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Locations of Former NIKE MISSILE SITES (text)
.
Illinois
  • C-03 Montrose/Belmont
  • C-40 Burnham Park
  • C-41 Jackson Park
  • C-44 Hegewisch/Wolf Lake
  • C-50 Homewood
  • C-51 Worth/Palos
    Heights/LaGrange
  • C-54 Orland Park
  • C-61 Lemont - Argonne
    National Laboratory
  • C-70 Naperville
  • C-72 Addison
  • C-80 Arlington Hts.
  • C-80DC Arlington Hts.
  • C-81 Arlington Hts.
  • C-84 Palatine
  • C-92/ C-94 Libertyville/
    Mundelein
  • C-93 Northfield/Skokie
  • C-98 Ft. Sheridan
  • SL-10 Marine
  • SL-20 Belleville, Scott AFB,
    Headquarters unit
  • SL-40 Hecker
  • SL-47DC Belleville AFS,
    Birdie and many radars
  • SL-90 Alton /Pere Marquette
    • Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
    Click for updated TerraServer links
    . . Map of Chicago-Milwaukee Radar Ring (88 K bytes) Cities in red
    [{Cocherell, H} text]
    There is an unusually good TV news Special Report about Nike - they used 4 min 10 seconds of carefully allocated air time to try to tell a complex story - I think they did an outstanding job!! (And they have a high pressure environment.)
    - Click on "Video" on that web page to get the TV Video going - It aired August 18th, 2005
    - You may need a "high speed" link (cable/DSL) to do this? Thanks Marjorie F. for spotting this.
    C-03
    (double)     		Montrose/Belmont C - Montrose Wilson Beach, end of Montrose Ave ((O) Lincoln Park; Montrose Wilson Beach
    [{Page, T} April 2007 location photos 500 KBytes "Both views are looking ~ due west. In the modern-day (color) photo, the tell-tale apartment building is in the upper-right corner. I think we already have this site's location nailed ... but these side-by-side images should help to further pin-point the site of the Montrose Nike Missile Launch Battery, C-03L. The actual launch strips were east of the main N-S highway (and thus out of the color image)." ]
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Same as launch area. Area completely redeveloped. Old USTs recently removed. ]

    L - Montrose Wilson Beach, end of Belmont St ((O) Lincoln Park; yacht club)
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]
    Location verified by Corey J. Motel
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) All above-ground structures razed. Not certain if magazines were filled in, but there's no evidence of them on surface. Area completely redeveloped. ]

    C-40 Burnham Park,
    a Mark Morgan trip report
    C - Lake Shore Dr & 31th St (Burnham Park)

    L - Lake Shore Dr & 31th St (Burnham Park)

    C-41 Jackson Park,
    web site     		C - Lake Shore Dr & 55th St ((O)Jackson Park)
    A local web site that has some great images and odd viewpoints. We (1955-1957) never heard of "mass protest marches" (or any protests other than rumored voiced before land acquisition in the early 1950s) and I would rather expect to find bacteria in drains - duh - And you certainly never had to be "intrepid" to photograph the outside of a Nike fence. - but that is the big city for you -
    [{Thelen, E} GPS = 41N 47' 45", 87W 34' 33" TerraServer ]

    L - Lake Shore Dr & 63th St ((O)Jackson Park)
    [{Thelen, E} GPS = 41N 46' 54", 87W 34' 36" TerraServer ]

    C-44
    (double)     		Hegewisch/Wolf Lake C - W of I 90, N of 136th St
    [{Page, T} (11/04) This "TerraServer Urban Areas" view pinpoints the IFC site. Note the two radar towers (one on its side) and the building foundations. ]
    [{Vaughn, T}The nearest street location is NNE of Ave K & 133 Street. This area is within the state park and is located right on the lake. One of the towers was sitting in the middle of a creek. It is about a 3/4 mile hike in from where you park your car. I found 4 radar towers, all of them concrete. 3 of them were very tall and one shorter one.}

    L - W of I 90, N of Wm. W Powers Conservation Area
    [{Vaughn, T} The launch/admin area is just north of the park Saki runs, which is a state operation. The site is in a Cook County forest preserve.] Calumet Ecological Park
    [{Motel, C}"To get to this area, enter the William Powers Conservation Area (off of Avenue O). Turn left at the first opportunity and take this road through the parking lot and into the wooded area. The road will bend to the right, a rest area will eventually be seen on the right, finally the road will bend to the left (at which point the lake will be immediately to the right). Follow this road (for about 300 - 500 feet) up to the small (space for only 2 or 3 cars) unpaved parking cove on the left. Pull in. If you get to the train tracks you've gone too far. You'll find the magazines about an eighth of a mile in front of your car. The buildings appear to be gone, but sight of the six magazines is somewhat impressive. They're arranged in two groups of three. In each, the three pits are set end-to-end. The two groups are then set side-by-side. All that remain are the steel blast plates. The elevator doors and personnel hatches have long since been removed and back-filled with dirt."]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-40-35 87-31-41 TerraServer ]

    C-50 Homewood C - W of Il. 1, H of 187th St. ((P)IL ArNG recruiting
    [{Burgess, P} (3/2002) ... . The ING abandoned the site several years ago and it has only just been demolished and converted into a public park. I am trying to get the local park district to erect a plaque remembering the site, but so far no go. I am a US navy vet and thought that the efforts of the Army here should at least warrant a plaque. We'll see how it goes. ]

    L - Il 1, S of 187th St ((P)Mercy Health Care/USAR Center)

    C-51 Worth/Palos
    Heights/LaGrange     		C - S of I 294, W of Central Ave
    [{Motel, C}"... a radar tower is visible on the south side of I-294 about one mile west of Cicero Ave. (Route 50).]

