The control site, on the other hand…I went on into Jax and started my usual square search, which included a stop at a gas station. No, the kid didn’t know anything, nor did the older owner. However, one even older gentleman followed me out and gave me directions to the remnants of BA-03C.

Emphasis on remnants: hurricane fencing, small amounts of concrete and nothing else remain on Sunnybrook Rd north of Merryman’s Mill. The former fac is one south of Jacksonville and what’s left is surrounded by new housing. Oh well…

Units assigned were A/602^nd (11/55-8/56), A/54^th (8/56-9/58), A/4/1^st (9/58-12/62) and MDArNG D/1/70^th (12/62-4/74) (20 Apr 95).

Immediately south of the cloverleaf on the east side of York is General Harry C. Ruhl Armory, home to units of the 29^th ID(L), VA/MDArNG. The primary orga assigned is the 29^th Division Support command. From photographs in the lobby, it is apparent that this is a newer facility which replaced something…on the same site? The other structures I found? The world wonder (20 Apr 95).

The launch fac is located east of BA-09C, south of Stockdale and west of Monte Vista. Pulled off in front of the privately owned site to discover a young blonde lady with several big dogs (it could’ve been worse; she could have had several big guns). The site is pretty beat up but appears to be intact and is privately owned by a mix of people, dogs and horses. I took a couple of photos from outside the gate and pressed on.

BA-09 was Ajax only with three magazines/12 launchers. Manning was by D/54^th (11/55-9/58), D/4/1^st (9/58-9/59) and MDArNG D/1/70^th (9/59-12/62) (12 May 95).

The Edgewood Nike site I just outside the arsenal gate on the old boundary between Edgewood and APG. The control site is currently the Maryland Army National Guard Operations Activity Center; most of the buildings are there although I didn’t notice any radar plats. I stopped at the gate leading to the launchers – according to my guard contact they’re fairly intact – and was informed that my contact’s boss needed a signed letter from my superior stating why I needed to see the site. Oh well…

Too bad I couldn’t get back there. BA-18 was a 24-launcher site with 12 converted to Hercules. Operating units were C/54^th (/55-9/58) and C/4/1^st (9/58-4/74) (09 Oct 92).

The control fac is on MD 21 just past the intersection and is intact with all buildings and radar plats. Current use is as Kent Agricultural Center (for Kent County). The gates were locked but I was able to get a few shots over and through the fence. The launcher is ¾ mils south, west side of MD 445 and it was locked tight. Apparently it belongs to Kent County. I crawled through the bushes adjacent but wasn’t able to see anything (21 May 92).

I went through a lot of housing developments looking for the elusive launch fac; I finally stopped again, a hardware/bait and tackle store, looked at their county atlas and discovered that BA-43L was located south of the control site at the end of…Old Nike Site Road. Groan…I went back up, prowled back and forth and determined that current access to the road was through the locked control site. Rats.

The Jacobsville installation had 12 launchers for Ajax and was manned by C/36^th (/54-9/58), C/1/562^nd (9/58-3/60) and MDArNG A/1/70^th (3/60-12/62) (22 Apr 95).

Hartshorne is still standing, looking more like a long concrete building without any earthen protection. A few small supply buildings stand nearby, as well as what appears to be the former headquarters building. Otherwise, recreational use abounds. During the Nike the former Army post hosted MDArNG’s HHB 683^rd (1/55-6/59) and HHB 1/70^th (6/59-10/62) (22 Apr 95).

The launch fac is .7 north of 79L, on the east side of Hernwood and is also locked up. Current occupant is the Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commission, "Home of the K-9." The launchers are a ways back from the gate and I wasn’t able to get a good look, but the place looked complete for the most part. After I returned home and dug out the reference I learned that this was a double site with 24 launchers, 16 modified for Hercules between March 1958 and February 1959.

Air defenders at Bravo Alpha Seven-Nine were A/54^th (12/54-8/56), A/602^nd (8/56-9/58), A/4/5^th (9/58-8/60), B/4/1^st (8/60-12/62), MDArNG A/2/70^th (12/62-3/63), HHB 1/70^th (10/62-8/74) and B/1/70^th (12/62-4/74) (21 Apr 95).

Best I can tell, BA-92 Charlie is now the SSG Isadore R. Jachman US Army Reserve Center, located on the west side of Green Spring Rd north of Broadway. I talked to one of the officers and he said it was his understanding that this was a former Nike site. The buildings are all new; the motor pool, up a rise slightly, has a couple of older structures but the place otherwise has been cleaned off. Units assigned are the 2071^st USAR School, 326^th Maintenance Battalion and 214^th MI Company.

