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Locations of Former NIKE MISSILE SITES (text)

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Georgia

For locations and views, fly in using Google Earth thanks to NikeSiteSearchers
Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
R-28 Jeffersonville C -
[{Beeblebrox, Z} April 18, 2009, Went by to look at R-28 in Jeffersonville GA last Fall of 08. The command is completely gone and a large warehouse now sits on the site. Launch pad still there and has not been disturbed. air view ]
[{Rhoden, A} Intersection of I-16 and Ga. highway 96. The command site is in pretty good condition with all buildings, basketball court, radar towers,and even power poles and lines existing although the grounds need a good mowing. I explored the site 2 weeks ago [September 2000] and had a good time doing it! 32N 37' 30", 83W 21' 50", 21 km E of Warner Robins, Georgia]

L - (Twiggs County Board of Education)
[{Beeblebrox, Z} April 18, 2009, Went by to look at R-28 in Jeffersonville GA last Fall of 08. Launch pad still there and has not been disturbed. air view ]
[{Runkle, G} Obliterated - nice new school buildings.]
[{Murdock, S} GPS=32-37-39 83-21-01

R-88 Byron See website
[{Turner, K} (May 2008) Per http://www.macon.com/198/story/329451.html officials with Pyrotechnic Specialties, Inc (on the old Robins AFB Nike Site R-88 launchers) were indicted by federal authorities. Darned if there wasn't more excitement at the Nike site AFTER the Army left. Also look up items on Peach Metals. They contaminated the IFC area at R-88 and the only hazard today is spillover from lead contamination. The site was largely cleaned up by 2002. ]
[{Turner, K} (December 2002) I also have this bulletin; the R-88 Byron site is being made into a restaurant and warehouse equipment company. I have fewer dumb looks from the motorists I will take more pics. ]
[{Turner, K} (November 2002) I passed by R-88 near Byron, GA today and found that the IFC is being torn down. The roof of the enlisted barracks was removed and the Administrative building appeared to be next to be razed. It is probably just as well as the area was in poor shape. I hope to have photos soon.
Thanks - Ken Turner
[{Turner, K} just outside Byron on Boy Scout Road. Take the Hartley Bridge Road exit off 1-75, go west, and keep going until a mile from the Crawford County line. Once past the gas station, they can go up Boy Scout road and will approach Juniper Creek Road a mile before coming to the rundown neighborhood near Byron's city limits.
From Boy Scout Road you will see a guard shack, some barracks, the launch rooms, and part of the HIPAR and TTR radar towers.
Turning onto Juniper Creek Road you will come to a forested area that reveals three towers. One is the HIPAR and the other two are tracking and targeting radar towers. ]
[{Turner, K} Jan.2000 - The only intact structures were the front building to the right of the gate (the admin offices?), the guard shack, an outbuilding near the MTR tower, and a building across from that with bars on it. I saw one building with what looked like a basement; could that be the IFC unit? ]
[{Murdock, S} GPS=32-40-28, 83-45-55 ]

L - (Pyrotechnics, Inc)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=32-40-20, 83-47-10 ]

TU-01
AADCP
Albany - Loc: NE Albany, US-82
Cur: (P) Miller Brewing Company, Federal Job Corps Center
[{Revie, C} Nov 2010, collocated immediately behind to the Btry Hqs (TU-28) building which now houses the retirement home. ]
TU-28 Willingsham
/Sylvester
C - 4 W Sylvester, N of us 82 ((I) private retirement home)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=31-33-16, 83-54-56, ]

L - 3 W Sylvester, N of us 82 ((I) Midway Auto Parts)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=31-33-23, 83-54-19, ]

TU-79 Armena / Sasser C - 9 NW Albany, S of US 82 ((I) Anchorage; drug & alcohol rehab center)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=31-38-01, 84-15-24 ]

L - 10 NW Albany, S of US 82, E of Winnifred Rd ((O) housing development)
[{Murdock, S} GPS=31-37-51, 84-16-34 ]

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Germany

GOOGLE MAPS
- Germany locations on Nike Batteries - spotted April 2011

Annotated maps from Rolf Dieter Görigk's old web site
Rolf Dieter Görigk's obituary sent by Charley (Karl) Kettel

Another map of 1960's German NIKE and HAWK defenses is at
Army Air Defense in the European Theater - in the 1960s

Early NATO document about NIKE in Europe AIR DEFENSE 1956/57 Spotted by Thomas Page
A web site about French Involvement with Nike with maps.