    L - 1 W, S of I294

    C-54 Orland Park C - SW Orland Park, S of 153d St
    [{Welshans, T} Jan 2007 - Andrews Corporation owns the land where the control center for the Orland Park Nike site was. They have used the buildings for storage until recently. All of the buildings have been razed in December, 2006 as they are selling or have sold the property. ]

    L - SE Orland Park, N of 159th St
    [{Welshans, T} Jan 2007 - Orland Park and The USAR own the land where the launch site was. The Army has a vehicle repair shop facing LaGrange Road that extends back to the village property. The "U" shaped earth mound where missles were fueled is still visable with a building in the center. The area is a village equipment repair center. ]

    C-61 Lemont [{Shaffer, W} (May 2007) ... was the site of the nation's first nuclear-tipped Hercules installation. Capt. Robert Lindemann commanded the conversion activity at the site, securely located on the site of the Atomic Energy Commission's Argonne National Laboratory. AEC and DOD inspections occurred almost daily. The 22nd Arty Group commander, Col. Avery W. Masters, was on-site virtually every day, as well. Transition was smooth and the site was operational on time and on-budget. Spring 1959 or thereabouts. ]

    C - 91st St, E of Bailey Rd (Argonne National Laboratories)
    [{Motel, C} The road is Cass Ave. not Bailey. After turning east on 91st Street, four "service entrances" will be seen on the right hand side. (This is the Waterfall Glen preserve which is part of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.)

    Based on conversations with some local residents as well as a ranger at the forest preserve district headquarters, the control site was somewhere between the second and forth of these enterances. The second one has a locked gate and paved driveway. Within is a small but conspicuous hill and signs of now removed perimeter fencing in the back. Behind the third entrance are abandoned utility poles, while the forth entrance is a paved roadway leading back to government housing for the site.]

    L - SW corner, I55/Bailey Rd interchange (Argonne National Laboratories)
    [{Motel, C}Bailey doesn't extend south of I-55. The directions are actually Cass Ave. south from I-55 until the first right (a frontage road). This frontage road leads to the old site. All traces of the launch site are gone. It is now: Army Reserve Center, Argonne, Illinois]

    C-70 Naperville news story link from Thomas Page

    C - 2 SE Warrenville, S of Il 5 (AMOCO)

    FUDS report for C-70 stored locally.
    [{Page, T} (June 2007) The Control/Housing area of the property is located at N41°48’36”, W88°08’49”
    [{Perro, W} (May 2007) The Launch Area is south of I-88 and on the south side of Diehl Road. This area has both commercial development and a recreational park. The name of the park is "Nike Park"! The Control Area is north of I-88 and south of Warrenville Road. The Control Area is owned by BP and is the subject of an environmental cleanup. ]
    [{Morin, C}The control site was south of I-88 at the corner of Mill St. and Diehl Rd. The bunkers were filled in and the Naperville Park District built several very nice baseball/softball fields on top of it and is named...take a guess... "Nike Park".]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) All buildings razed. Site occupied by Amoco. ]

    L - S of Warrenville Rd, N of Il 5 (AMOCO)
    [{Page, T} (June 2007) Launch area is located at N41°47’55”, W88°09’01”.
    [{Cunningham, J}The Chicago C-70 site is listed as being on/along Il-5. The site is indeed the location of an AMACO office/research center. I used to live in that area and drive by often. However, the highway designation changed about 10 years ago. I5 was changed to I88, as reclassifying it allowed them to change the speed limit to 65 mph. ... .]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Office park located over entire site. One office building uses one of the old magazines for records storage and has done a real nice job of updating for their use. The magazine is actually incorporated into the floor plan of the office building. You walk down the hall of this modern office building, turn a corner, and walk down some primitive looking concrete steps into the magazine. ]

    C-72 Addison C - ((O)City of Addison)
    [{Behr, E} Jan 2007 - N 41-55-21 W 88-01-47 (deg-min-sec)
    I have a few pictures from 2001 at http://www.math.niu.edu/~behr/Towers/ (search for Addison)
    [{Lockman, M} Nov 2006 control site 80 KByte, The location is still a community park, but the last remaining building and derelict radar tower have fallen into disrepair. The radar tower’s ladder has been sealed off with steel plates and chain link to prevent anyone from climbing to the platform, but vandals have cut up the chain link and kicked in sheet metal panels around the tower’s base. Much of the original fenceline remains. Site is bordered on all sides by industrial parks (KDA distributor to the west, UPS hub to the east). Posts for what was probably the sign explaining the site are visible near the baseball diamond, but the sign is gone. ]
    [{Elonich, C J} March 2005 a nice picture, 56 K Bytes
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]
    [{Motel, C} Location - A long block north of Fullerton Ave. on east side of Route 53, just south of the KDA distributor.
    The site is _not_ completely obliterated. It has been turned into a community park. One building remains. I'm sure the village uses it for storage. Better yet however, one of the three radar towers is still standing and is accessible to the public. (Nice job Addison!)
    Back in 1984, an Addison village history book was published. It offers a nice one page treatment on the site. Additionally, the village historical society has a folder full of holdings, however most are newspaper clippings which deal with vandalism to the launch site.]

