Corrections to

The Second Edition of Rings of Supersonic Steel

Air Defenses of the United States Army 1950-1979

By Mark L. Morgan and Mark Berhow

with comments from Tom Page, Cofounder & Historian for the Online Air-Defense Radar Museum (October 2006).

October 29, 2006,

Page # item correction

p. 7 Photo at bottom This is a picture of a 105mm AA gun, not the 120 mm gun (which can be seen to the rear).

79th AAA MBn motto "Alto Y Derecho."

p. 10 middle and lower photos Correct caption to "Nike IFC site" remove "Ajax"

p. 12 Second photo down from left Correct caption to: "Inside the battery control van at W-64 Lorton, the Army National Guard battery commander and his crew go through a simulated fire attack exercise. 11 Apr 60. This photo appears to be reversed. (US Army Signal Corps)."

p. 12 Third photo down on left Missing caption: "Nike-Ajax missile warhead building and acid fueling area (US Army Redstone Arsenal Historical Information)"

p. 12 Illustration at bottom left Wrong illustration, ignore caption

p. 13 Second photo from top left Correct caption to: "IFC area, Site T-10, Elmira, CA, A, 1-61st Arty, 1961; looking N shows L to R missile tracking radar, acquisition radar, and target tracking radar. (US Army Signal Corps)."

p. 15 fifth paragraph last line A Target Ranging Radar (TRR) was added to supplement the TTR. The acquisition radar from the original Hercules program, the Low Power Acquisition Radar (LOPAR, which itself was a upgraded version of the original Ajax acquisition radar) was retained.

sixth paragraph Operational control only rested with the Nike batteries only if all other command features failed.

p. 16 Photo at top Correct caption to: Nike-Hercules probably at one of the Alaska sites (US Army Redstone Arsenal Historical Information)"

p. 18 Photo upper right Ignore caption, the correct caption for both of the upper photos is under the photo to the left

P. 23 table Stewart AFB, NY (DC-2) – in 1966, redesignated

as SCC-4 ("SCC" = "SAGE Combat Center)

Hamilton AFB, CA (P-48 / MCC-6) – in 1966,

redesignated as SCC-5

Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO (SM-169 / MCC-2 /

DC-8) – in 1966, redesignated as SCC-6

(delete footnote 2 for "undesignated Combat Center")

p. 26 Photo at the bottom Caption should read "BOMARC missile in Type II launcher (from Chun)"

p. 27 Table The entry for Dow AFB should read "28" not "14." Also the number of launchers for the Canadian sites should both be "28."

p. 29 table corrections for entry to "Zeus": Designation is: XLIM-49A, weight is 22,800 lbs; length is: 580 in;; for Spartan: designation is LIM49A

p. 29 2nd column, first full paragraph Should read: The initial design, Nike Zeus A, the DM-15 (Douglas Missile-15), was a scaled-up, two-stage version of the Hercules. The second design Nike-Zeus B, DM-15S, was released in the spring of 1960 and was designated XLIM-49A. The weapon was 48-ft 3-in long and weighed about 22,800 lbs. Like Hercules, it featured solid-fueled boosters—a unique tandem design in this case, capable of generating 450,000 lbs of thrust —and a sustainer for a maximum range of over 250 miles at 200 miles of altitude. Nike-Zeus B carried a 400-kiloton W-50 warhead, powered by its own third-stage motor.

p. 33 Photos Caption should read "Safeguard construction at Grand Forks (upper photo) and Malstrom (lower photo) (from Kitchens)"

p. 34 Photo Caption should read: Casing of the colors of MDARNG 1st Battalion-70th Artillery on 14 Sep 1974, at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, PA.

p. 37 Photo upper left Caption should read "Sprint (from Thompson)" There is not a Sprint on display in Langdon, only a Spartan.

p. 38 Photos Missing captions: "Sprint missile launch area (upper left), Spartan missile launch area (middle right) at Nekoma MSR site"

p. 41 Lower photo Missing caption: "Nike missile site SF-88L, 1992 (Mark Berhow)"

Corrections to Site Guide

p. 43. Missiles/Storage - the first listing indicates the number of missile magazines at the site, by type (should be A/C instead of just C):

A/C "A" magazines were the original unmodified design for Ajax (3 satellite launchers, 1 launcher on elevator, 42 feet x 63 feet). "C" magazines were Ajax magazines converted for Hercules use—modifications were made for the elevator to handle the increased weight of the Hercules missile and launcher (3 satellite launchers, no launcher on elevator, 42 feet x 63 feet).

p. 44, column 2, 2nd paragraph: When Fire Island AFS, AK (F-1) closed in 1969, King Salmon AFS, AK (F-3) became the AADCP for the Anchorage Defense Area until the Nike system in Alaska was deactivated.