Firing Batteries and their HeadQuarters
Northern Area, FlaRakBtl 24, FlaRakBtl 25, FlaRakBtl 26
North Central Area, 12th Group Guided Weapons (Netherlands)
Central Area, 9 Msl Btn (Belgian), 13 Msl Btn (Belgian), FlaRakBtl 21, FlaRakBtl 22, FlaRakBtl 23
South Central Area, 2-5 Btn 1st ADA, 4th Btn 6th ADA, 5th Btn 6th ADA, 1st Btn 67th ADA
South Area, 2nd Btn 56st ADA, 3rd Btn 71st ADA,
Far South Area, 520th (French), 521th (French)

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Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
C/11th AD Signal Bn.. Darmstadt Terminal 52 .
***** Northern area - manned by German troops .
FlaRakBtl 24 . .
--1./FlaRakBtl 24 Elsfeth, 25 km NW Bremen [{Ronald }Barracks located in Elsfeth on the Unterweser between Brake and Bremen, on Federal Highway 212. Base located in Moorriem (District of Wesermarsch). ] .
--2./FlaRakBtl 24 Schönemoor, 12 km W Bremen ?Delmenhorst? .
--3./FlaRakBtl 24 Westerscheps.20 km W Oldenberg, 60 km W Bremen
Web Page C-Team, 51st USAAD by Laurence Hart
[{Ronald }Barracks located at the Oldenburg Air Base. Remained at the Air Base after being re-equipped with the Patriot Weapons System. The installation [in Westerscheps] was abandoned.
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--4./FlaRakBtl 24