    L - E of Lombard, S of Fullerton ((P)Addison Dept. of Public Works
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]
    [{Motel, C}Unfortunately, new public works construction is underway, and all traces of the launch facility are gone. (Except for the original perimeter fencing, a government property sign, and a blue-print in the construction trailer showing what must have been old concrete placements upon the site.)]

    Housing:
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]

    Remote Housing:
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. ]

    C-80 Arlington Hts. C -N side Algonquin & Golf Rd ((P) ILArNG; B/1/12th Special Forces Group)
    [{Lockman, M} Jan 2007 - What I have been able to compile from several sources is a brief history of the C-80 control site which you may find interesting:
    --The original location was more than three times its current size and was established as a Naval Outlying Field (OLF) for nearby Glenview Naval Air Station in 1942. The location proved to have poor approaches and the Navy eventually turned the site over to the Army, who used it as a POW camp for German prisoners during WWII. (My parents, who lived in Evanston during the war, remember seeing German POW’s at the local movie theater being escorted by M.P.’s in 1944.) In 1955, the 45th AAA Brigade erected an integrated fire control site for Nike battery C-80, and in 1960 the location became a Master Missile site serving the Chicagoland metropolitan area. At the height of activity, the location boasted five radar towers. In 1961, the 755th AC&W Squadron moved from Williams Bay AFS, Wisconsin to the Arlington Heights location. The 755th was deactivated in 1969, and the radar towers were removed in 1970. The early 1970’s saw an upgrade to the Nike Hercules, and was still operational as of 1974. Approximately 103 acres of surrounding property owned by the U.S. Army was given to the Arlington Heights Park District in 1974 and that land was developed into a golf course that still surrounds the present-day military reservation, home to an Army Reserve outfit. ]
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. (Tom has Army maps)]

    L - S of Central Rd, W of State Rd ((o) park/mini-mall) *Shared w C-81
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. (Tom has Army maps)]

    C-80DC Arlington Hts. Central RE, E of Arlington Heights Rd. (ILArNG 85th Division (Exercise), 305th PSVOP Battalion)
    [{Thelen, E} As Nike Ajax site C-41 in 1956, we talked with "Elkhorn", a big Airforce radar station near Elkhorn, Wisconsin. GPS = N 42'37.093", W088'32.256", abandoned by the AirForce, now home to several small struggling rental and storage companies.]
    [{Page, T} Elkhorn was later known as Williams Bay AFS, P-31. Its 755th AC&W (Radar) Squadron later relocated to the Army's radar and missile-master site at Arlington Heights, IL (RP-31, Z-31). ]
    [{Page, T} TerraServer image. ]
    C-81 Arlington Hts. C -W of State Rd, S of White Oak Rd ((P) ILArNG; B/1/12th Special Forces Group)
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. (Tom has Army maps)]
    [{Halinar, K} (September 2002 - It's am MP BN now. ]

    L - S of Central Rd, W of State Rd ((o) park/Juliet Lowe School) *Shared w C-80
    [{Page, T} Jan 2005 TerraServer image. (Tom has Army maps)]

    C-84 Palatine C - N of County Line Rd. W of IL 53/Rand Rd. ((O) field)
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=42-09-16 88-02-50 TerraServer ]

    L - NE County Line Rd./Quentin Rd. ((P)Lake County Admin storage site)
    [{Motel, C} ... located on the east side of Quentin Rd. north of County Line Rd. but south of Long Grove Rd. Only two buildings remain, the assembly/test building and what I later learned to be the pump building. The blast berm encloses a huge pile of seemingly fresh cinder block and wood rubble.

    The ground level surfaces of the three magazines are complete with everything except the long rails and hydraulic launchers. There are still hydraulic lines lying around though. Curiously, there are wood-framed structures built over all three elevator doors. I recently learned that not only was Lake County using the above ground buildings at this site, but historical documents were kept underground. These strange wooden structures were probably built to protect the elevator doors from rain and snow.]
    Also see the C-84 chapter in Last Line of Defense from the National Park Service
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=42-09-27 88-03-30 TerraServer ]
    [{Shabec, F} (October 26, 2001) FYI the NIKE site in Palatine, IL is no longer.. For the longest of time there was a Sentry post there but the whole site has been re-done and now had a Motorola, and a Mall there now. Everything on the Nike site is gone.. Sorry to see go.. ]
    C-92-94 Libertyville/
    Mundelein     		between Half Day Rd & Milwaukee Ave (? abandoned)
    Note: on former Naval Outlying Field Libertyville

    [{Lockman, M} Jan 2007 -- History of Libertyville site C-92/94:

    --Originally established as a Naval OLF for Glenview NAS in 1942. Became the first operational Nike Ajax site in Chicagoland area in 1954. Two launch sites were built on the site, separated by the runways which were still maintained by the Navy. As of 1994, the runways were still intact and had been in use for helicopter training. (I remember in the mid-eighties visiting a friend whose backyard abutted the fence line and we watched a Marine Corps UH-1N practice touch and goes.) Nike site was likely removed in mid-seventies, and the location was officially closed as a military reservation in 1995. The Northbrook Vortac serving Chicago-O’Hare Airport was added at the site in 1999, upgraded in 2001. In 2000, much of the land was turned over to the local municipality and as of 2002 construction of retail stores, a high school, and a sports complex had begun. It is believed the underground bunker installations for the launchers proved a formidable obstacle for excavators and the decision was made to incorporate them in some fashion into planned construction. Don’t know how much truth there is to this. Construction crews did use the bunkers in the northwest corner for storage during excavation.
    Joseph Kozia is working at the site?
    [{Woida, C} (Feb. 2003) ... Warner noted that the only actual remnants left from the site are the doors to the under ground missile magazines. "We have saved those doors and will try and incorporate them in a future display," he said. ]
    [{Bisconti, E} (12/99) I heard ... C-92 & C-94 are being bulldozed (as I write this ) in the Libertyville area and a new shopping center is going in up there now. ]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) : The Navy operated the site via the Glenview NAS. The Army came in and built twin Nike sites on the parcel. All above ground buildings are gone . Magazines are still there in NW corner of site. One is dry, the other two, full of water. Site is currently being redeveloped by Vernon Hills as housing and a high school. A sewage treatment plant operates up in NE corner of site at the other launch area. Word is that the magazines are full of sewage sludge. ]

