SIGforum
Nike missiles - Chicago’s secret Cold War history is hidden in plain sight

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/720601935/m/6450040264

October 16, 2019, 10:17 PM
cslinger
Nike missiles - Chicago’s secret Cold War history is hidden in plain sight
I grew up Not far away from a Nike site in MD. Pretty sure it was defunct by the time I came along.


Take Care, Shoot Safe,
Chris
October 16, 2019, 10:39 PM
Orguss
There's a dual launcher site on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. There also used to be launchers near Pacifica.



"I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak!" - Calvin, "Calvin & Hobbes"
October 17, 2019, 03:48 AM
BansheeOne
Long after Nike sites in CONUS were deactivated in the 60s-70s as the Soviet bomber threat was eclipsed by ICBMs, NATO maintained a SAM belt in Europe running (with interruptions) from Norway to Turkey, using the system in combination with Hawk for lower airspace defense, until replaced by Patriot from the 80s. The last Nike was fired at the NATO range on Sardinia in 2006. It also had a secondary tactical nuclear role with the W31 warhead (dual key system for non-American units) against ground targets. Abandoned sites have become a popular destination for the "lost places" scene.






October 17, 2019, 06:40 AM
henryaz
 
They are all over Montgomery County MD, as part of the ring of protection around DC. One is in the middle of what is now a golf course. Another, on Clopper Rd, is now a park, thus MD park property, and was in my wife's jurisdiction when she was still working as a PP officer. I got to take a self-guided tour of that one, all of the underground control centers. It was actually just the control center for the actual missile silos, about a mile away on Clopper Rd.



When in doubt, mumble
October 17, 2019, 05:25 PM
mo4040
I lived very close to site C-41, on Chicago's south side. I only saw the Battery Control Area and was fascinated by all of the radars at the site.


__________________________
"just look at the flowers..."
October 19, 2019, 08:20 PM
P210
NY-09 was in Kensico/ White Plains, New York. I qualified there at least once 25 or so years ago when it was a police range.
October 23, 2019, 08:51 PM
Sigmund
Here's a Hercules site in FL that's open for public tours:

https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn...toryculture/hm69.htm

There are no underground magazines at HM-69L, the missiles were stored in hangar-like structures. The Hercules-only sites bult to protect SAC bases were of similar design, though many (most?) did not have structures to store the missiles.



Site Summit overlooking Anchorage is also open for tours, though hours are very limited:

http://www.nikesitesummit.net/

The sites protecting the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas had their own unique designs:

http://www.nikesitesummit.net/...aska_-_for_email.pdf
December 10, 2019, 08:08 PM
Sigmund
From the Baltimore Sun, here's a nice article about restoration of launcher site BA-79L in Granite MD:

http://ed-thelen.org/BA-79L-article/Nike.html

More on the same site, first the launcher then the radar (control) site about a mile away:

http://www.airfields-freeman.c..._Balt_SW.htm#granite

http://www.airfields-freeman.c...t_SW.htm#graniteifca
December 10, 2019, 09:20 PM
r0gue
There's an old Nike site in North Park in Pittsburgh. Very interesting history.




December 11, 2019, 07:35 PM
clipper1
There was a Nike site between Edwardsville, Ill and Marine, Ill just off 143. Wonder what became of it. I think the property was about 20 acres.
December 11, 2019, 07:46 PM
RHINOWSO
I grew up near a Nike Site outside Milwaukee. We'd ride up there and look around quite often.
December 11, 2019, 08:28 PM
Sigmund
quote:
Originally posted by clipper1:
There was a Nike site between Edwardsville, Ill and Marine, Ill just off 143. Wonder what became of it. I think the property was about 20 acres.


I visited the site a few years ago with a fellow Nikaholic, photos are here:

https://srmsc.org/nik0010.html

Photos of all St Louis area sites:

https://srmsc.org/nik0000.html
December 12, 2019, 08:31 AM
Marlin Fan
quote:
Originally posted by Focused:
I grew up a few miles from Grumman and Fairchild Republic on Long Island. There was a Nike base a block away from my Elementary school. Several other sites were scattered around the area. With our proximity to NYC and most of the military aircraft being built nearby, we knew we were a target of the Soviets.


What town did you live in?
December 12, 2019, 12:25 PM
Kuisis
quote:
Originally posted by r0gue:
There's an old Nike site in North Park in Pittsburgh. Very interesting history.


I lived about 5 miles from the Nike base in Oakdale PA, about 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.
December 12, 2019, 02:29 PM
Sigmund
Since others also enjoy the subject, here's a great site about our short-lived Spartan-Sprint anti-ballistic missile (ABM) complex west of Grand Forks ND. I got a tour in 2001 and provided some photos to the www site owner.

I'm still impressed that the long range Spartan had a FIVE megaton warhead.

https://www.srmsc.org/
December 12, 2019, 05:57 PM
clipper1
Thanks for the Site links Sigmund.
I was not aware that there was a Nike site located at Pere Marquette State Park. That is a picturesque part of the state, esp at apple harvest time in Grafton.
December 12, 2019, 07:24 PM
chbibc
Years ago I was involved in a project design that converted the barracks building associated with Cambria Nike Base (NF-16) into senior housing (Niagara Falls/Buffalo region in western NY). I did a lot of reading about the installations after that, fascinating stuff.


-----------------------
You can't fall off the floor.