D-Team 51st USAAD

Syke, 20 km W Bremen .
FlaRakBtl 25 . .
--1./FlaRakBtl 25 Varrelbusch, 5 Km N Cloppenburg, 50 km WSW Bremen .
--2./FlaRakBtl 25 Barnstorf, 40 km SSW Bremen .
--3./FlaRakBtl 25 Wagenfeld, 60 km SSW Bremen .
--4./FlaRakBtl 25 Lohne, 60 km SW Bremen .
FlaRakBtl 26 . .
--1./FlaRakBtl 26 Hohenkirchen, 20 Km NW Wilhelmshaven, [Niedersachsen]
[{Everett, C} (January 2006) Hohenkirchen/Wangerland - 35th USAAD HQ, Wangerland Kaserne is now completely decommissioned. A Dutch company has purchased the garrison and a amusement park is planned for the facility.
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--2./FlaRakBtl 26 Rodenkirchen, 30 Km ESE Wilhelmshaven, [Niedersachsen]
[{Everett, C} (January 2006) Rodenkirchen garrison has been completely destroyed (Admin area)
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--3./FlaRakBtl 26 Wiesmoor, 20 Km ESE of Aurich, 30 Km WSW Wilhelmshaven [Niedersachsen]
current site photos
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--4./FlaRakBtl 26 (Dornum *) 20 Km North of Aurich, 40 Km WNW Wilhelmshaven [Niedersachsen].
***** NorthCentral area - manned by Netherlands troops .
12e Groep Geleide Wapens
12th Group Guided Weapons
(Dutch Airforce) Bramsche
from Ronald Dorenbos - Google Earth file for the Netherlands NIKE locations in Germany 1961-1988. The locations of 119, 121, 221 and 222 Sq were abandonned in 1975 following a reorganisation (i.e. downsizing) of our ground based air defense. 120 Sq was deactivated in 1983, 223 Sq in 1984, 220 Sq in 1987 and finally 118 Sq in 1988.
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H.Q. 12GGW Bramsche, 20 Km N Osnabruck, [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} says "HQ was Not in Bramsche, although most people were living there. The HQ itself was on the east of the town Hesepe. That is about 5km north of Bramsche. It was my dad who was stationed on the 118sqn and later on worked closely with the American Custodial Guardians, as they guarded the nuclear warheads as long as those remained in Germany. web site" HQ Hesepe is still visible and is problably being used for some other purpose right now.]
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--118 SQN Vörden, (trying for the umlauted "o") 10 Km NW Bramsche [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible just to the south of Vörden.]
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--119 SQN Handorf, 20 Km ENE Bramsche [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's, Don't know where it was located, but i guess to the east of Handorf below an other military base. (Handorf near Münster! so not ENE of Bramsche, but about 50km's SSE of Bramsche, NE of Münster)]
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--120 SQN Borgholzhausen, 40 Km SE Bramsche [Nordrhein Westfalen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible to the east of Schöppingen.]
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--121 SQN Essen, 40 Km N Bramsche [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} 121sqn was near Bohmte, but i have no idea where and can't find any remainings.]
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--220 SQN Schoppingen, 60 Km SW Bramsche [Nordrhein Westfalen] Pictures taken 2006 by A.J.M. Weijenberg
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible to the east of Schöppingen.]
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--221 SQN Erle, 10 Km NW Dorsten, 100 Km SW Bramsche [Nordrhein Westfalen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible to the east of Erle.]
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--222 SQN Nordhorn, 60 Km W Bramsche [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible to the east of the town Hesepe, southeast of Nordhorn.]
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--223 SQN Rheine, 40 Km WSW Bramsche [Niedersachsen]
[{van Bastelaar, N} launch-area's remainings are visible to the west of Rheine, south of the airforcebase.]
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***** Central area - manned by Belgian and German troops .
Msl Group (Belgian)
(2 Btns)
{Gielen, JC} Grefrath (moved to Düren in 1986)
(Belgian Msl Battalions are also called Msl Wings)
Düren had a support element (GSU/DSU) also called the Msl Support Wing
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9 Msl Btn (Belgian)
504th US ARTY Det
Grefrath {Gielen, JC}
Handled "special warheads"
This used to be a Dutch site which we took over.
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--Alfa Xanten, 50 Km NNW Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
--Bravo Kapellen, 40 Km NW Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen]
{Koch, J} ... located on the road between the town of Kaster (as you have it listed) and Putz (it was called Site Putz by the NATO crews). We nicknamed the place Kaputz! It was appropriate. ]
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--Charlie Hinsbeck, 40 Km WNW Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen] (6 Km NW of Grefrath) .
--Delta Erle, 10 Km NW Dorsten, 60 Km N Dusseldorf [Nordrhein Westfalen] (former Dutch site) .
13th Msl Btn (Belgian)
43th US ARTY DET
Düren {Gielen, JC} 40 Km WSW Cologne - handled special warheads
web site - 13th Missile Wing (former Belgian Nike)
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--Alfa Nideggen 45 Km SW Cologne [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
. [{Goettlich,W} - November 2007 - The battery integrated fire control area was located in Nideggen and the launcher area in Thum, perhaps five kilometers away. ]
[{Barrow, C} (August 2012) The Thum site (A/43d) buildings were burned down by locals to run off the Gast Arbiters from eastern europe/middle east a few years after the US and Belgains left, probably in the early 1990's.
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--Bravo Blankenheim, 60 Km SSW Cologne [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
--Charlie Euskirchen, 40 Km SSE Cologne [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
--Delta Kaster, 30 Km WNW Cologne [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
FlaRakBtl 21 . .
--1./FlaRakBtl 21 Warendorf, 70 Km NE Dortmund
[{Poehlein, D} now Patriot site (21st FLARAK) ]
[{Amelong, B} the Detailed Location from NIKE-Station 1./FlaRakBtl 21 is Ennigerloh-Westkirchen 20Km S from Warendorf. ]
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--2./FlaRakBtl 21 Echtrop, 50 Km E Dortmund, 80 Km ENE Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen] .
--3./FlaRakBtl 21 Holzwickede 30 Km ENE Dortmund,60 Km NE Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen]
[{Barrow, C} (August 2012) as I recall the US part of the Holzwickede site closed in the late summer or early fall of 1985.
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--4./FlaRakBtl 21 Datteln 30 Km N Dortmund, 60 Km NE Dusseldorf, [Nordrhein Westfalen].
StBttr, VersBttr
FlaRakBtl 22
{Görigk, R} Burbach .
--1./FlaRakBtl 22 Oedingen 50 Km SE Dortmund, 100 Km E Dusseldorf ?
--2./FlaRakBtl 22 Burbach, 20 Km N Bitburg, 75 Km NE Koblenz [Rheinland Pfalz]
[{Everett, C} (January 2006) Siegerland Kasern (Burbach) - Garrison is decommissioned, a private airport is being planned on the facility grounds. (52nd USAAD I think)
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--3./FlaRakBtl 22 Waldbrol 30 Km ESE Cologne ?
--4./FlaRakBtl 22 Marienheide 50 Km ENE Cologne
{Poehlein, D} deserted
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FlaRakBtl 23 . .
--1./FlaRakBtl 23 Lich, 45 Km N Frankfurt am Main?
--2./FlaRakBtl 23 (Schoneck *), 20 Km ENE Frankfurt am Main?
--3./FlaRakBtl 23 Kemel, 50 Km W Frankfurt am Main?
--4./FlaRakBtl 23 Westerburg 60 Km NE Koblenz, 80 Km NW Frankfurt am Main ?
***** SouthCentral area - manned by U.S. troops .
2 then 5nd Btn 1st ADA, HBB Wackernhiem
Rolf D. Goerigk says "I`m using the unit/site designation according to: http://www.94thgroup.org/MAP1.htm It is ... 5/1. The unit/site designation is correct since 1962. B 5/1 was not the first occupant but the first "stable" designation for many years or till the end of the Nike era.
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--A 5/1 Wackernheim, 15 Km SW Wiesbaden ?
--B 5/1 Dexheim, 30 Km S Wiesbaden - web site by Ray Bice ?
--C 5/1 Quirnheim, 60 Km S Wiesbaden ?
--D 5/1 Dichtelbach, 50 Km WSW Wiesbaden
Delta 2 1 Dichtelbach Nike Hercules Missile site
?
4th Btn 6th ADA . .
--A 4/6
--D 5/6
Hontheim,45 Km NE Trier ?
--B 4/6 Weischbillig,15 Km N Trier ?
--C 4/6 Brimingen,35 Km NW Trier ?
--D 4/6 Balesfeld, 50 Km N Trier
closer to Neuheilenbach a picture and comments
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5th Btn 6th ADA Baumholder .
--A 5/6 Schonborn (was Rockenhausen) , 30 Km N Kaiserslautern ?
--B 5/6 Wuscheim Wüschheim (was Kastelaun), 80 Km N Kaiserslautern ?
--C 5/6 Baumholder, 40 Km NW Kaiserslautern ?
--D 5/6 Reitscheid, 50 Km WNW Kaiserslautern
(received Mar 31, 2020) It is Hontheim ,I was stationed there as Communications Chief from 1970 -1976 , Sfc James Ditty Ret USA. ditdit1964@att.net
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1st Btn 67th ADA north side of Stuttgart .
--A 1/67 Griesheim, 50 Km SW Frankfurt
web site by Oliver Timmermann
?
--B 1/67 Mainbullau, 60 Km SE Frankfurt ?
--C 1/67 Hardheim, 80 Km SE Frankfurt ?
--D 1/67 Dallau, 100 Km SSE Frankfurt ?
***** South area - manned by U.S. troops .
2nd Btn 56th ADA Pirmasens , web site .
--A 2/56 Geinsheim, 60 Km ESE Kaiserslautern - ?
--B 2/56 Landau, 40 Km ES Kaiserslautern web site From Claudia ?
--C 2/56 Salzwoog, 40 Km S Kaiserslautern ?
--D 2/56 Oberauerbach, 20 Km SW Kaiserslautern ?
3rd Btn 71st ADA Wurmburg ?Kornwestheim
(renamed the 3rd Btn sometime before 1958)
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--A 3/71 Ludwigsburg, 20 Km N Stuttgart ?
--B 3/71 Sachsenheim, 30 Km NW Stuttgart (was Grossachsenheim) web site Spotted by Tom Page?
--C 3/71 Kleingartach, 70 Km NW Stuttgart - Unit web site, Google Earth views from Jonasen, Dean (was Hardheim )
From: Donald Yarbrough < ducky2 @ sbcglobal . net >
here is a document that will show when charlie battery 3/71st ada was officially moved from Kleingartach, germany to hardheim,germany. Hope this helps for you to document the facts
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--D 3/71 Wurmberg, 30 Km NW Stuttgart (was Pforzheim)
Carlo has many Battery D pictures and much text
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***** Far South area - manned by French troops until France pulled out of NATO in 1966
A web site about French Involvement with Nike with maps.
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--1/520 Bottingen - ?
--2/520 Stetten ?
--3/520 Inneringen ?
--4/520 Stetten ?
521th (French) .
--1/521 Friedrichshafen(3) ?
--2/521 Friedrichshafen(3) ?
--3/521 Mengen ?
--4/521 Munsingen ?