    C - [{Blomberg, B} May, 2009 - long gone ]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=42-13-14 87-57-12 TerraServer

    L - [{Blomberg, B} May, 2009 - Site C-94 launch area is still in reasonable condition. All remaining portions of C-92/94 are long gone. The C-94 launch area is owned by the Lake County IL. public works dept. It is a secure area with all the desired amenities. The county is very interested in the possibility of a restoration and we are taking this one step at a time. The Army Corp, Navy and EPA have been very helpful and are supportive. I have visited SF-88 and had several conversations with the National Park Service. At the Same time I am in discussions with the Army 88th Readiness Command about site C-98. With a lot of luck and hard work one of these two sites may be restored. ]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=42-13-33 87-57-25 TerraServer

    C-93 Northfield
    /Skokie     		C - Hohfeler Rd, N of Tower Rd ((O) W. N. Erickson Forest Preserve)

    L - N of Tower Rd, W of Forest Way ((O) W. N. Erickson Forest Preserve)

    C-98 Ft. Sheridan C - NW Ft Sheridan, adjacent to National Cemetery ((P) Sheridan Reserve Center, rod & gun club

    L - NE Ft Sheridan, 12th Rd ((P)Sheridan Reserve Center, vehicle park)

    SL-10 Marine C - 3 NW Marine, Il. 4 ((O) field),
    [{Hranicka, J} - IFC photos (off-site)]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) All buildings and towers razed. USTs removed 1995, contaminated soil remediated on site. Village has constructed wastewater treatment lagoons on 1/3 of site. Rest of site is grass covered. ]

    L - 5 NNW Marine, Fruit Rd ((I) county road Maintenance site/ private housing)
    Unneeded acid station letter
    [{Fuller, J} (2004)... The second is indeed full of water. The third only has about four inches of water in it. It appears to me that there are three original buildings left. The sheriff department uses one as a firearms training center and we use the others for storage.]
    [{Murdock, S}GPS=38-49-56, 89-47-25, Terraserver]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Madison Co. Highway Dept. currently operates a maintenance yard there. One magazine is still operational, and is used for county records storage. A metal building has been built over the outer doors of the magazine to kept out the weather after the weather seals failed (too expensive to replace, I was told). Most of the buildings are still standing, but are in need of repair. The other two magazines are presumed to be filled with water. ]

    SL-20 Belleville, Scott AFB Headquarters unit - 6 miles ENE Belleville, Il on I-64
    SL-40 Hecker C - (Beck VoTech School)
    [{Murdock, S}GPS=38-17-24 089-56-51 Beck Area Vocational School, 1997 TerraServer ]
    [{Jankowski, A}Practically all buildings are intact (both IFC and Launch).]
    [{Campbell, B} (June, 2000) The IFC area is in mint condition, with nearly all the buildings in immaculate condition. The launcher area elevators are still functional, though we couldn't go into the magazines as they are being rented out for storage. TerraServer]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Most, if not all buildings remain. BAVC operates school there and maintains base in almost a "as was" condition. ]

    L - [{Murdock, S}GPS=38-16-11 089-57-00 abandoned and locked, 1997 TerraServer ]
    Unneeded acid station letter
    [{Vaughn, T}At the launch site the ready building has been removed due to termite damage. The guard hut next to this building has also been removed. ]
    [{Campbell, B} TerraServer]
    Also see the SL-40 chapter in Last Line of Defense from the National Park Service
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Most buildings remain. One magazine, C, is operational. This former base would be a wonderful candidate for an SF-88 type restoration. ]

    SL-47DC Belleville AFS Birdie and many radars - 8 miles E Belleville, Il on IL-158
    [{Murdock, S} I have a few photos of Belleville AFS and other local sites in this trip report from a few years ago: http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/mascou/trmascou.html And for more information see the online radar museum (select "Radar Sites" on the left hand menu, then search on "Belleville": http://www.radomes.org/museum/ ]
    SL-90 Alton
    /Pere Marquette     		C - 5 WNW Grafton ((P) Pere Marquette State Park, equipment storage
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Most buildings remain, but are in terrible condition. Site is completely overgrown. ]
    [{Campbell, B} & (Murdock, S) GPS= 38-58-55 90-30-32 TerraServer ]
    [{Campbell, B} Nov.98 - The IFC, though weed choked, is relatively intact. The view from the top of the hill is really spectacular. ]

