| . | . |
Click for updated TerraServer links
Map of past Nike Sites around Los Angeles
- courtesy Rick Rather
- Rick points out that his map is launcher-centric
Nike info - Fort MacArthur Museum
Fort MacArthur Museum mostly Seacoast Artillery
San Francisco Bay Area
Nike Missiles by
Jeff Poskanzer
spotted by Mark Morgan
| LA-04 | Mt. Gleason /Palmdale
| C - Mount Gleason, 9.8 W Mill Creek Forest Station ((P) abandoned)
[{"Tim"} I found the radar location, nothing there.
It looks like the area is being replanted with pines. The barracks is LA County fire camp. ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
L - Mount Gleason, 6.8 W Mill Creek Forest Station ((P) Los Angeles County
prison camp)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
|
| LA-09 | Mt. Disappointment
/Barley Flats
| C - Mt. Disappointment ((P) radio relay site)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
L - Barley Flats. 4 N Amgeles Crest Hwy ((P)LA County Sheriff Air Station)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
[(Murdock, S) GPS=34-16-42 118-04-32 ]
|
| LA-14 | South El Monte
| C - 3600 Workman Mill Rd ((O) radio relay site)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ?????? ]
L - 1201 Potrero Rd. ((P) LA County parks workyard)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
[(Murdock, S) GPS=34-02-37 118-03-32 ]
[{Kamienski, R}
(via Dean.Willoughby@usarc-emh2.army.mil Feb 2001) I explored the
El Monte launcher area. Magazine elevator pit has water up to the brim.
Otherwise, it could be restored with a lot of effort. It is in a
city construction yard next to a park. A good location for a war museum. ]
A - ((P) USAR Center)
|
| LA-29 | Brea/ Puente Hills
| C - Site Dr, off Central Ave, N of Brea Blvd ((O) Shell Oil Company; oil field)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
[{Kamienski, R} image of
IFC area from Redstone WWW site. This Nike site is currently (August 2000)
being destroyed, see
http://www.latimes.com/news/state/20000807/t000073898.html ]
[annotated image 47 K bytes, by Rick, who also says
"the closest public street (Vantage Point) ends in a gate with the water districts
sign on it. About half way up the hill from this gate to where the radar
installation was located is a large fenced-in water tank. If you zoom out on
Terraserve it shows as a white circle north of the site toward the housing tract
(that in the 1995 photo looks to be under construction)."]
L - Site Dr, off Cenntral Ave, N of Brea Blvd ((O) Shell Oil Company; oil field)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer ]
[{Kamienski, R} image of
launcher area from Redstone WWW site ]]
annotated image 72 K bytes, by Rick
[{Kamienski, R}
(via Dean.Willoughby@usarc-emh2.army.mil Feb 2001)
The launcher area is now a flat dirt area. Magazines completely removed.
They worked on this for about 3 months. I got a few low resolution pictures
if your interested. ]
|
| LA-32 | Garden Grove
| SE corner Knott & Peterson ((O) industrial park)
[{Maxey, G} - picture
Was doing research on LA-78 Malibu site and came across
this picture that shows LA-32 very clearly.
Since LA-32 was destroyed before any of the current Terra Server images,
thought you might like to see it.
The original caption dated it as 1965, which means the site had been converted
to Herc. If you look closely you see the HIPAR dome in the upper left corner of
the IFC. This is correct, because I grew up in this area and actually saw the
site when it was in operation. ]
L - 11751 Western Ave ((P) CAArNG; 485th MASH)
[{Page, T} June 2007 - I have been revisiting the U.S. Nike Missile sites in
"Google Earth" aerial imagery, and discovered that part of LA-32L is still intact. Go to 33°47'33.85"N,
118°00'09.07"W to see the T-shaped building that is seen in the vintage aerial photo at
http://ed-thelen.org/LA-32-G-Maxey.jpg (the launch battery is in the lower right corner). ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer (stanton {garden grove}, obliterated) ]
|
| LA-40 | Long Beach Airport
/Lakewood
| C - SW Spring & Clark ((O) Hotel and commercial development)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer]
L - SW Spring & Lakewood ((I) CAArNG center)
[{Hiscox, George} September 2007 - Long after runway 30 was built, the
old missile battery was used by the City of Long Beach for an EOC until almost 1980. The launch doors were covered over with mounds of
asphalt covered dirt, but the facility remained accessible from a small blockhouse leading to a long steep stairway. There was a
second point of egress via a vertical ladder to a hatch. I am a retired police sergeant from Long Beach PD and attended many training
sessions in that old facility during the late 60's and 70's. Our Air Support (helicopter) Unit was also located there and was serviced by
an above ground hanger built on the property. In 1976, Long Beach ... city manager by the name of John Dever ...