The zero gave me directions to what he thought was the former launch fac: Ridge Road, .8 east of Green Spring. What I found was a bunch of trees, no fence, no foundations, but plenty of upscale new houses. I don’t think this was it…What I did find were long cinderblock buildings on the south side of 2515 Baublitz Rd, 1.5 east of Green Spring, which now serves as the Washington Valley Swim Club (ie, pool, other activities). The buildings look appropriate, but if there were launchers here, they were well and truly obliterated. Bravo Alpha Nine-Two was Ajax only, 12 launchers. B/54^th (12/54-9/58), B/4/1^st (9/58-9/59) and MDArNG D/2/70^th (9/59-9/53) manned the site (20 Apr 95).

The Missile Master/Mentor fac and adjacent Air Force radar site are now occupied by the fort’s Director of Information Services. The building’s intact as are the barracks, support buildings and radar towers. We got out, meandered about, took lots of pictures and I answered lots of questions.

Units assigned to the command post were HQ Second ARADCOM Region (3/51-8/61), HQ 35^th ADA Brigade (2/50-12/73), HQ 23^rd ADA Group (12/73-9/74), HHB 36^th (1/’54-9/58) and HHB 1/562^nd (9/58-12/62). The co-located Air Force long-range radar unit was the 770^th Radar squadron (10/61-1/80), equipped with (at least) an AN/FPS-67 (22 Apr 94).

Fort Meade was the first functioning AN/GSG-1 in ARADCOM, going operational on 5 December 1957 with much hue and cry and celebration; it upgraded to the AN/TSQ-51 Missile Mentor in August 1966 and remained operational through the demise of the defense area in 1974. The structure continues to house the post’s Director of Information Management and is of a unique design; unlike the other Missile Master blockhouses I’ve seen at Oakdale (PI-70DC), Pedricktown (PH-64DC), Lockport AFS (NF-17DC) and Fort Lawton (S-90DC) it’s rather large and multi-faceted with vertical exterior walls, not sloped.

Potvin initially took me to what he described as the tallest hill in the refuge and old Fort Meade; we found an open prairie on Combat Road with absolutely no remains of paving or other sign of Army use. He said the only "development" he’d ever found was a concrete base for a fence post but was pretty sure this was the old radar site or IFC. I mentioned there had to be a second facility, possibly with concrete pads and mounting points for missile launchers and he said, "I know the place."

We went almost exactly a mile east on Combat Road – as can be expected, it’s more of a jeep trail – and he pointed out the location of an abandoned bunker. Immediately afterwards we found two concrete pads, roughly 30x60-feet with cylindrical steel mounting points buried in the concrete. Both pads looked just big enough to handle two Ajaxes on rails and launchers; the easterly concrete slab had a crew access door at its extreme southeast corner, just like the emergency access ports I’ve seen at the permanent Nike sites. Wild…

I ran around, took a bunch of pictures and then we returned to the refuge visitor’s station where Potvin printed a map showing the two components. I thanked him and departed for my next stop.

Were these the two components of W-13T? I’m guessing they were; the IFC’s within a couple of hundred yards of its earlier listed location and the two parts are aligned on a northerly threat access in keeping with the W-13 number. An inadvertant Ajax shot to the northwest or north – as happened on 14 April 1955 – would’ve passed over the parkway.

The day of the accident the battery personnel were in the middle of a procedures drill when one of the missiles suddenly fired and headed and westward, burning the section sergeant. The Nike subsequently exploded right over the Parkway, apparently due to command or automatic detonation. The MPs and Maryland State Police secured the site, the Army recovered the parts and the Army later determined a short circuit caused the inadvertent firing. However, an article by Merle Cole – I found it at http://community-2.webtv.net/nikew25/roguenike; he wrote it up for the January 2001 edition of the Anne Arundel County History News, No. 32 – states that the launch damaged the missile and it probably broke up due to aerodynamic forces. He added the booster did separate and ended up in Barber’s Trailer Court, roughly a mile away (oh BOY!).

In any event, according to the records I have B/36^th remained at W-13T through June 1955 when it moved to W-25 Davidsonville, some 15 miles to the south-southeast. My guess is the Army cleaned out the temporary site shortly afterwards (27 Nov 02).