Also see
Early Royal Dutch Nike sites

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Early Royal Dutch Nike sites

Info on Royal Dutch Nike sites in Germany from {Rappange, F} Frank Rappange

There have actually been more Dutch nike squadrons in Germany, although that was before my time. Therefore I can't be very specific.

In the early 60's there were 2 Dutch missile groups in Germany with Nikes: 1 GGW and 2 GGW. Both had 4 squadrons, so there were 8 batteries in total. Probably they were initially all Ajax squadrons. Sometime in the early 70's both missile groups were combined to form 12 GGW. (I think arithmatic wasn't the strong point of the MOD since they decided that 1 + 2 = 12). 4 squadrons were closed as result of this 'merger'.

It is still possible to see were the 4 reamaining squadrons came from. The first digit in the squadron number was from the original missile group number. So 120 and 118 sqn were from 1 GGW, and 220 and 223 were from 2 GGW. I don't know the locations and numbers of the squadrons that were closed, except one. That was the 121 Sqn. in Böhmte. It was located to the Northeast of Borgholzhausen as I recall.

1 GGW was located more to the East and 2 GGW was located more to the West of the FRG. In this part of Germany there was a 'double' missile belt to defend the AFCENT (Allied Forces Central Europe) headquarters in Brunsum. After the merger of the 2 missile groups there still was a double belt, albeit somewhat 'thinned out'.

There also were 3, 4 and 5 GGW. But those were Hawk Missilie groups (you know, those small firecrackers ;-) ). When 1 and 2 GGW were combined, 3 GGW was closed altogether.

I think this is all I can remember at this time.


{van Bastelaar, N} says (MAY 2008) "It wasn't 3GGW (Blomberg) but 4GGW (Hessisch-Oldendorf) that was closed. Remaining 12GGW (Nike) and 3 and 5GGW in the end Triad's (Hawk, Partiot and Stinger). And that post has Böhmte in it what should be Bohmte."


from Morgan Ford mford@thegrid.net

... "I think I was stationed on an abandoned Nike base in Germany

"I was stationed at a small Air Force site near Kaiserslautern Germany in 1985. The site had several abandoned radar trailers on it that looked very similar to the ones on display at site 88. One end of the base had some large hanger like structures constructed of corregated steel. The sides were open and the roof was slanted at a sharp angle. Perhaps it was designed this way so missiles could be erected under a roof. Between these structures were small block houses with very thick glass viewing ports.