    L - 5 WNW Grafton ((P) Pere Marquette State Park, vehicle storage
    [{LaVite, T} Nov.2008 - Me and my friends sucsesfully repelled down into the underground area. I have footage if you would like to see it. I just wanted you to know that it does have an underground area. ]
    Unneeded acid station letter
    [{Campbell, B} Nov.98 - In the launcher area only a generator building, and the guard shack on the "inner fence" remain standing. Due to the large amount of debris, it's impossible to tell if the site had an underground component at all. There are no traces of elevator doors, vents, or personnel access hatches. ]
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) Magazines filled in with gravel, most buildings razed. Site used for storage yard by park. ]
    [{Campbell, B} & (Murdock, S) GPS=38-59-43 90-30-36 TerraServer ]

    (Housing/Admin):
    [{Jankowski, A} (2001) All buildings removed to the floor slab. Ironically, flagpole is still standing. Site used for storage yard by park. ]
    [{Campbell, B} Nov.98 - The Admin area has been totally obliterated, with the exception of the fences, roadways and the flag pole. ]

    go to top 

    
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Jankowski
To: ed@ed-thelen.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 8:58 AM
Subject: Nike web site: Acid Fueling Station at Herc Battery???

Ed, thanks again for your site...it's the best.  I'd like to pose a question
to you about the St. Louis, MO batteries (SL-10, 40, 60, and 90).  These
were Hercules sites, and yet in the launch area they have the Ajax Acid
Fueling Station.  Any thoughts?  We're sure at a loss as to why it was
included on a Herc battery.  Educated guesses are most appreciated.  Thanks.

Andrew J. Jankowski, Remedial Project Manager
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
BOL/DRM/FSRS/FFU (Mail Code #24)
1021 N. Grand Avenue East
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
217/785-6020
217/782-3258 FAX
e-mail:  Andrew.Jankowski@epa.state.il.us


------- following is response by Ed Thelen  ---------

I used to work for a guy who was notorious for his
  WAGs   - Wild xxx Guesses

Yes, those sites seem to have had only Hercules
missiles installed in them   (As per "Rings of Supersonic Steel")

But I notice that the sites were manned in May 1960,
which was relatively early in the Hercules program.

So my "WAG" is that if indeed they were Hercules only,
- that the original plans for the sites were for the
Ajax Acid Refueling Station and the stations were installed, 
- and  that as the Hercules became available, 
the Ajax missiles were never installed,
and the Ajax Acid Refueling Station was "redundant"
and probably never used.  However, it was probably
cheaper to leave it there than remove it.

So - with your statement, and book supplied dates,
that is my "WAG".   Please remember that it is a "WAG"   ;-))

I am CCing Mark Morgan, a co-author of
    "Rings of Supersonic Steel",
for possibly more authoritative comments.

   Ed Thelen (a reluctant guesser)

    .
    Indiana
  • C-32 Porter/Chesterton
  • C-45 Gary Munic. Airp
  • C-46 Munster
  • C-47 Hobart/Wheeler
  • C-48 South Gary
  • CD-63 Dillsboro
    		• .
    Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
    Click for updated TerraServer links
    . . Lake / Porter County, Indiana Nike Missile Sites
    C-32 Porter/Chesterton web page
    C - 3 WSW Tremont,
    [{Bardowski, S}E] of West Rd ((P)National Park Service; Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
    [{Hedges, C}It looks like all of the radar towers are gone, but some of the buildings remain and are used by the Park Service personnel. They are still painted the same color as the launch site's and C-47's (Hobart/Wheeler) buildings. ]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-37-51 87-05-16 TerraServer

    L - 2 WSW Tremont, East Oak Hill Rd ((P)private owner)
    [{Bonnema, J} (May 2004) I might be able to explain by C32L was in such disrepair. The couple that bought it from the GSA used it as their personal junk yard. My grandmother-in-law recently purchased the Ready Building (now our home) from my husband and me. We went "exploring" this past weekend. I have also researched C32L online without much luck. My husband and I are interested in finding out who owns the property so we can clean it up.

    We would love to hear about what C32L was like during its Active status.
    The Warheading Building is still in excellent shape considering it hasn't seen action in 30 years: a little graffiti, lots of junk, and broken windows are the damage. The Fallout Shelter is locked (cannot get in at this time.) The main guardshack needs a fresh coat of paint and new glass. The Kennell needs new gates and debrushed. The assemby building, pump house, and generator building are in the worst shape. At the launch site, the magazines are flooded and the elevators are in the up position. There are several "artifacts" that would be and should be salvaged.
    As stated above, my husband and I hope to get our hands on this property and restore what can be restored.
    Any history - pictures, newspaper articles, etc. that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Even a response to this email would go a long way, as we would like to dedicate a wall in our home to C32 / C32L. ]
    [{Vaughn, T} (May 2004) ... has new owner, ... The magazines are flooded and the elevators are all in the up position. The warhead building is in pretty good shape. The assembly building has a bad roof.. We couldn't get into the fallout shelter it was looked up and the opening for the comm/command (?) van had been closed up. By the stenciling on the wall it looked like the Army did it. At C-47 it was still open. Of course C-47 closed 2 1/2 years before C-32 The inner guard shack is still in place with the security (lights, horns, etc.)panel still in it. Overall there is very little vandalism. ]
    [{Hedges, C} could see building remaining from the road. Both sites can be easily found by exiting US 12 or US 20 at Oak Hill Road in Porter. ]
    [{Vaughn, T}The launch site is located on county road West 50 (but this street is locally called Wagner Rd) about 100 yards north of the intersection with Oakhill. This site is in excellent condition. It has always been in private hands since the government sold it. It has never been vandelized since the owner lives at the site, in the ready building. I have talked in person with the owner, an elderly lady, but can not get permission to enter the site.. Still, alot can be seen from the street. The buildings still have their doors and window glass. I could see some type of equipment boxes hanging on the walls in some of the buildings. The lady told me that a sump pump was in use in the magazines and the magazines were accessable. text & photos ]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-37-55 87-04-28 TerraServer
    C-45 Gary Munic. Airp Click here for extended report on C-45 - Nov 2007
    C NNW corner Gary Municipal Airport, off US 12 (Gary Municipal Airport)

    L - W end Gary Municipal Airport (Gary Municipal Airport)
    [{Bardowski, S} ...police firing range for the City of Gary, the Assembly building berm becoming the back stop.