sold off the land to a developer who built a business park on the property and we lost a really great EOC facility,
complete with underground diesel storage, huge generator, kitchen and living facilities. ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer (obliterated) removed for construction of runway 30 [?? see above)] ]
|
| LA-43 | Ft. MacArthur
(Upper Res
/White Point)
| Three Ft. MacArthur Nike oriented web pages
1,
2,
3
update on
preservation (page 4),
C - Battery Leary - Merriam, Upper Reservation ((I) City of LA;
Angels Gate Park, Angels Gate Cultural Center)
[{Janesic, J} (Jan 2008)
Old picture of Battery Leary 37 KB) the green tinted buildings are from the Nike period.
The building
in the foreground is the Maintenance and Service Building. In the background is the former HIPAR Generator Building. The same
picture shows the steel structure of the Target Ranging Radar to the left of the M&S building. Between the M&S building and
the Generator Building and on top of the original battery parapet is the pad for the MTR.
In the center of the middle picture on the page, The Marine Exchange has been expanded from the original HIPAR Building
The original building was one story and the Marine Exchange added the second. The pad for the HIPAR dome was located to
the left of this building; you can just make out the outline of the concrete foundation.
GoogleEarth image, annotated (112 KB)]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer,
(historical) ]
L - White Point, Below Battery No. 127 ((I) City of LA; White Point Park)
A Web Site
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer,
(historical) ]
[{Page, T} - big image "... White Point Nike launch site, LA-43L?
A couple of structures that look like WW-II coastal artillery positions can
also be seen behind the launch strip. "
- confirmed by
Mark Morgan Yup, that's it; LA-43L Fort MacArthur (Upper)/White Point,
two B-type magazines, eight launchers, operational from 1955 through March 1974.
The Fort MacArthur Museum is hammering out a deal with the county (I think
it's the county; it may specifically be the county parks department) to preserve
and interpret the site in and around its use as a nature preserve.
According to Mark Berhow's The Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles - A
Reference Manual (San Pedro: Fort MacArthur Military Museum Association,
1992), the guns at the White Point Military Reservation were Battery Paul D.
Bunker, two 16-inch MkIIMIs, built in 1942, armed in 1944 and disarmed in
1948. The reservation also included a Post-World War I AA battery with two
3-inchers on pedestal mounts (built in 1920, no word on when they came out)
and Battery 127 with four 40mms and four .50 cal machine guns.
Great photo! MK ]
| LA-45DC | Fort MacArthur
(Lower Res) | AADCP
Nike Missile-Master AN/FSG-1
Missile Mentor AN/FPS-27
- long-range radar installation (which was shared with the Air Force
and the FAA) at San Pedro Hill AFS.
LOC: Pacific Ave. between 22d and 36th Streets
CUR: Los Angeles AFB Annex: housing/support activities
[{Page, T} (Jan 2008) Found at the California Coastline website, http://www.californiacoastline.org/, image 7951043, dated October 1979. The enclosed image was cropped from the large one.
The Ft. MacArthur Missile-Master building (130 KB) would be torn down a few years later (~mid 1980's) to make room for Air Force housing for Los Angeles AFS (now AFB). ]
| LA-55 | Point Vicente (Palos Verdes)
| a web site
C - SW Crenshaw & Seacrest ((O) City of Rancho Palos Verdes; Del Cerro Park)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
L - between Hawthorne & Palos Verdes; Dr. ((I)City of Rancho Palos Verdes;
city hall/admin
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
|
| LA-57 | Redondo Beach/
Torrance
| C - 1102 Camino Real ((O) City of Redondo Beach; Hopkins Wilderness Park)
[{Larish, J}
TerraServer Image
L - 30940 Crenshaw Blvd ((P) City of Torrance; Torrance Airport/ Civil Air Patrol
Torrance Nike Site
[{Larish, J}
TerraServer Image |
| LA-70 | Hyperion
/Playa Del Rey
| C - W of Pershing, off LAX ((O) private owner)
[(Anderson, T} The IFC for LA-70 is now the Cross Creek
apartment complex.]
L - 9014 Pershing Dr ((P) Los Andeles Airport Authority
A - ((P) Jep Pets) |
| LA-73 | Playa Del Rey
/LAX
| C - Manchester Ave & Redlands ((O) commercial/resdential
L - *Shared launch/admin facility with LA-70
[(Anderson, T} ... launcher area for LA70 and LA73 was
destroyed/obliterated in the early 1990's when Westchester Parkway was constructed.