"Some of the old electronics trailers were in use by my unit for storage and a mobile command post."

Any ideas what this might be?

#3 - from Guy Eveillard
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN was the site of the 2/521 which had HQ and 2 battries: called 1st and 2nd squadron.
I was in the 2nd squadron. The 1/521 was stationned in STETTEN, ( 2 battries and HQ )with squadrons in MUSSINGEN, INNERINGEN and MENGEN

SASCOM TIME FRAME FOR 50YJ USAAD
From: Patrick Stephens - Nov 2016
509th USAAD (SASCOM) Detachment history as near as I can piecemeal assembly. In March 1966, the 509th U.S. Army Artillery Detachment was activated at Fort Bliss, and in March 1967, the unit deployed to Germany in the 570th USAAG.In October 1978, the 509th was reassigned to the 5th U.S. Army Artillery Detachment. .A.B,D Teams and HQ deployed in 1967. The original configuration was; A Team-Handorf, B Team and HQ- Vorden, D Team -Borgholzhausen.. it appears that at some point in 1976, the team in Handorf (the original A Team) had been deactivated, B Team had been redesignated as A Team,and D Team had been redesignated as B Team, and sometime during this same time frame C Team opened shop in Schöppingen The 509th was inactivated in 1988

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Greece
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Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
Google Earth Greek Nike sites from René Kiefer Admin and Operator cold-war.de
1st BatteryKeratea, Attica {Federico, J} [{Bouradinis, V} L.A. - Keratea, I.F.C. - Keratea Mount]
[{Gearhart, P} (June 2009) A Team, IFC Site - 37.791473,23.96693 ;
A Team, Missile Site - 37.75812,24.012744
It's also worth noting (in case that it isn't intuitively obvious for visitors to your web site) that these sites were NATO user sites. With the exception of the security of the exclusion area the site belonged to and was primarily manned by the 350th Nike Squadron of the HAF (Hellenic Air Force).
The "magazines" on these sites weren't underground. The A Team site appears to be intact. You will see three above ground buildings. Using the coordinate, the buildings at 12 o'clock and 8 o'clock are in the exclusion area. These were the ones with the nuclear warheads. You can see the rails coming out from the buildings and it appears that the launchers are still intact (at least at the time that the satellite image was taken). The third building which is at about 2:30 o'clock had HE's. By the appearance of the image, there were also 3 launchers. However both the rails and launchers appear to have been removed. Based on some of the comments from other persons, if the systems were transferred to the HAF, that building was probably removed from service.
The second coordinate points to the IFC site. This mountain overlooked the town of Keratea. From the pictures that I've attached, it obviously hasn't been used for awhile.
]
2nd Battery Koropi - overlooking Athens {Federico, J} [{Gearhart, P} (June 2009) B Team, Missile Site - 37.891192,23.845696 ]

I [Ed Thelen] am advised (March 2004) that the Nike Hercules unit at Koropi was de-commissioned as of January, 2004 and that Koropi will be the storage area for Greek Nike equipment.

Information from a person who says he gave a false name - This system was taken out of action on January 31, 2004. Until then it was fully operational, even though there was a shortage of non-critical parts. Each Launcher Area in Greece had three {?magazines?} with a total of 9 missiles in ready status. I understand that the Koropi site will become the storage area for all the Nike material in Greece. We were the best!
There are hints that the U.S. Patriot missile system has/will replace the Hercules system. For a background, see the letter from Mr. Periklis, dated Decenber, 1997 below.
[{Bouradinis, V} L.A. - Koropi, I.F.C. Himitos Mount
3rd Battery
C Team
Katsimidi {Federico, J} [{Gearhart, P} (June 2009) C Team, Missile Site - 38.194567, 23.788847 - Adjacent to the site is a new housing development. Forty years ago, there was nothing there. ]
[{Bouradinis, V} L.A. - Katsimidi, I.F.C. Parnis Mount
A.D.S.U. [{Bouradinis, V} Dekelia A.B. .
? Kiffisia {Federico, J} .
? Elefsis {Federico, J} .
? Erthrea (Kreokouki) - about 10 Km south of Thebes (Thivai) {Kotakis, P} .

From LT ( HAF ) Bourantanis Vasilis (May 23, 2004)

I'd like to inform you and all the NIKE guys that after 40 years of succesfull service in the Hellenic ( Greek ) Air Force, NIKE HERCULES is a sweet history for our Armed Forces. The liquidation started couple of months ago and will last for some more. From now on PATRIOT is going to lead the Air Defence to the new century.

From: "Zorzovilis Periklis" (zorper@hellasnet.gr)
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 1997 11:59 PM
Subject: Hellenic Air Force's 350th Missile ' NIKE' Group

Dear Sir ,
I'm a free lance journalist from Greece working for the ' Modern Army ' and ' Modern Air Force & Navy ' reviews . I found your site about american air defense forces and the NIKE missile system very detailed and very interesting . Permit me to inform you that in addition to Turkey and South Korea the Hellenic Air Force's 350th Missile Group operates the NIKE - HERCULES system for the air defense of the greater Athens area . The 10 - year Modernization Plan for the Hellenic Armed Forces includes a replacement system . The competitors are a variant of the Russian S - 300 and the Patriot .
Yours sincerely .