    July 2006, Steve adds "C-45 was the original battalion Headquarters for the Gary Indiana defense. The last unit there was HHQ Battery, 1-60 [HERC] ADA, which was relocated to C-46, Munster Indiana when Nike Ajax was phased out and the Nike Hercule stood up. Prior to that an Nike Ajax unit was located at the Gary Municipal Airport. The Battalion Headquarters stood alone even after the Ajax went away until around 1970." ]
    C-46 Munster C - 1 S Munster, W side Columbia Rd ((o) industrial park)

    L - 2 S Munster, W side Columbia Rd ((P)Salyer Plumbing Company)
    [{Keilman, Larry} Jan 2008, Newspaper article about demolition ]
    [{Anderson, M} Jan 2008, ... remaining buildings on the site have been leveled in the past week. ... the article from the paper which mentioned the very thick concrete that the company that was doing the demolishing of the site ran into.]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-31-40 87-30-55 TerraServer Dec 15, 2006 as noted by {Olson, T}
    [{Hedges, C}C-46 Munster: I located the site on Columbia Road, but I am not sure if it was the control or launch site (the site occupants didn't have a commercial sign along the roadway that I noticed as I drove by doing the posted speed limit). No radar towers were visible. I'm guessing it's the launch site, because earth berms for blast protection were located at the southeastern part of the site. The buildings were painted blue, perimeter fence was in place, and the guard shack still stands. The site was occupied and is being used for commercial purposes. The site is located within yards of the public roadway.]
    [{Motel, C} The area has undergone quite a change in the last 5 or so years, and the street name was officially changed to Columbia. Many of the locals still refer to it as Sheffield though...]
    [{Vaughn, T}Launch site. The COE has filled in one of the magizines. It was on local government property. The two magizines on private property are not filled in.]

    C-47 Hobart/Wheeler web page
    C - 1 N Wheeler, North Rd (private owner)
    [{Treib, W} TerraServer ]

    L - 2 NNE Wheeler, W of West Rd (Portage Township School Corporation)
    [{Treib, W} TerraServer ]
    [{Hedges, C} The launch area is on Porter country road 700 and the control area is about one mile away. There is an article about plans to convert the launch facility into a firefighter training center in the Gary Post Tribune (www.post-trib.com) today (2/8/98). " ... But the Aarmy Corps of Engineers has to clean up and remove remains of the base, abandoned by the Defense Department more than 25 years ago. The Corps recently picked a Knowville, Tenn., firm IT Corp to do the $766,000 worth of work at the 14-acre site. ... The clean up is expected to start in the spring and last to July or August." The control area is now a paint-ball game area (see www.blastcamp.com).] `
    [{Hedges, C}The control site still has radar towers standing. Buildings are still standing and are being used by the paint ballers who play games there. The site is surrounded by the perimeter fence. The buildings at the control and launch sites are painted a tan color (the same as the C-32 Porter/Chesterton site). The control site is near the public roadway (approx. 100 yards or so) and much is clearly visible from the roadway. The launch site still has the perimeter fence. The guard shack, buildings and light poles still stand and are visible from the surrounding roadways. Views from the public roadway of the eastern portion of the site are excellent when the adjacent field has been cleared. Views of the north end of the site are also possible from the roadway.
    [{Hedges, C} C-47 is still up at this time. The area received about 20'' of snow, so I'm not sure when they'll start work on its demolition. There is an individual who wants to save C-47 L as a park dedicated to the Armed Forces. His name is Donald Peterson ( ds@nusa.org ). His son wrote a letter to the editor of the Post-Tribune regarding the site.]
    For photos and current events see Lake / Porter County, Indiana Nike Missile Sites and also [{Vaughn, T} (See Photos)]

    Admin Area
    [{Michalsky, J} September 2005 - It looks like the admin area of C-47 in Hobart, IN is a paintball field - check out Blast Camp at www.blastcamp.com

    C-48 South Gary web page
    C - W of Grant St, N of West 35th Ave

    L - W of Grand St, N of West 35th Ave
    [{Hedges, C}The control center (I believe -- there were no noticable magazines) is still standing. No radar towers are standing. The site looks as if it isn't occupied (the guard shack door was broken and lying beside the building), but there is a building with an air conditioner in the window and the perimeter fence is standing and secured. Signs at the gate indicate that the site might be used by the Gary Emergency Management Agency, but the signs are somewhat faded. The buildings are painted blue (the same color as the Munster site). The location is on West 35th Ave, west of Grant and east of Clark Road, next to the Lake County Association for the Retarded. The site is located within yards of the public roadway.
    [{Vaughn, T}(rec. Nov 98) ... was in operation from 1957 to 1960. In the launch area are two magazines which are still in place. They are filled with water. This Ajax site only had two magazines. There is even an elevator control panel still in place. Like many of the Ajax sites the administration area is with the launch area. Many buildings are still in place along with the basketball court. (See Photos) ]
    [{Hottel, A}(Sep '99)IFC area is on the east side of Grant 500 feet north of 35th Ave on Grant Street. Launch Area 1000 feet west of Grant Street on 35th Ave in Glen Park