The launch site is now the Anne Arundel County Police Training Academy and it’s pretty much intact. I’d contacted the commander, Lt Birmingham, in advance so we received a guided tour in and around small arms quals. One of the two magazines has been converted into a gym and we all got a look. First time everyone else had ever been in a Nike magazine.

The control site is down at the intersection of Anne Bridge and Elmer Hagner, with the former Army housing located across Anne Bridge. This one’s complete and in good shape too, including three towers; the former HIPAR tower is now used by an amateur radio club. More training ensued (22 Apr 94).

This was the first Hercules site to be turned over to the Army National Guard, in December 1962. It was built with three magazines/12 launchers and converted to two/eight; the fac also received an AN/FPS-75 ABAR. The units were A/36^th (/55-9/58), A/1/562^nd (9/58-12/62) and MDArNG A/1/70^th (12/62-11/68).

And let’s see…that leaves the three north DC sites in the Washington Defense Area (15 Jan 95).

Built with the standard 1B2C/three-magazine/12-launcher configuration, W-26 underwent conversion from Ajax to Hercules between December 1960 and June 1961. The assigned units were A/36^th (/55-9/58), A/1/562^nd (9/58-12/62) and MDArNG A/1/70^th (12/62-11/68), which made it one of three Herc sites in the Washington-Baltimore Defense Area transferred to the Guard in December 1962, along with BA-03 Phoenix/Sweet Air and BA-79 Granite. Battery A 1/70^th moved to Annapolis from the BA-43 Jacobsville Ajax installation and after W-26 shut down moved down the road to W-25 Davidsonville.

If I remember correctly, the 1^st of the 70^th was the first Guard battalion to assume operational responsibility for Hercules batteries in ARADCOM. The number survives as the 70^th Regiment (Leadership), Regimental Training Institute at Camp Fretterd near Reisterstown. According to the web page I looked up, Fretterd formerly served as a state reform school (there’s a message there somewhere…) (11 May 06).

There’s a wye in the road another .5 east; bear right to the end and you’ll find -35L. It too was locked up but appeared to be intact. Both launch and control are now Croom Vocational High School; the launch fac is identified as the auto, building trades and grounds keeping school.

Yet another Ajax site, this time with eight launchers. The units were HHB and B/75^th (11/54-9/58), HHB and B/3/562^nd (9/58-6/60) and MDArNG B/3/70^th (6/60-3/63) (15 Jan 95).

The housing area now belongs to the Air Force and looks like it’s been renovated. The launch fac is partially intact but heavily overgrown and decrepit. I poked around the buildings then went up to the magazines for a look. The assembly building has been removed but everything else is there (15 Jan 95).

I finally ended up on the only paved road in the correct approximate location on North Keys Road, looking at a sign that said Brandywine Sand & Gravel Company-Surface Mining operation. The gate was locked and heavily littered with the usual "no trespassing" signs, so I have no idea what shape the site was in (09 May 95).

Whiskey-Four-Four was a Hercules site, equipped with an ABAR AN/FPS-71 and AN/FPA-16. Operations were by C/75^th (11/54-9/58), C/3/562^nd (9/58-12/61), A/1/71^st (12/61-3/63), MDArNG A/3/70^th (12/61-3/63) and MDArNG C/1/70^th (3/63-6/71).

The control site is about five miles north of Waldorf, on the east side of US 301 (hmmm…interesting motels along this route). They told me to find Nike Road, which turns right (northeast) into Country Lane. Went another mile or so and there were the buildings. A nursery and new office building are crammed into one corner of the site; the remaining ARADCOM buildings are boarded up and pretty decrepit. There were no towers.

Up the road another mile and you’ll find W-44L, on the right side. Unfortunately it’s gated and locked; the sign indicates that it is the American Indian Cultural Center/Maryland Indian Heritage Society of Waldorf. The buildings are there as are the berms; no idea what condition the launchers are in (23 Apr 94).

The launch site looks intact; one of the buildings has an observatory dome tacked onto it. The sign at the gate indicates that the fac is now Naval Research Lab-Field Site lower Waldorf; it is the field lab for Codes 600, 7100 and 8300, whatever they are.

Backtrack about 200 yards and drive south up the hill through the new housing At the top you’ll find another gate and sign: NRL-Waldorf Annex. The only thing that can be seen through the gate are two big satellite tracking antennas. Interesting (23 Apr 94).

Another 300 yards up Bump Oak, turn right up the hill at Gwynn Road and you’ll go directly to W-54C. It’s now the Charles county Alternative School; all of the buildings are there as are the towers, which are encased in sheet metal.