And in response to follow up questions July 17, 2000

Dear Mr. Thelen,
Two years after our meeting there are some interesting developments. On Friday, October 9, 1998, the KYSEA (Governmental Counsil for Foreign Affairs and Defense Matters) has selected the Patriot Air Defense System to fulfill the Hellenic Air Force's (HAF) operational requirement. The contract betwwen the GAD (General Armaments Directorate) of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense and the main contractor Raytheon has been signed on February 19, 1999.

The contract was for four Fire Units (FU) PAC-3 (each with six quadruple launchers), 200 GEM missiles and two ICC with an option for two additional FU. Untill the delivery of the new systems the contract had the provision for a three-year leasing through FMS (Foreign Military Sales) of three FU (each with four quadruple launchers), 96 (finally 110) missiles and one ICC from the US Army's stocks. The value of the contract for the four FU, 200 GEM missiles and two ICC was 887 million dollars (917 million dollars including the cost of the systems to be leased). The contract was activated on June 1999 and on January 2000 the option has been activated also (the final cost, first order+option, is now 1,139 billion dollars).

The six FU will be delivered between September 2001 and May 2002 (conclusion of the delivery of the systems). The leased systems have became operational on February 18, 2000 ih Thessaloniki.

The 350th "NIKE" Group has become the 350th Guided Missiles Wing (350 GMW). The 350 GMW at this moment has three squadrons, the 21st Guided Missile Squadron (21 GMS, located near Athens), the 22nd Guided Missile Squadron (22 GMS, Skyros Island, in the Central Aegean) and the 23rd Guided Missile Squadron (23 GMS, Thessaloniki, in the Northern Greece). Each squadron has a FU with four quadruple lsaunchers (LS) M-901, one radar (RS) AN/MPQ-53, one ECS (Engahement Control Center) AN/ MSQ-104, one AMG OE-349 MRC and two electric-power generators.

At the same time-span the S-300 PMU-1 system which has been ordered by the Cypriot Government has been transfered in Creta. The Hellenic Air Force has established the 138 Guided Missile Group which operates the system at it's full capability. The unit, the system and the project are highly classified and no other details are available.

Regarding the "Nike-Hercules" it is possible that almost all the squadrons have been deactivated and the personel has started training in the Patriot System. The Hellenic Air Force has declined to comment on the exact status of the system at this period.
Well I think that is all,
Glad to hear from you,
Best regards,
Pericles

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Thule, Greenland
Photos of Nike Missile 'D'-Launch Site at Thule AB, Greenland found by
The Ultimate Guide to Thule Air Base
Nike Missile Sites, at Thule AB, Greenland found by Thomas Page
- seems most of the non-Greenland text and pictures came from the web site you are looking at.
Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
AADCP Thule"P" Mountain
TH-01 ("A" Battery)Thule North Mountain *
from Carp, Bernard J., i went to vist the base a few years ago and it is now an airport
TH-13 ("B" Battery)Thule North Mountain *
TH-40 ("C" Battery)Thule South Mountain **
TH-60 ("D" Battery)Thule South Mountain **
http://ku-prism.org/virtualprism/jour_green_2006/5/ from Tomas Page
Ron Gelinas, says 76 degrees 30' 59.14"N x 68 Degrees, 47' 43.67" W @504 Above Sea Level
* & ** - The argument of North vs South seems over,
Richard E. Evans has supplied a map. 133 K Bytes Thank you very much :-))
He also said "Yes there are two elevators per magazine. Each site had 3 or 4 magazines." in response to a document saying "The missile magazines had two elevators per magazine, which was almost certainly a response to the harsh climate, which would have precluded the use of satellite launchers on the surface. The magazines at Thule were unique. Type B Rising Star pits were employed only at Thule AFB in Greenland. They were 49 feet in length and 123 feet wide and held ten missiles. "

Photo by Gene McManus, story

E-mail below is in no particular order, now adding latest to top (near here)

From Ron Gelinas, Jan 6, 2013
... I just recently Google Earth took a look at Thule Air Base and located the remains of D Battery on South Mountain. Yes, those of us who were there finally agree that C and D Batteries WERE on South Mountain and the other two A and B WERE on North Mountain. The air view of D Battery IFC area is quite clear and the concrete pillars holding up the Admin/radar vans and the Mess Hall/px/rec room/and "movie theater", (the projector was actually on the ceiling of the tiny PX), are still visible The concrete floor of the generator building to the left of the mess hall and the "garage floor' at the right end of the Admin building are still there. The other two buildings, the NCOQ/BOQ, top right , and the EMq across the street have lost their pilings.