The administration area is currently Jets Pets. The flat roofed buildings are
painted white and blue, but on some missed spots you can see the original green.
A double insignia sign sits on the side of the area. It is badly weathered but
you can make out" AAA" and "CAARNG" as well as the California bear. These cone
shaped signs are all that remains untouched and they are surrounded by barb wire
(thank God). It sucks to see how quickly LA can swallow up such history. ]
|
| LA-78 | Malibu
| C - [at the end of Saddle Peak Rd] ((O) National Park Service,
Santa Monica Mountains NRA
June 11, 2007 - a concensus seems formed between all concerned - based on all preceeding and two more images.
from Page, T June 11, 2007 1:19 PM to 12 people
| Update -- Based upon the vintage photos at
http://george.smugmug.com/gallery/418537/1/16759653#16759659,
[local copy]
as well as the elevation data on "Google Earth,"
the LA-78 IFC site must have been at either location A, B, or C
as depicted in the enclosed image file.
All things considered, I'd now have to say that location C seems to
be the most likely spot. If correct, then all Nike structures have been removed.
Who agrees? Who disagrees? Comments are invited. (I just want to get it right.) Thanks once again.
|
from Doyle Piland,
web site, June 11, 2007 1:52 PM to the same 12 people
| Yes, C is the location that everyone agreed upon. This included 4 or 5 people who had been stationed at LA-78 IFC
and included Col. George Evans, who put up the smugmug.com photos. Col. Evans was battery commander of LA-78 as a Captain.
Plus, if you look at the directions contained in the USGS information I referred to, you will see that the directions to
the "Nike Site" lead you to the "Easterly" peak of two peaks of the Saddle Peak. "C" is also the locations for the Lat-Lons
in the first four USGS documents. You will also note that A and C are essentially the same altitude, while B is somewhat lower.
Those stationed there indicated that on the way to and from their site, they passed the FAA radar on the other peak.
They also said their IFC was the end of the road.
So, all these things lead everyone that was dealing with it at the time to conclude that the location was "C."
I think everyone would agree that all the Nike Structures have been removed. I think there may be some concrete
pads/blocks there from what the USGS documents show as having their markers in them.
|
|
Dec 2004 - there has been an intensive discussion among the
Terrraservants
;-) and Doyle Piland including exchanges of old site pictures. The information
below from Hirose seems correct and a listing from a 4th person, whose
e-mail address no longer works, has been removed from here.
[{Hirose, P}When I click to view the Saddle Peak portion
of the installation and overlay the coordinate grid on the image, the numbers
are consistent
with Oat Mountain. That's about 18 miles from Saddle Peak.
Using the coordinates from National Geodetic Survey records, the
location of the old radar platform is about 150 meters northwest of
center in this image:
TerraServer. See:
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW7447
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW6472
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW4145
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW4144
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW6471
The first mark is on the old radar platform at 34-04-42 118-39-21.
The last point is on the neighboring peak, but is interesting because
the 1959 description mentions a sign to the Nike site and a roadside
phone where surveyors would have to call to get clearance to proceed. ]
L - 1900 Rambla Pacifica ((I)National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountaions NRA;
LA County Fire Camp No. 8
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer,
(GPS),
TopoZone
[{Hirose, P}The image of the other half of LA-78, the
launcher area, does appear to be correct. If you bring up these datasheets:
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW6827
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW6828
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds2.prl?retrieval_type=by_pid&PID=EW6829
they all describe survey marks set in the former launch area. The
average coordinates are 34-03-36 118-38-47. ]
| LA-88 | Chatsworth/
Oat Mtn.
| Foster, R (April 2005) The new parkland doesn't go all the way up
to the IFC, the parkland doesn't reach the ridge of Oat Mountain and doesn't go far enough
east to get you there. A map of the parkland can be found
here. The IFC is dead south of
the L in trail in 'Rim of the Valley Trail'.
The IFC site currently houses several gov't radio tenants including the county of
Los Angeles (And a few federale's). ]
Rollins, B (March 2005) LA-88 Oat Mountain Nike site now sits in
the middle of the newly created Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park. You can legally
drive right up Browns Canyon right up to the area outside the launch pad. Although LAPD
still keeps the gates locked to the barracks and the launch pad, the surrounding area
is apparently open to the public. From what I've heard this new public park continues
all the way up to the IFC at the top of the mountain.
There is a gate on Browns Canyon Road north of the launch area that was locked with
a sign that said closed due to the weather. Apparently, when it isn't raining this gate
is open and you can drive right up to the top of the mountain.
