Nike Sites of Boston: Blue Hills B-55

Located on two hilltops in the sprawling Blue Hills Reservation ten miles due south of Boston, Nike Site B-55
was a Nike Ajax site used both by the active Army and briefly by the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
There was a big brush fire in Spring, 1998, adjacent to the launcher area which abuts the Blue Hills Reservation.

Location
IFC: Chicatawbut Hill, Blue Hills Reservation, Milton (off Chickatawbut Road). From Rte 128/I-93 take Rte 28 N to first light. At light take right onto Chickatawbut Road. Site is on left up paved access road with limited (foot) access.

Launcher: Off High Street, Randolph, near jct Rte 24/ Rte 128. From 128/ I-93 take Rte 28 S to first light. Take right at light and left at next intersection. Access road is on the right.
Housing: Army Street, Randolph (off N. Main Street/Rte 28) near junction with Rte 128/ I-93. From 128/ I-93 take Rte 28 S to first light. Take left at light following street complex through to end, bearing to the left at each fork in the road.

Dates of Operation
1955-1963

History
Nike-Ajax site. Active Army Oct 55-Oct 63; MA ARNG
Oct 59?-Feb 62?
Housing Area used up until c.1991.

Weapons Systems & Missile Load
Nike Ajax / 30 (10 per launcher section)
12 mounted on launchers (4 per launcher section)

Missile Magazines/ Launcher Sections
3 Magazines.
1 type "B", 2 Ajax .

Units
Btry C, 24th AAA Missile BN (Nike) Oct 55-Oct 58
redesignated Nike-Ajax Apr 58 and as following Oct 58:
Btry C, 3d Missile BN (Nike-Ajax), 5th Artillery
Oct 58-Oct 63
redesignated Nike-Hercules Jun 59
Btry A, 704th AAA Missile BN (MA ARNG)
Feb 58?-Feb 62?
704th redesignated
1st Battalion, 241st Artillery in May 59.

Present Status
Site visited 30 Apr 99. IFC: Chickatawbut Hill Education Center, field site for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum. All buildings intact. Mess Hall is still used as a mess hall. Concrete pads for radars still visible. Excellent view of greater Boston area. l
Launcher Area: in ruins; site controlled by MDC. 3 ruined buildings still intact. Launcher pad still visible.
Housing Area: in use until early 90s; closed as part of BRAC
1988 Base Closure List. Housing area intact. Sign says its still government housing. Not used by Army.

Links
Trailside Museum
http://www.vicon.net/~internnet/bluehill.htm

Pictures
Site Pictures
1999 IFC Pictures

Contacts