My last Nike site for the day was another eight-launcher Ajax installation, operated by A/71^st (11/54-9/58) and A/1/71^st (9/58-12/61) (23 Apr 94)

The control fac is south of Silver Brook Road/VA 600 and belongs to the DC government as a maintenance yard for the nearby prison and youth correctional center. The buildings are still there but the towers are gone; according to our guide, this was the last DC Nike site to still retain a clear site view between the battery control and launchers. Oh yeah; up on the hill behind the buildings is an old Navy aircraft simulator trainer, 1D-? Reminded me of my days at VA-42.

The launch site is at the intersection of Hooes Road/636 and Furnace Hill/611. Here we go…no we don’t. This is another prison site and other than some buildings, nothing’s left. Rats…

Units assigned were C/71^st (7/54-9/58), C/1/71^st (9/58-8/63), VAArNG A/1/280^th (9/59-3/63) and VAArNG A/4/111^th (8/63-4/74). The first guard unit acquired eight Ajax launchers in 1959 after the conversion of 16 to Hercules and were co-located with the active Army unit for four years. Hence, the visitors could see both types of missiles at one site (22 Apr 94).

The launcher is about a mile further west and has been completely obliterated. According to our guide, the magazines were filled in with sand and then covered with dirt. We sure as hell didn’t see much of anything recognizable.

W-74 was an eight-launcher Ajax installation, manned by D/71^st (7/54-9/58), D/1/71^st (9/58-9/59) and VAArNG B/1/280^th (9/59-3/63) (22 Apr 94).

According to our USAR MP escort the control site will be sold to the county, which plans to bulldoze the structures and put up some ball fields. According to the planner, historical markers will be placed at this and the other two Fairfax County sites. Our county escort said there was nothing left of the launch fac so we proceeded to our next stop. W-83L is one mile east on Utterback Store Road, behind Forestville School (22 Apr 94).

Charlie’s is located at 10901 Darnestown Road, up a paved access road between housing developments. Got to the top and found several buildings (most modified), towers and alocked gate with sign indicating "US Consumer Products Safety Commission-Engineering Lab." The atmosphere is now almost park like but most of it’s there.

The launch fac was a tad more circumspect. It sits next to a mini-mall at 770 Muddy Branch, up on a rise and completely surrounded by fencing. The main gate has several US government signs but no indication of the current owners. I saw a few buildings through the trees, but not much else.

This was a surviving Regular Army Nike Hercules battery, with three magazines/12 launchers. The units assigned were A-71^st (/54-9/55), D/602^nd (9/55-9/58), D/4/5^th (9/58-8/60), D/1/71^st (8/60-/65) and A/4/1^st (/65-4/74) (11 May 95).

First stop was the launch fac, located at 5321 Riggs Road. Kind of tight and twisty up here, glad I brought the Probe…came around the corner and drop the hook! The site was partially intact but had been heavily modified and was all locked up. Signs seemed to indicate that it belonged to the MDArNG But it was hard to tell. Two interesting aspects: remote control surveillance camera at the front gate and one of the magazines was excavated at one end and had a ramp built into it.

The next stop at 5115 Riggs Road three me briefly; best I could tell, this was an admin site. Several buildings, all in good condition and no sign of towers. An M114 was parked out front near the sign that stated the site belonged to B/1/115^th Infantry, MDArNG.

At the last one it was the proverbial case of booming up the mysterious paved road, past the guard shack and…nothing else left. The control site, located at 21515 Zion Road, was completely cleaned off and replaced by buildings housing the American Foundation for Autistic Children.

Whiskey-Nine-Three was the ubiquitous three-magazine 12-launcher Ajax site, operated by B/602^nd (9/55-9/58) and B/4/5^th (9/58-8/60) (11 May 95).

The former control site was located inb the vicinity of Strawberry Knoll and Cross Country, among a mix of new and old housing. The best I can tell, Nine-Four-Charlie was obliterated and turned into Hasy-Strawberry Knoll-Cross Country Park. A bunch of vatos were playing b-ball so I didn’t extend my visit.

Drove down tot eh launch fact at 8791 Snouffer School, yup, fairly new reserve center there, so I pulled into the parking lot to make my notes. No use wasting a shot on a new brick building. Ooops! Access road next to the parking lot, partially hidden with access to the launchers. The magazines are intact; there were no buildings and everything was pretty overgrown. The reserve facility is the Maj Gen Benjamin L. Hunton Memorial USAR Center, under First Army (11 May 95).