There are still a lot of "No Trespassing" and "Private Road" signs all the way up
Browns Canyon but they have taken down the ones on park property. ]
[{Hawkins, J} (October 2003)
Dude In The White Truck who keeps running off the people from Oat Mountain.
http://www.mybikesite.com/socal/trails/oat_mountain.htm Joe Hawkins
www.vaq34.com/ccc
[{Daemke, A} (February 2003)
Anthony said "This specific building does go down one level.
If you take the stairs 20 or so feet to the bottom, it is a big
empty room with an escape tunnel that climbs the the escape hatch."
I (Ed Thelen) said "I will bet you a nice lunch that the building you
are talking about is not part of a Nike firing battery :-))"
And Anthony said "You owe me a nice lunch! Just kidding."
Actually, after one of my trips to the Nike LA / Admin / Launch sites, I
went the the Laguna Niguel National Archives and did research on the Nike
LA-88. I found 66 or so pages of documents about the site. That building is
Nike Building number 302. It is the IFC Oper Fac room / fallout shelter. 303
is the Generator room, 304 is the ready room, 307 is the Hipar, 308 is the
Hipar Radar tower and 309 is the tracking tower. Also 300 is the Senry Box.
I also have all the specifications on the square feet, and matieriel used in
construction on the IFC/LA/Admin areas. If you would like me to give you the
information, please let me know and I will email if over to you. I have lots
on information on the LA-88 site if you would ever like to get a cup of
coffee and take a look, let me know. I am in Northridge CA, 91325 " ]
[{Daemke, A} (July 2002)
I hiked six miles to the IFC. All the buildings remain intact. The electric room
remains with all of the original electric boxes etc. Also, the bathroom remains
along with the old rusted to nothing water heater. An interesting point is this.
In one of the buildings, there is a HUGE steel door. Almost like a bank vault.
Of coarse it was open so I went it. Everything is still there but it was dark
and hard to see. Goofy me, I brought no flashlight so I could not explore
to my full potential. I also forgot a camera!!! There was also what looked like
an escape hatch that I was able to open. the ladder went down 1- or so feet
with a tunnel. Was it an escape hatch at the IFC? ]
[{Baumgartner, K} (May 2002)I have been interested
in the Southern California Nike Missle sites for many years. I live nearby
LA 88 (Chatsworth/ Oat Mountain) and have been there over the years to check on it.
As recently as early last year the site although on private property has been
easy to access,,, the buildings were in generally good shape and the magazines
were unsecured and accessible.
Minor vandalism inside the magazine had occurred as a result of apparent
teenage beer binges and campfires but most things were suprisingly undisturbed
(even the bunks). There is a man named Mr. Hiller who lives there with his
brother and father who were employed by the State as Caretakers after the
California Conservation Corps abondoned the site in 1993. As of late last
year The Los Angeles Police Department apparently leased the land to use as a
live fire range and padlocked the Magazines however I have never seen anyone
on the property except for the Hillers. I am a deputy Sheriff and I normally
check out the site weekly and I rarely see anyone there unless they are from
a filming company shooting a movie on leased land north of the site. ]
[{Moore, T} ... National Archives web site ...
a film titled "First operational Hercules Missile, Chatsworth, California".
It apparently shows "C" Battery, 551st AAA Missile Battalion in action during
a media event for the first operational NIKE Hercules missile at LA-88.
I grew up near LA-88 and know every inch of the base which, for the most part,
is still there and used by the Los Angeles Police Dept.]
C - Oat Mountain ((I) abandoned, radio/communications relay site nearby
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
L - end of Browns Canyon Rd ((I)State of California; abandoned
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
A hiking friend of Ed Thelen (Bill Hauser) remembers
"from freeway 118, take DeSoto exit, Brown's Valley Road, 4 miles?"
Is this a valid
hiking map to IFC or to the Launcher area?
[{Moore, T} (July 2002) The map, from what I can make
of it, shows the administration area to be basically where it says "abandoned air force NIKE Base"
with the launch areas to left of there across the access road where it says " kiosk (abandoned)
2000 ft. level gate". The left side of the map itself shows the climb to the top of Oat mountain where
the "tan building" marking notes, I believe, the remains of the IFC area now used as a radio relay
antenna site. - The L&A site is now utilized by the LAPD SWAT team for training and
I'd be careful about running around in there these days as it is not 'abandoned". ]
Administration -
[{Moore, L} (Oct 15, 2008) The Admin area of LA-88 in Chatsworth, Ca was pretty much
burned to the ground two days ago in the “Sesnon” fire that roared through the north west San Fernando Valley.