    CD-63 Dillsboro C - 4 SE Dillsboro, S of US 50
    [{Moses, L}IFC is located on Texas Gas Road off US50, private owner, I did go into the IFC area about 10 years ago and it was all pretty much like it was before.]
    [(Murdock, S) GPS 39-00-22, 85-00-39, TerraServer ]

    L - 3 SE Dillsboro, S of US 50 ((I) private home)
    [{Moses, L} - September 2007 - The thought occurred to me for some reason that the missiles were underground but the fall-out shelter was above ground. Does anyone know why it was above ground? ]
    [{Olson, T} TerraServer Dec 2006
    [{Moses, L} Launch area is located on Ind. 256 just out of Dillsboro. All buildings standing. Part of the pits were made into an underground home by the owner some years ago and rated an article in the local paper.
    [(Murdock, S) GPS 39-00-02, 85-02-05 ]
    [(Brower, D) found this in SF-88 Guest Book

    Name: HAROLD WHISMAN
    E-Mail: CORVETTE@EYEWORLD.NET
    City/State: DILLSBORO, IN
    Date: Wed Dec 29 00:23:00 1999
    Wrote...
    I am the current owner of the Nike site in Dillsboro Indiana. I am sending this e-mail from silo "B" that I transformed into my home 20 years ago.complete with whirlpool, sauna,and underground pool.{made when I cut off half of the elevator} The other half of the elevator is still operational, I use it to bring my corvette and classic cars down into my family room.{usually keep 3 of them in it.I have a corvette business in the old barricks. A horse stable took the place of the assembly building.I still get the men coming back to see the old place where they were stationed.Also my uncle was the contractor that dug the holes for the silos.
    Harold Whisman
    and David says "netcenter, gives his addess as 8854 state route 262, dillsboro; phone (812) 432-5916."

    Extended report on C-45

    {Bozych, B} I'm employed by the FAA as Nav/Comm technician for the last 29 years. My unit is based out of Chicago Midway but one of the satellite airports we take care of is Gary, Indiana.

    When I was first hired much of the remains of the Nike site were still visible but in extremely deteriorated condition. The site at Gary was basically three areas, a barracks and administrative area on the west side of the airport. Basically right inside the airport fence along Industrial Blvd. and the railroad tracks.That would be on the northwest corner of the airport. I recall about a half dozen buildings there, but it was an area that you didn't mess around in too much because at that time the airport was infested with packs of wild dogs. That area about 10 years ago was finally cleaned up and about 5-6 years ago a hangar was built on that location.

    Presently the Boeing Company's corporate flight department totally utilizes that facility. On the very south side of the airport is a building that was part of the original Army base from what i was told, the FAA for my entire career utilizes that building as an RTR- remote/ transmitter receiver communications facility.

    The main part of the Nike complex was of course the launch area, there appeared to be 2 launch silos there. For many years the area was used as a general purpose / equipment / garbage dump storage area. The silo doors for many years were visible until Gary Airport started dumping large amounts of busted up asphalt and concrete on them as part of a runway resurface project.

    About three years ago as part of an airport expansion the general area was cleaned up, the silo doors where removed, and the roofs of the underground rooms collapsed and the area was backed filled in. This work was conducted by contractors under Army guidance.

    We, in the FAA, always thought that the silos would be flooded by ground water since we are so close to Lake Michigan but surprising they we completely dry. The rails that the Nikes were stored on were still down there but everything else was pretty well gutted. Since the roofs/ceiling were removed as part of the demolition I was able to get a very good look at what remained down there. Regretfully I didn't take any pictures of it but, as per the info on your web page it appears to be a standard installation. At this present date the Indiana National Guard is constructing a new hangar and aviation facility that is right atop the location of the launching area site.

    Bill Bozych

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    .
    Iowa
    		.
    Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
    Click for updated TerraServer links
    OF-10 Council Bluffs
    ?Treynor, about 14 miles ESE of Council Bluffs?     		C - (National Weather Service facility)
    [{Springer, R}Highway 92 east of Council Bluffs ... known as the Treynor, Iowa missile base.The site of the IFC area is run by the Loess Hills Education Service Unit. The National Weather Service facility is at the site of the 6th Missile batallion Headquarters, north of Omaha, Neb.]
    [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-13-52, 95-42-34 TerraServer (note the hexagon outline from the HIPAR tower.)]

    L - [{Murdock, S} GPS=41-13-52, 95-42-14 TerraServer Nike Site OF-10L, just east of the control site (looks like the berms have been removed.)]