Page 53: B-21DC was at Fort Heath (MM-1), not at Fort Banks. The equipment (in addition to the AN/FSG-1 Missile Master) included one FAA ARSR-1 search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars.

p. 63-67 Chicago Defense area

C-32 Porter/Chesterton

Missiles 18H/20A

C-47 Hobart/Wheeler

Magazines 2?B/1C

C-48 South Gary

LOC: C – on Grant St, near West 35th Ave

L - W of Grant St, off West 35th Ave (Glen Park)

CUR: C - (O)

L - (P) City property

C-49 Homewood (correct designation is C-49, not C-50)

Page 66:

C-80DC, Arlington Heights (MM-4): The equipment (in addition to the AN/FSG-1 Missile Master) included one Air Force AN/FPS-20 (later AN/FPS-67) search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. (One Air Force AN/FPS-6 was subsequently modified to the AN/FPS-6B variant and then the AN/FPS-90 variant). The 755th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was relocated from Williams Bay AFS, WI (P-31) to man the joint-use radar site at Arlington Heights.

Page 66:

The C-80 and C-81 IFC and Launch Battery locations are reversed. The double Launch Battery was collocated with the Arlington Heights Missile Master site (on the west-southwest side of the Army base). The two IFC sites were at the park and the school, as listed for the launch sites (incorrectly).

Page 68:

Radar site CM-01R is incorrectly listed in the Table as "CM-10R"; it is shown correctly on the map as "CM-01R." Also, "Tisch Mills" is two words.

Note: The other defense areas also had early-warning radar sites, not just Chicago-Milwaukee. Radar type was AN/TPS-1D. The other radar sites should be included. Examples for the Washington-Baltimore defense area include Fort Miles, DE (below); Fort Loudon, PA; and Chestertown, MD.

Page 78:

D-15DC, Selfridge AFB, MI: The equipment (in addition to the AN/FSG-1 Missile Master) included one Air Force AN/CPS-5; one Air Force AN/CPS-6; one Air Force AN/FPS-20 (later AN/FPS-20A) search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6, -6A height-finder radars. One Air Force AN/FPS-6 was subsequently replaced by an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar. The AN/FPS-20A was subsequently replaced by the AN/FPS-35 search radar.

 

P. 79. Detroit Defense area.D-23/D-26. Some discrepancies in the site locations, this was a double site with two different IFCs but co-located launch facilities.

D-23 2B A/85th (4/55-9/58)

East Detroit/ 20A A/3/55th (9/58-12/60)

Kercheval 8L-A

* Shared double launch with D-26; separate IFCs

LOC: C - end of Lenox Street

L - East end of Belle Isle; South of Blue Heron Lagoon

CUR: C - (O) Ford Brush Park

L - (O) Field – part of Belle Isle Park

D-26 ABAR/71 2B/2C 5/58- HHB/85th (4/55-9/58)

Detroit City Airport/ 12H/20A 7/58 B/85th (4/55-9/58)

East Detroit 16L-UA D/85th (4/55-9/58)

(8L-H) HHB/3/55th(9/58-12/60)

B/3/55th (9/58-12/60)

D/3/55th (9/58)

B/3/517th(12/60-11/68)

* Shared double launch with D-23; separate IFCs

LOC: C - end of Conner Street

L - East end of Belle Isle; South of Blue Heron Lagoon

CUR: C - (O) Maheras Memorial Park

L - (O) Field - part of Belle Isle Park

 

Page 83:

One "typo": The USAF "704th AC&WS" should actually be "740th AC&WS."

p. 85 Fairbanks Defense Area

FOX *Land acquired and surveyed; not developed

LOC: 5 N Fairbanks, Chena Ridge Rd. E Tanana R.

SUGAR *Land acquired and surveyed; not developed

LOC: 12 ENE Fairbanks, Lakloey Hill and Richardson Park Subdivision

PETER LOC: 15 E Eielson AFB

CUR: (P) US Army Yukon Training Area, abandoned

MIKE LOC: 10 SE Eielson AFB

CUR: (O) US Army Yukon Training Area, abandoned

JIG LOC: 32 SE Fairbanks, near Richardson Hwy, on Site Rd. near intersection Johnson Rd.