I’ve been kind of attached to that place since I was a kid, it was hard to watch it go. ]
| LA-94 | Los Pinetos
/Newhall
| C - LA National Forest, Contract Point ((P) ITT Gilfillon; radar test site
[(Lagerstrom, S) Dec 2004
picture]
TerraServer
L - ((P) ITT Gilfillon; radar test site
[(Kramer, C) Aug 2007 - I work for the company [ITT] that runs what was once LA-94.
We now call it Loop Canyon Test Facility.
[(Lagerstrom, S) Dec 2004
picture The launch area is fenced in, with a
"No Trespassing" sign, but seen from the next hill, it seems largely intact, with
three buildings standing. At the northern end of the northernmost (of 3)
launch pad a 40-foot tower (with a prominent crane for hoisting antennas
into place) has been added. Currently bears a planar-array antenna that looks a lot
like the SPS-48 that ITT Gilfillan makes for the Navy and others (e.g. Nimitz-class
carriers). http://gilfillan.itt.com/sps48.htm (I have been involved with them myself
in the Swedish Air Force) Two 40-foot containers on the concrete pad presumably
houses the rest of the radar eqp. Almost everything is painted tan. ]
[(Murdock, S) GPS=34-20-51 118-24-32 ]
TerraServer
A - ((P) LA County Fire Department
|
| LA-96 | Van Nuys /
Sepulveda
| C - San Vicente Mountain, off Mulholland ((P) San Vicente Mountain Park)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
Image of radar tower,
also as a park,
spotted by Thomas Page
also Image of radar tower,
in group
in another park web site
spotted by Howard Price ]
L - 15990 Victory Blvd ((I) CAANG; 261st Combat Communications Squadron)
SMMC Stragic Plan
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
|
| LA-98 | Magic Mountain
/Lang /Saugus
| C - LA National Forest, Magic Mountain ((O) microwave relay site)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
L - Lang Station, CA 14 ((P) private owner; construction company
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer
|
| . | .
| San Francisco Bay Area
Nike Missiles by
Jeff Poskanzer
spotted by Mark Morgan
SF-08
SF-09 | San Pablo Ridge
|
C - Nimitz Way ((O) Wildcat Canyon Regional Park)
[{Page, T} Jan 2008 - Based upon both the Army's official site drawing for
SF-08 / SF-09 and the aerial imagery for this double site, we now know with 100% certainty that
the IFC sites (as well as the launch sites) both were collocated. That is, IFC sites SF-08C and
SF-09C were side by side, and launch sites SF-08L and SF09L were side by side. ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image not much left except rubble.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - Nike Site Rd ((O) Wildcat Canyon Regional Park)
*shared launch site with SF-09
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-25 | Rocky Ridge
|
C - 4 N Crow Canyon Rd, top of Bollinger Canyon Rd
((unk) Las Trampas Regional Park/ microwave communication site
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image end of Bollinger Canyon Rd.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - 5 N Crow Canyon Rd, Bollinger Canyon Rd
((I) Traccor Aerospace/ Calif. Dept. of Forestry/
Las Tranpas Regional Park
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-31 | Lake Chabot/
Castro Valley
| C - W of Lake Chabot ((P) communications facility)[blocked access road
starts in little parking area called
"Fairmont Ridge Staging Area"
100 yards W of intersection of Fairmont Drive and Lake Chabot Road,
0.5 mile hike on road up hill.
Buildings boarded up and locked, used for communications
- all 4 radar pads on ground, not on towers]
[{Larish, J}
TerraServer Image
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - SE shore of lake ((unk) East Bay Regionnal Park District;
Lake Chabot Park/ Dept of Public Safety service yard 510-881-1833)
[go up hill on road marked "17930 Lake Chabot Rd",
magazine elevator doors welded shut, buildings being maintained
and used by above agencies]
[{Larish, J}
TerraServer Image
[(Murdock, S) GPS=37-43-16 122-05-56 ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-37 | Coyote Hills/
Newark
| C - S Red Hill ((P) East Bay Rgional Park District; Coyote Hills Regional Park
/Alameda County Sheriffs Dept., radio transmitter)
TerraServer Image
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
[(Tyler, T) (September 2002)
IFC - 37-32.44N / 122-04.99W (Gate) Now an Alameda County public safety radio site - some
microwave relays & VHF/UHF antennas. Site is mostly intact in terms of buildings, 1.6 miles to Launch site.