Most remarkable is the existence of the two plywood clamshell enclosures, painted black, that shielded the 2 'track' antennae ,and centered to the right is what's left of the LOPAR antenna steel support structure.

Not to confuse direction matters any further, I have to relate that North and South Mountains were geographically correct but not oriented with magnetic North but "true" (map) North. The North Magnetic Pole which is located in Northern Canada is actually 72.5 degrees west of Thule Air Base. This made our LOPAR radar display unique. The azimuth dial surrounding the radar scope was rotated 72.5 degrees west so that 6400 mils, normally at 12 o'clock in the States, was actually at about 10 0"clock. That was done because the Air Force radar on "P" Mountain was oriented magnetically for directing aircraft which relied on magnetic compass. And to further amuse, when we asked them to give us position reports for "Flight Post" aircraft so that we could use it for Simultaneous Track Test of our radars we were given position in Degrees and Miles. Fun!

I really hope this informs rather than confuses things.

I cannot say that I enjoyed my tour in '64-'65 but it was interesting. I would not want to repeat it but I'm glad to have been fortunate enough to have experienced Thule. I was very glad to be part of shutting the systems down in June 1965 and packing them for shipment back to Tooele Army Depot.

To this day I don't know who got the 8 day clock out of the BC van. It was gone when I padlocked the door.

Ron Gelinas , El Paso TX.

From Richard E. Evans, August 2003
Nike Batteries A and B were in the vicinity of North Mountain. Batteries C and D were in the vicinity of South Mountain. Their radar towers still exit at the control sites, nothing else. D Launch is still there, and C Launch is too. I can provide photos of D and C Launch if anyone wants them. Just email and ask. Check out my webpage too if you want to see Thule Greenland today.
Richard E. Evans
ARCTEC\CMOC
BMEWS Site 1
Thule Air Base, Greenland
Comm: 719-474-3840 ext. 5215
DSN: 629-5215
http://community.webshots.com/user/polarbearbait

{Bender, D} Info from Donald E. Bender
The sites were constructed during 1957 through 1958. Interestingly, these sites were considered part of ARADCOM as they were dedicatd to the defense of the Continental United States. The missile magazines had two elevators per magazine which was almost certainly a response to the harsh climate which would have precluded the use of satellite launchers on the surface. Note: 4th Bn 55th Arty ceased operations during May, 1965, ending the Nike missile defense of the Thule base.

{Brown, T}Info from Thomas H Brown
I believe your site designations for Thule are correct. A/4/55 was at site TH-01; B/4/55 was at site TH-13; C/4/55 at TH-40 and D/4/55 at TH-60. A and B batteries were on what was called South Mountain while C and D batteries were on North Mountain. Thule Air Force Base lay in the valley between the mountains. The Air Base was known as "Down Town" for it was the nearest thing to a town that we had.

The buildings constructed for air defense units were of special design in order to withstand the terrific winds which occasionally arise. These are called "Phases" and the wind can reach 100 miles per hour in less than five minutes. You always know when a phase is building for the temperature begins to climb because of air friction. The faster it climbs and the farther it climbs denotes the severity of the phase. When a phase comes everyone stays in the building they are currently in for the duration. In emergencies, there were 3" diameter ropes between the buildings which could be used for stability. Imagine trying to walk on a sheet of ice with winds at 100 mph. Each building was self contained with its own water supply and toilet facilities. "C" rations were the order of the day during phases. The BC van and RC van were inside the admin building and all the antennas were inside air inflated radomes with individual blowers.

Thule was a world of it's own. There were absolutely no dependents allowed there and the only females were a few nurses assigned to the hospital and some Danish families in the Danish village which was on the north side of north mountain. Fraternization was out of the question. The same held true for the Eskimos. Truly it was difficult to even be in the same building with an Eskimo. Whew!!!

Thule is a very arid country with less than 1" of precipitation per year. During the summer months the temperature is about 55 degrees constantly and in the winter months it is about -55 degrees. The area around the base is dry and dusty in summer with no vegetation whatsoever and in winter snow covers the ground. There is a very small moss like covering on some rocks during the spring and the rabbits and foxes devour it as well as each other in order to survive.

{Powell, N}Info from Nick Powell
One time I took a trip to the South Mountain sites (A & B batteries, I think). I was surprised to see some of the infrastructure still in place. However, the underground facilities were filled with ice up to about 5 or 6 feet below the ceiling. It looked like they were flooded on purpose. As a meteorologist, I can't see how that much snow would get into the site through small doors and melt to cause such an even dsitribution of solid ice in the bunker. The only conclusion I can make is that was done as part of some sort of international agreement or insurance that they would never be used again.

As a native of Minnesota, I believe almost any story about blowing snow, even got one or two stories myself :-) - Ed Thelen

One other thing, there appeared to be an some old buildings (which at the time were in the process of being torn down in the early fall of 1995). Inside one, which appeard to be a chow hall, were all these paintings of tropical vistas on the metal walls. My host told me that they were painted by someone stationed there to try to take the chill out of the stay. There was an attempt to try and save some as relics of a by-gone era. I don't know what happened. You might call the Thule base weather station or public affairs office ( if you can get a direct dial phone call in), or try the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs office at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs since Thule now falls under them. The pictures were very well done and interesting to look at.

