BLUE HILLS B-55 CL
|
Located on two hilltops in the sprawling
Blue Hills Reservation ten miles due south of Boston, Nike Site B-55
was a Nike Ajax site used both by the active Army and briefly by the Massachusetts Army
National Guard.
There was a big brush fire in Spring,
1998, adjacent to the launcher area which abuts the Blue Hills Reservation.
Location IFC: Chicatawbut Hill, Blue Hills Reservation, Milton (off Chickatawbut Road). From Rte 128/I-93 take Rte 28 N to first light. At light take right onto Chickatawbut Road. Site is on left up paved access road with limited (foot) access. Launcher: Off High Street, Randolph, near jct Rte 24/ Rte 128. From 128/ I-93 take Rte 28 S to first light. Take right at light and left at next intersection. Access road is on the right. Housing: Army Street, Randolph (off N. Main Street/Rte 28) near junction with Rte 128/ I-93. From 128/ I-93 take Rte 28 S to first light. Take left at light following street complex through to end, bearing to the left at each fork in the road. |
Dates of Operation 1955-1963 History Nike-Ajax site. Active Army Oct 55-Oct 63; MA ARNG Oct 59?-Feb 62? Housing Area used up until c.1991. Weapons Systems & Missile Load 12 mounted on launchers (4 per launcher section) Missile Magazines/ Launcher Sections 1 type "B", 2 Ajax . Units Btry C, 24th AAA Missile BN (Nike) Oct 55-Oct 58 redesignated Nike-Ajax Apr 58 and as following Oct 58: Btry C, 3d Missile BN (Nike-Ajax), 5th Artillery Oct 58-Oct 63 redesignated Nike-Hercules Jun 59 Btry A, 704th AAA Missile BN (MA ARNG) Feb 58?-Feb 62? 704th redesignated 1st Battalion, 241st Artillery in May 59. Present Status Site visited 30 Apr 99. IFC: Chickatawbut Hill Education Center, field site for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum. All buildings intact. Mess Hall is still used as a mess hall. Concrete pads for radars still visible. Excellent view of greater Boston area. l Launcher Area: in ruins; site controlled by MDC. 3 ruined buildings still intact. Launcher pad still visible. Housing Area: in use until early 90s; closed as part of BRAC 1988 Base Closure List. Housing area intact. Sign says its still government housing. Not used by Army. Links Pictures Contacts
|
|
| Next Site | Previous Site | Site List | Unit List | Home | This Page Last Updated: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 |