3 pads, and two strange concrete tunnel shelter-type structures approx 40' long/8' wide running to
underneath two of the RADAR pads. Nice 'IFC AREA CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD'
artwork on concrete berm. IFC is about 270' ASL, and has nice view of San Mateo Bridge across
the SF Bay, and salt evaporation ponds. 100 yards W of IFC gate, down hill is large covered Alameda
County Water District water reservoir, and a large, primitive shooting range, probably for PD or SO.
About 20 yards down the hill more to the N of the IFC compound is a 50'x50' fenced-in compound
that also seems to be some sort of water or sewage facility. ]
L - N Red Hill ((O) Coyote Hills Regional Park
[(Page, T ) (August 2008) Maybe the map seen at
http://ebparks.org/files/EBRPD_files/brochure/coyote.pdf
is the final word? "Nike Trail" is presumed to skirt the former launch area on its south side. That would put the SF-37L
location right around 37°33'27.90"N, 122° 5'39.92"W.]
[(Olson, Tom ) (August 2008) [after extensive dialogs with Thomas Page; Doyle Piland;
Murdock, Scott; Mark Morgan; Mark Berhow; Sam Stokes; Ron Plante; Michael Binder]
... I have however been able to find conclusive proof of the exact location of the launcher site using archived USGS Topo maps.
The launcher are is located to the north as stated by Thomas and others. It appears that the launchers where on top of the hills.
Attached are images of the 1968 Newark 7.5 minute Quad. The site appears on the 1959, 1968, and 1973 as a military reservation.
The military designation disappears in 1980. The maps can be found at:
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/histopo/# ]
[ A non-quote from Anonymous] - Apparently the launcher was at the top of the northernmost hill in the park,
which is just south of
the Alameda County Flood Control Channel. This is called Red Hill. There is a Coyote Hills Regional Park
visitor center which has information about the Nike Trail, which may lead to the now buried launch site at
the top of Red Hill.
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
[(Tyler, T) (September 2002)
LAUNCH AREA - Approx. 37-33.54N / 122-05.79W Obliterated. Launch site buildings had been
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 - the only thing
I saw was an area slightly more level than the surrounding area, so I'm not 100% sure exactly where the
magazines were on this grassy hill, half a mile WNW of the Admin site. The "Nike Trail" walk goes around it,
Red Hawk Trail goes up the hill that 37L apparently was on. ]
A - ((I) Coyote Hills Regional Park visitors center 510-795-9385
[(Tyler, T) (September 2002)
ADMIN AREA - 37-33.2N / 122-05.45W
Spoke with Supervisory Naturalist Paul Ferreira, who has been with the
East Bay Regional Park District ( www.ebparks.org ) since 1974. Two
former Barracks buildings, flagpole & two sets of concrete steps (Admin site had multiple up-grades)
are all that remain of admin area. Barracks are now mostly a nice visitor center, plus gift store & park offices.
Other bldgs in Admin area had trenches dug behind them, then the structures bulldozed into the trenches,
and covered over. Area is now a nice, contoured grassy area with benches, BBQ grills & picnic tables.
Prior to being obtained by the park in the 1970s, the Admin area buildings were used by the Stanford
Research Institute for marine mammal sonar research, with dolphins, etc. being stored on site in the
barracks & other buildings converted into labs/storage. ]
| SF-51 | Milagra
/Pacifica
|
C - Sweeney Ridge ((P) Golden Gate NRA; Sweeny Ridge Skyline Preserve
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image not much left except rubble. ]
[{Brown, M} . Going from Peter's
annotated map,
The "ready room" seemed to be a barracks, judging from the dilapidated
shower and "No smoking in bed" sign painted on the wall! There was a
lot of poison oak, and I was wearing shorts, so I didn't check out "MTR
pad" and "?". Also see
Favorite [Bike] Rides, Trip 2 - mile 33.6]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - Milagra Ridge, off Sharp Park Rd ((P) Golden Gate NRA; Milagra Ridge
A Web Site,
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image Not much left. Exact launcher positions unknown.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-59 | Fort Funston/
Mt. San Bruno
|
C - Mount San Bruno, Radio Rd ((P) communications site)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
[{Page,T} (June 2003) mentioned
here ]
L - 500 Skyline Blve ((P) Golden Gate NRA; parking lot,
(www
go to "Swords to Plowshares")
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
[(Murdock, S) GPS=37-42-54 122-30-07 ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
A - 500 Skyline Blve ((I) Golden Gate NRA; Ocean District Headquarters, Environmental
Science Center/ Air Quality Monitoring Center
*NOTE: SF-59L located near Battery Davis (2x16")
|
| SF-77H | Presidio of San Francisco
| [{Morgan, M} Headquarters site, on Kinzey at Ralston, Bldg. 1202. A large three-story building,
it was the home of the 30th Artillery group through August 1961, the 40th Brigade and the 13th Group. Current
use is apparently as offices (07 May 89). ] |
| SF-78H | Presidio of San Francisco
| [{Morgan, M} Bldg 1648, adjacent to Battery Bowman overlooking the Pacific.