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    .
    Italy
    two "Google Earth" .kmz files, one for the Nike Hercules and Ajax missile sites, and one for the HAWK missile batteries from Tom Page Jan 26, 2008.
    Nike Hercules (Italian) spotted by Salvatore Pagani.
    Google has a free automatic translation service
    a sample
    		.
    Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
    Bovolone 20 Km SouthSouthEast of Verona [{Meuti, .A} (May 2003) Bovolone is one of the 3 Italian Nike sites still working. ]
    Ceggia
    Team 3, 34th    		35 Km NorthEast of Venice [{Etem, B.} (March 2007) ... is still there too, but also abandoned.
    Chioggia
    Tm 2, 31st USAAD    		25 Km South of Venice .
    Conselve HQ?- 40 Km SW Venice, 25 Km south of Padova (80 SQ Bagnoli di Sopra)
    [{Meuti, .A} (May 2003) Bagnoli di Sopra is one of the 3 Italian Nike sites still working. ]
    Cordovado
    (Pordenone)
    Team 2, 34th     		55 Km NorthEast of Venice [{Etem, B.} (March 2007) ... is being deactivated at this time
    [{Meuti, .A} (May 2003) still working. ]
    Ronca
    Mt Calvarina
    Team 4, 47th USAAD     		20 Km ENE Verona, 70 Km West of Venice. 20 Km WSW of Vicenza [{Faresin, M} May 2006, The 65° I.T. Group was closed in September 1995.
    c-

    L-
    [{Emiliano, .} Mt. Calvarina is a 2Km to Roncŕ ]

    Vittorio Veneto 55 Km North of Venice, 59° Sq., Mountain site .
    Zelo
    31 Atry Det.     		70 Km SouthWest of Venice .
    Go to top of Page

    from Tom Page Jan 26, 2008
    I had seen a listing on Ed's website for Nike missile sites in Italy, but I thought all had been deactivated years ago. As most of you probably know, this is not the case -- three Nike Hercules missile sites apparently are still inoperation, scheduled to be reconfigured very soon with Patriot PAC-3 missiles as part of the NATO Medium, Extended Air-Defense System (MEADS). This is per Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, 21 January 2008, page 21, column 1. The article does not say which Nike Hercules missile sites will receive Patriot PAC-3 missiles, but I'd guess it will be the three operational sites (i.e., Bovolone, Bagnoli, and Cordovado).

    from Charles April 7, 2007
    The Italian Air Force is scheduled to decomission their Nike Hercules batteries in 2007 (I got this information from an Italian Battery Commander).

    from Blake Etem March 18, 2007
    Hi,
    I'd like to add something to your website about the Nike sites in Italy.

    I was at Cordovado (which is being deactivated at this time - I still live in Italy and met a guy a few months ago who worked there), which was Team 2, 34th USAAD.

    Ceggia was our detachment HQ and was Team 3.

    So what ever happened to Team 1? It was actually located at a place called Ca' Tron right on the Venetian lagoon next to the little village of Portegrandi (the big doors -- there are a series of locks there between the canals and the neighboring lagoon). It was never really approved to store missiles there because it was below sea level and regularly flooded. Nevertheless, the US did have some troops there for a brief time while they were trying to get approval to get the missiles there. I knew a guy who worked there and the site is still there today, although long abandoned.

    Ceggia is still there too, but also abandoned.

    The last time I drove by Cordovado it was still there.

    By the way, the Italians have a test/practice range on the island of Sardegna (Sardinia) where they've gone for years for annual practice launches. The range is called "Perdasdefogu" - rocks of fire - in the language of Sardegna and when I visited there recently was told that they may still launch some Nike Hercules this year or next.

    Best Regards,

    Blake
    Blake Etem
    blakeetem@mac.com

    This is Ed Thelen - I was told that the Turks also practice fire from Sardinia - since the Greeks practice fire from Crete -

    from Carlo A. Clerici May 5, 2002
    Le batteries with Nike hercules were part of Prima Aerobrigata Intercettori Teleguidati with commando in Padova, created in may 1959. They were located at defence of Northern Italy at Montichiari, Monte Calvarina, Bovolone, Zelo, Bagnoli di Sopra, Chioggia, Ceggia and Cordovado. These site are still manned by Air force for training waiting more modern SAM.

    Other 4 locations were site of "mountain group" af base (sited in hills or mountains), originally built as base for Nike Ajax. I was't able to locate all of them but I know on near Mount Grappa and one on Monte Toraro (near Folgaria). These are completely abandoned since long time.

    Yours

    Carlo A. Clerici

    from Don Bender
    NIKE SITES IN ITALY
    The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana or "AMI") continues to operate MIM-14C Nike Hercules missiles for air defense. The AMI's 1st Air Brigade operates the missiles from sites in the areas of Padova (Padua) and Montichiari (in the vicinity of Lake Garda) in northern Italy.(1)

    These Nike Hercules systems could remain in service until after the year 2000 and are probably fitted with a Norden-designed Digital Computer System (DCS) which presumably offers improved performance over the original analog Nike Hercules equipment.(2)

    Sources:
    1. www.match.it/aerei/ami2.htm
    2. Laur, Timothy M. et al. "The Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons". Berkeley Publishing Group, 1995. [Nike Hercules entries].

    Don Bender

    from Patrick Wilson
    As best I can rember we hand 2 Detachments in Vicenza, Italy the 31st Arty and the 32nd arty detachments both attached to the 557th signal. Both dets had 4 groups one headquarters and three sites all sites being Italian Military. Each site had approx 25 men, 2officers 4Sgts the rest being made up of 22f maintance men and 16b launcher crew men. Our duties were to arm the missiles and guard the missiles if we ever went nuculer which we did not when I was there. This site had both Ajax and Hercules missiles.

    Site Zelo was just outside Zelo, Italy just above the Poe River. The only other site I can remember was in Verona, Italy and I belive there were two more above Venice. I never heard Site Zelo called anything but Site Zelo. This Site was the only one with a 1 year tour of duty because of the communist activity in the area.

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    Updated June, 2009