CUR: C - (O)

L - Explosives storage

TARE LOC: 18 SE Fairbanks, N Richardson Hwy, Moose Creek Bluff

CUR: C/L- (O) Chena River Recreation Area

LOVE LOC: Murphy Dome Rd, 9 E Elliot Hwy

CUR: C/L - (O)

 

Page 87:

The Fairchild defense area AADCP was actually at Geiger Field, not Fairchild AFB, WA. The AADCP was collocated with the USAF 823rd AC&WS (later 823rd Radar Squadron {SAGE}). Radars were up at Mica Peak AFS (Z-151).

Page 96:

HM-01DC, Richmond AFS, FL (Z-210): In addition to the FAA ARSR-1 search radar, there were two Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. Radar data were shared with the Army.

Page 101:

KW-18DC, Key West NAS, FL (Z-209): One "typo": RSS lists the site as "KW-19DC," but it actually was "KW-18DC." Also, in addition to the FAA ARSR-1 search radar, there were two Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. Radar data were shared with the Army.

p. 102 Lincoln Defense area/ radar designations. Map shows both sites as having HIPAR, but Crete only had ABAR/75. Correction for data entry is below.

LI-01 HIPAR? 3AG D/6/43d (6/60-6/66)
Ceresco/Davey 12H

12L-H

LI-50 ABAR/75 3AG C/6/43d (6/60-6/66)
Crete 12L
12L-H

Pages 108, 109:

LA-45DC / Z-39, Fort MacArthur / San Pedro Hill AFS, CA: All radars listed for Fort MacArthur (Lower Reservation) on page 108 should actually be listed exclusively for San Pedro Hill AFS on page 109. The radars included one FAA ARSR-1 search radar; one Air Force AN/FPS-27 search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6, -6B height-finder radars. The Air Force AN/FPS-6 (-6A) was subsequently replaced by an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar, and the AN/FPS-6B was later modified to the AN/FPS-90 variant. (This site did not have an AN/FPS-7C search radar as listed; that entry should be deleted.) The 670th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was relocated from San Clemente Island AFS, CA (P-39) to man the joint-use radar site at San Pedro Hill AFS.

Page 111:

In the third column, "Missile Site Radar" should be replaced with "Perimeter Acquisition Radar." It is the unfinished shell of the PAR that remains, not the MSR.

p. 111, 113. Misspelled town name in Milwaukee defense—Muskego not Muskegon

M-64 1B/2C A/852d (3/56- /57)

Muskego/ 30A A/401st ( /57-9/58)

Prospect 12L-A A/3/67th (9/58-2/61)

A/1/126th (2/61-3/63)

LOC: C - College Ave.

L - End of Arcadian Dr off of County Rd Y

CUR: C - (P) private owner

L - (P) private owner

Page 115:

MS-48DC, Snelling AFS, MN: Add note stating the AADCP was located in the former USAF Air-Defense Control Center (ADCC) building after the Air Force vacated. An Army AN/FPS-75 radar was then mounted on the roof (see photo, below).

Page 123:

NY-55DC, Highlands AFS, NJ (Z-9): The radars included one Air Force AN/CPS-6; one Air Force AN/FPS-8 / GPS-3; one Air Force AN/FPS-7 search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6, -6B height-finder radars. The Air Force AN/FPS-6 was subsequently replaced by an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar, and the AN/FPS-6B was later modified to the AN/FPS-90 variant.

Page 127:

NF-17DC, Lockport AFS, NY (Z-21): Add AN/FSG-1 Missile Master (this site definitely had one; see http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/LockportAFSarticle.jpg.

In addition to the Air Force radars listed, the Army also initially had two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. Note also that "AN/FPS-7" is listed twice; the second entry should be deleted.

Page 140:

PH64DC, Pedricktown AADB, NJ: Add radar types – one each Army AN/FPS-20 search radar and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar at the Pedricktown site. Also add notes stating that in the 1960 / 1961 time frame, the radar site for Pedricktown was relocated to Gibbsboro, NJ (an Air Force gap-filler annex at the time), and was operated by the USAF 772nd Radar Squadron (SAGE), which itself was relocated from Claysburg AFS, PA (P-63). The new site at Gibbsboro AFS (RP-63; Z-63) operated the following radars: One Air Force AN/FPS-66 search radar, later replaced by the Air Force AN/FPS-27 search radar; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6, -6A height-finder radars. One Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars was later replaced by an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar. (Note that the Army and Air Force AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar suite at Gibbsboro AFS has not yet been verified, but two each was the typical configuration for the radar sites supporting Nike Missile-Master facilities.)