It's a long single story building of newer design than the "standard" Presidio buildings. It served as headquarters of the
740th AAAMBn through September 1958, 4/61st from September 1958 to July 1959, and the CAArNG 1/250th
from 1959 until July 1974. Current occupant is the 902d Military Intelligence Group Detachment (07 May 89). |
| SF-87 | Fort Cronkhite/
Sausalito
|
C - Battery Hill 129 ((P) Golden Gate NRA;
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - Bunker Rd ((I) Golden Gate NRA; Calif. Marine Mammal Center)
[{Morgan, M} Tanks holding assorted seals and the like are built
on top of the pads; one of the access doors is locked open
and I noted that the B/2/51st artwork and motto are still on
the lower door (07 May 89).]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
[(Murdock, S) GPS=37-49-37 122-31-39 ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-88 | Ft. Barry /Sausalito
|
official web site, until some ding-a-ling changes it again
Nike Site Photo Tour (this web site)
How to Visit SF-88, the Nike Site being restored
[{Michalsky, J} (March 2005) Site SF-88 is a contributor to
the "Forts Baker, Barry, Cronkhite Historic District" as thus is listed in the National
Register of Historic Places. ]
and more photos
C - Wolf Ridge, Fort Cronkhite ((P) Golden Gate NRA; abandoned)
[{Page, T} Jan 2008? Images of SF-88C
decaying and falling apart :-(( by John Martini
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
[{Morgan, M} Control can be reached by a trail; from down below it looks like a couple
of buildings and radar supports are still intact.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - Adjacent to Battery Alexander (I) Golden Gate NRA; restored site
Off-site text & photos
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-89 | Presidio of San Francisco (Fort Winfield Scott)
| C - Mount Suttro (Twin Peaks) ((P) TV tower)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - Battery Caulfield Rd. ((P) Golden Gate NRA (National Recreation Area))
[{Morgan, M} the pads abandoned and used for open air storage. The
adjacent buildings are used by an EOD unit. An Ajax site featured in Nike promotional
photos, it closed in 1963 (07 May 89). ]
[{Tufts, P}
map - You can almost make out the words "Nike Facility" next to the big red
area in the upper right.
The env cleanup page ]
TerraServer
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
(T-89) Temporary site elsewhere on reservation
LOC: unknown
CUR: National Park Service Golden Gate NRA
|
SF-90DC
Mill Valley AFS
| Mount Tamalpais
| Location - Mount Tamalpias, Ridgecrest Blvd
Current - FAA JSS Facility J-33 Mill Valley, National Park Service, Golden Gate NRA
[{Morgan, M} above Mill Valley and San Anselmo. To get there involves a
20-mile drive up narrow, winding two-lane road, but the
view's worth it once you get to the top. The AFS was operated by the 666th Radar Squadron
from around 1951 to March 1981, and is now part of the FAA Joint Surveillance
System network. Being a remote site, the support area is huge.
Additionally, as SF-90H, the AFS was headquarters for the 40th Artillery Brigade until
June 1971, and the 13th ADA Group from July 1971 to August 1974. Equipment included
an AN/TSQ-51 Missile Mentor { August 2007 - probably never had a Missile Master} (replacing the earlier AN/FSG-1 Missile Master installation at the AADCP)
and radars FPS-7C (SLBM detection, 14th Missile Warning Squadron, Det 3) (07 May 89). ]
[{Page, T) Oh, please list the radars correctly! SLBM radar: AN/FSS-7 (formerly an AN/FPS-26
AC&W Height-finder radar) AC&W Search radar: AN/FPS-7C (later AN/FPS-107V2)
AC&W Height-finder radar: AN/FPS-90. added June 2007, It should also be noted that Mill Valley AFS never hosted a Missile Master facility. ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image, photo
image from radomes.org/museum ]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
|
| SF-91 | Angel Island
|
Angel Island web site,
Nike page,
informal map, IFC is on top
of Mt Livermore, Launcher area is near bicycle path on south part of island.
