at Battery Leary, Merriam, Upper Reservation, Ft. MacArthur. Fenced-in area, redeveloped with new landscaping. No sign of IFC.
, 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.
, -
, 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
, Missile launch pads intact. Used as City of Rancho Palos Verdes storage area.
, -
, LA-57
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, Los Angeles
, Redondo Beach/ Torrance, California
, 1956–1963
, Obliterated, City of Redondo Beach, Hopkins Wilderness Park
, 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
Playa del Rey (Spanish language, Spanish for "Beach of the King") is a seaside community in the Santa Monica Bay and the Westside (Los Angeles County), Westside region of Los Angeles, California. It has a ZIP code of 90293 and area codes 310 and 4 ...
(Shared with LA-73)
, 1956–1963
, Obliterated, FDS, vacant lot just west of LAX runway 6R
, Nike launch facilities obliterated. Redeveloped into City of LA Department of Airports, Jet Pets Animal Services
, -
, 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
, 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.
, -
, LA-78
, Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U
, Los Angeles
,
Malibu, California
Malibu ( ; es, Malibú; Chumash: ) is a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, situated about west of Downtown Los Angeles. It is known for its Mediterranean climate and its strip of the Malibu ...
, 1963 – Mar 1974
, Obliterated, no evidence of existence at end of former access road.
, 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.
, -
, LA-88
, Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/11L-U
, Los Angeles
, Chatsworth,
Oat Mountain
Oat Mountain is a mountain, peak of the Santa Susana Mountains overlooking the San Fernando Valley (near Los Angeles, California) to the south and southeast. Oat Mountain is the highest peak in the Santa Susana Mountains of California. The Los A ...
, 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.
, 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.
, -
, LA-94
, Nike 1B, 2C/18H-30A/12L-UA
, Los Angeles
, Los Pinetos/
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita (; Spanish for "Little St. Clare") is a city in northwestern Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. With a 2020 census population of 228,673, it is the third-largest city by population in Los Angeles County, the 17th ...
, 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.
, 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.
, -
, LA-96
, Nike 1B, 2C/18H, 30A/12L-U, (8L-H)
, Los Angeles
,
Lake Balboa
Lake Balboa is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. The area was previously part of 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
San Vicente Mountain Park is a former Nike Missile Radar/Control Site in Southern California. The site is located on land owned by the
city of Los Angeles above the Encino Reservoir along the unpaved portion of Mulholland Drive west of the 405 ...
. Buildings, some radar towers.
, 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.
, -
, LA-98
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, Los Angeles
, Magic Mountain (
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the United States Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County in southern Calif ...
) / Lang (
Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita (; Spanish for "Little St. Clare") is a city in northwestern Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. With a 2020 census population of 228,673, it is the third-largest city by population in Los Angeles County, the 17t ...
), California
, 1955 – Dec 1968
, Microwave relay site.
, Private owner, construction use. Most of launch site turned into a quarry.
, -
,
, -
, 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.
, Obliterated, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Some berms still visible.
, -
, 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
, Redeveloped, TRACOR Aerospace, Expendable Technology Center, Las Trampas Regional Park Office
, -
, SF-31
, Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U
, San Francisco
, Lake Chabot/
Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alameda County, California, United States. At the 2010 census, it was the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California and the twenty-third most populous in the United States. The popula ...
, 1956 – Mar 1974
, Intact, Communications Facility Partially. Buildings, some radar towers.
, 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.
, -
, SF-37
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, San Francisco
, Coyote Hills/
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, surrounded by the city of Fremont. The three cities of Newark, Fremont, and Union City make up the Tri-City ...
, 1955 – Mar 1963
, Redeveloped, East Bay Regional Park District, Coyote Hills Regional Park Alameda County Sheriff's Department radio transmitter
, 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.
, -
, SF-51
, Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U
, San Francisco
, Milagra/
Pacifica, California
Pacifica ( es, Pacífica, meaning "Peaceful") is a city in San Mateo County, California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.
Overview
The City of Pacifica is spread along a stretch of coastal beaches and hi ...
, 1956 – Mar 1974
, National Park Service, Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA). Buildings removed; foundations and radar tower concrete bases remain.
, Obliterated, Milagra Ridge (GGNRA). Launch pad doors still visible, but concrete has been covered by soil and is now a grassy area.
, -
, 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.
, -
, SF-87
, Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U
, San Francisco
,
Fort Cronkhite
Fort Cronkhite is one of the components of California's Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Today part of the National Park Service, Fort Cronkhite is a former US Army post that served as part of the coastal artillery defenses of the San Francisc ...
/
Sausalito, California
Sausalito (Spanish language, Spanish for "small willow grove") is a city in Marin County, California, Marin County, California, United States, located southeast of Marin City, California, Marin City, south-southeast of San Rafael, California ...
, 1955 – June 1971
, On mountain peak. Partially intact, buildings, some radar towers, tourist area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
, Obliterated. Redeveloped into Marine Mammal Center.
, -
,
SF-88
SF-88 is a former Nike Missile launch site at Fort Barry, in the Marin Headlands to the north of San Francisco, California, United States. Opened in 1954, the site was intended to protect the population and military installations of the San Francis ...
, Nike 2B/12H, 20A/8L-U
, San Francisco
, Fort Barry/
Sausalito, California
Sausalito (Spanish language, Spanish for "small willow grove") is a city in Marin County, California, Marin County, California, United States, located southeast of Marin City, California, Marin City, south-southeast of San Rafael, 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.
, Part of the
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is a U.S. National Recreation Area protecting of ecologically and historically significant landscapes surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of the park is land formerly used by the United ...
) across the
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is a strait on the west coast of North America that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It is defined by the headlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Peninsula, and, since 1937, has been spanned by th ...
from
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
, has been preserved as a Nike museum, complete with missiles (inert). This site was given intact to the
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
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.
, -
, 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.
, 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.
, -
, SF-91
, Nike 1B, 2C/30A/12L-A
, San Francisco
,
Angel Island, California
Angel Island is an island in San Francisco Bay. The entire island is included within Angel Island State Park, administered by California State Parks. The island, a California Historical Landmark, has been used by humans for a variety of purposes ...
, 1955–1961
, The IFC on the top of Mt. Livermore
Angel Island Angel Island may refer to:
*Angel Island (California), historic site of the United States Immigration Station, Angel Island, and part of Angel Island State Park, in San Francisco Bay, California
* Angel Island, Papua New Guinea
* ''Angel Island'' (n ...
in
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland.
San Francisco Bay drains water from a ...
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.
, 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.
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, 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.
, 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.
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,
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, T-10
, Nike 3B/18H, 30A/12L-U
, Travis AFB
,
Elmira, California
Elmira is a census-designated place (CDP) in Solano County, California, Solano County, California, United States. The population was 188 at the 2010 census.
History
Elmira, California, is named after Elmira, New York.
In the 19th and early 20th c ...
, 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.
, 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.
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, 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.
, Redeveloped, Private ownership, light industrial storage yard.
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, 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.
, 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.
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, 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.
, 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.
Highlands Air Force Station
Highlands Air Force Station was a military installation in Middletown Township near the borough of Highlands, New Jersey. The station provided ground-controlled interception radar coverage as part of the Lashup Radar Network and the Semi-Autom ...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the All ...
Encyclopedia Astronautica
The ''Encyclopedia Astronautica'' is a reference web site on space travel. A comprehensive catalog of vehicles, technology, astronauts, and flights, it includes information from most countries that have had an active rocket research program, f ...