Page 146:

PI-70DC, Oakdale AADB, PA: (Add "DC" to the site designation.) The radars included one FAA ARSR-1, replaced by one Air Force AN/FPS-24 search radar; one AN/FPS-20 (or AN/FPS-8?) on the adjacent hill for backup; two Army AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars; and two Air Force AN/FPS-6B height-finder radars. One Air Force AN/FPS-6B was subsequently replaced by an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar, and the other AN/FPS-6B was later modified to the AN/FPS-90 variant. The 662nd Radar Squadron (SAGE) was relocated from Brookfield AFS, OH (P-62) to man the radar site at Oakdale.

 

p. 152-3 St. Louis Defense area

SL-10 Marine

LOC: C - 3 NW Marine, IL 4

L - 5 NNW Marine, Fruit Rd

CUR: C - (O) private residence

L - (I) Madison County DPW storage facility; Sheriff’s Department firing range

SL-40 Hecker

LOC: C - 3.5 SE Hecker, 6137 Beck Rd

L - 4.5 SE Hecker, south of C, M road

CUR: C - (I) Beck Vocational Technology School; day care center

L - (I) Hecker/Red Bud School District, storage

SL-60 Pacific

LOC: C - 5S, County Rd NN

L - 6S, 2 SW Catawissa, County Rd AP

CUR: C - (P) Private, MPL Industries

L - (I) Nike School, school district support services, 1 building destroyed

SL-90 Alton/Pere Marquette/Grafton

LOC: C - 5 WNW Grafton

L - 6 WNW Grafton

CUR: C - (P) Pere Marquette State Park; end of scenic drive, abandoned, Admin foundations only

L - (P) Pere Marquette State Park; scenic drive, abandoned

Page 158:

SF-90DC, Mill Valley AFS, CA (Z-38): Delete the listing for "AN/FSG-1 Missile Master." The AADCP at Mill Valley AFS never had a Missile-Master system. Also, delete "(SLBM)" after "AN/FPS-7C." The AN/FPS-7C (later AN/FPS-107) was the search radar. The SLBM radar was the AN/FSS-7 (modified from the AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar {not listed}).

Page 166:

S-90DC, Fort Lawton, WA (RP-1; Z-1): Change "2x AN/CPS-6A" to "2x AN/FPS-6A" and designate as USAF. Add "2x AN/FPS-6A" and designate as Army. Add one Air Force AN/FPS-26 height-finder radar (which replaced one USAF AN/FPS-6A). The 635th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was relocated from McChord AFB, WA (P-1) to man the Fort Lawton joint-use radar site.

Page 175:

W-13DC, Fort Meade, MD (RP-54; Z-227): Change "2x AN/FPS-68" to "2x AN/FPS-6B" and designate as USAF (one was later modified to the AN/FPS-90 variant). Add "2x AN/FPS-6" and designate Army. The USAF 770th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was relocated to Fort Meade from Palermo AFS, NJ (P-54) to man the joint-use radar site.

 

Page 180, Glossary of Abbreviations:

"ADCOM": Should be "Aerospace Defense Command (USAF)" [replaced ADC, Air Defense Command (USAF)"]

"FUDS": Should be "Formerly-Used Defense Site" (not "Formally- …")

"HIPAR": Should be "High-Power Acquisition Radar" (not "High-Powered …")

"NORAD": Should be both "North American Air Defense Command" and (later) "North American Aerospace Defense Command"

"WSMR": Should be "White Sands Missile Range" (not "… Reservation")

p. 181 Photo Missing caption: "Nike administration site at PR-69, Coventry, RI (US Army Signal Corps)"

p. 182 Illustration Wrong illustration, ignore caption

Index Subtract 2 pages from all entries During the last stage of production, the page numbering of the book was altered, but the index was not corrected and is off by two pages. To use the index subtract 2 pages from the index entry to obtain the correct page number.

Page 188, part of Index:

Correct "typo": Should say "Kwajalein" (not Kwajalien").

Page 188, part of Index:

Under "New Jersey," add "Gibbsboro AFS" (radar station for the Pedricktown AADCP).