[{Vaughn, T}(See Article)
(See Photos)]
C - Mount Caroline Livermore, Angel Island ((P) abandoned/ Angel Island
State Park)
TerraServer Image
[{Poskanzer, Jef},
detailed web page,
News Article May 2002 "The state of California is spending nearly $300,000 to put the top back on
Angel Island. What we're talking about is the 15 feet or so that was sheared from
the top of Mount Livermore back in the 1960s to make room for a Nike missile site.
The missile site is gone -- it vanished long before the Cold War died --
but it did leave behind a road-scarred flat top of dirt stretching about three- quarters of a football field. ..."
as of August 2002 ... from the perimeter road I could see various
concrete pads up there, so it looks like the park folks kept their promise
to preserve the pads. ]
L - Fort McDowell, Angel Island ((I) closed/ Angel Island State Park)
[{Poskanzer, Jef}, - August 2002 -
The fence is 95% gone, you can just walk right in. Last time I was there,
20 years prior, I had to climb over it. Anyway, I got some great photos:
detailed web page ]
|
| SF-93 | San Rafael
|
C - top of Bayhills Dr ((P) Harry A. Bargier Memorial Park)
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image Two round ground pads, one square ground pad, and one tower
with cyclone fence around the top. Nothing else is left. Tower is a round
platform on top a cement column that is about 6 feet less in diameter
than the platform. Wonderful view of Mt. Tamalpais! Other flat areas on the road
going south must have part of the installation.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
L - end of Smith Ranch Rd ((P) Marin County waste treatment plant
[{Eric} May 2008 http://www.marinij.com/ci_8609303
"The plan is to put the excavated material in the vaults and just cap them," said Eric McGuire, the water
district's environmental services coordinator
[{Anton, K} Launch "pits" used for reservoirs for the waste
treatment plant]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image Site sits on top of a small hill next to McInnis Park.
To the right of his picture is the sewage treatment plant that uses two of the three
magazines for (clean) water storage. The buildings in the center belong to the site.
Very intact and converted for some other use.]
Jef Poskanzer's
detailed web page
A - ((I) Youth guidance center)
|
| T-10 | Elmira
| C - 3 SE Elmira, Hay Rd ((P) low income housing)
[{Raichle, B} IFC ok, every thing there except radars not there.
[(Murdock, S) GPS 38-19-01, 121-52-22,
Topozone
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
L - 2 S Elmira, Hay & Lewis ((I) private owner)
[{Raichle, B} expensive house next to launchers
[(Murdock, S) GPS 38-19-05, 121-53-39,
Topozone
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
|
| T-33 | Vacaville
- Dixon/Lambie
| C Lambie Rd & Goose Haven ((P) Calif. Dept. of Health Services
/youth correctional facility)
[{Raichle, B} buildings there - & "Youth Correctional Training Facility"
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image (admin buildings at least. Radar pad locations unknown)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=38-13-09 121-50-49
TerraServer
L - Lambie Rd & Rithell Ln ((O) agricultural)
[{Raichle, B} ?fertilizer plant?
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image no sign of site, a few small buildings to the north
are oriented in the same 45 degree off North
orientation as T-10L & T-86L.]
|
| T-53 | Fairfield
- Potrero Hills
| C 2.5 SSW Travis AFB, Explosives Technology Rd ((P) Explosives Technology)
OEA Hq
[(Murdock, S) GPS 38-12-35, 121-56-38 ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
L - 2.5 S Travis AFB, Explosives Technology Rd ((P) Explosives Technology;
one elevator operational)
OEA, Inc bought the site, 2 of the 3 magazines assemble explosive charges
for air-bags, fighter ejector seats]
[from Tim Tyler - June 2004 - Company web site]
[(Murdock, S) GPS 38-12-14, 121-56-05 (later Potrero Hills Stor Anx, USAF) ,
TerraServer ,
Topozone ]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image
|
| T-86 | Fairfield
/Cement Hills
| C - N Fairfield, Cement Hill ((P) private ownership)
[{McNeill, R} (April 2004) To get to the site,
you take I-80 to Fairfield (between Vallejo and Vacaville) and follow the
signs to Air Base Parkway. You will be heading towards Travis Air Force Base.
Turn left on Cement Hill Road. As soon as you make the left turn, pull off
to your right. Look up towards the hill and past an old grain silo you will
see the command elements. Look to your right and in the distance you will
see the other elements. The launcher area is where the yellow school buses
are parked. ]
[{Raichle, B} no access, no trespassing
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
L - N Fairfield, Air Base Parkway ((I) Solano County Detention Center
/Solano County Animal Shelter / Suisun Unified School)
[{Raichle, B} bus parking lot, Nike Administrative Area buildings
intact, poor repair]
[{Snowberg, P}
TerraServer Image ]
|
| | | | | | |