One other interesting note about Thule, its basically two major installations, the upper camp operates the BMEWS radar. Its about 10 miles away from the airbase (which at its peak in the 60s was home for close to 18,000 personnel, the largest population center in Greenland at the time). Anyway, in the power generating facility at top camp are a number of diesel electric generators salvaged from WWII diesel electric submarines! This is what they used to generate power there until they completed a transmission line from the air base in the early 90s. They still are capable of generating power and are used as emergency back-up for both top and bottom camp. Pretty cool.

Info from Al Dugan aldugan@exp.net - Nov. 3, 1999
I believe you have the sites in reverse.
Batteries A&B were on the North Mountain; while C&D were on the South Montain. A Battery had the distinction of being the Northern most unit in the Army, while B Battery had the distinction of having the northernmost component in the Army. I served in 1958-59 and was in the original Conversion package that trained in Ft. Bliss ans brought the battalion to Thule.

Ed Thelen comments:
What is with the Greenland folks? They seem about evenly divided between Batteries A & B were to the north, or Batteries A & B were to the south.

My memory is nothing to brag about, but at least I *know* that my battery was on the east side of Chicago. Maybe the white-outs and long winter nights "got to 'em"?

Info from Rob Vinson (February 2002)
I was stationed at TAB in 89-90, then I had responsibility for environmental programs at TAB from 91-95 while I was stationed at Peterson AFB.

The split over which site was where can be resolved by looking at the historical maps. The maps on file in the Base Engineering Office show the A and B sites were located on North Mountain. The C site was on South Mountain. The D Control site is on South Mountain but the D Launch site is actually located across a small valley from South Mountain on what is locally known as Fox Peak.

Many of the above ground facilities were torn down as the sites were decommissioned but a few facilities remained. They deteriorated over the years and became safety hazards. The final demolition of the A and B sites started in 1987 and was completed in 1989. I watched as the last of the building debris was pushed into the launch bay, the doors were welded shut and the whole area covered with about 3 feet of dirt. Two buildings A the A site, a warehouse and a maintenance facility, were not torn down but were sold to the Greenland Home Rule Government and are still used as warehouses for the government operated trading post.

The two facilities at the C site where a dining facility/admin complex and a barracks. These buildings, along with the guard tower, were demolished in 1995-1996 along with approximately 220 other old buildings (mostly the "flattops" that served as dormitories when TAB was much bigger) that were no longer needed at TAB. The only remaining aboveground structure at the D Launch site is the guard tower. The bases of the radar towers still exist on South Mountain but all the North Mountain sites are gone. A few floor slabs are about all that remains.

The P Mountain AADCP site was also demolished. A fire wiped out a number of buildings in the mid 80's. When I arrived in 1989, approximately half of the facilities were still standing. We began demolition of the remaining buildings in 1994 and the work was completed in 1996. The only facility on top of P mountain now is a Greenland Telephone microwave transmitter and a small generator building. A few pieces were saved for use at TAB. For example, one of the 25,000 gallon fuel tanks was take down to TAB and now services the main base heat plant.

I've taken many people on tours of remains of the Nike sites over the years. I still get to go to TAB occasionally, as the company I work for now does environmental consulting work for the AF. I always enjoy my trips to the "top of the world"

Rob Vinson

Found by Thomas Page November 2002 at History:
"... In 1957 and 1958 four Army Nike Defense system Batteries were constructed (two on North Mountain and two on South Mountain) under the code-name “Rising Star.” These Surface to Air missiles (SAMs) were linked together with the air interceptors and a control and warning system. Each location had two areas: launch and control. They were closed down in July 1960. Battery A was demolished in 1990, but two buildings still stand at A launch located at Dundas Village. Battery B was demolished on an undetermined date, and the debris at the launch site was pushed into the underground silos. Battery C is still largely intact. It probably represents the best remaining example at Thule. The barracks and mess hall still stand, but the storeroom is gone. The three launch structures are still intact. One stairwell, a soldiers’ artwork still survives. It is the depiction of a goose and refers to the Goose Air Defense Sector to which the battery belonged. C Control has been demolished. All that remains is the concrete bases of the radar. Battery D, D Launch is located on South Mountain, overlooking North Star Bay; the launch structures are still intact as is the watchtower. ...."

Closer to Neuheilenbach, a picture and comments
from
Rocky Stovall , more in stories
IFC, Admin and Barracks was about 1 K east of Neuheilenbach and the Launch area was about 2 K's west of Town - East of us is Balesfeld and Burbach was farther east. We had both Ajax and Hercules - our Hercs had both HE and Nuclear war heads. We had three sections in the launch area and when we were on 15 min we slept in the guard house and our food was hauled in into us and in Murmite cans. bad way to eat. When we were on 5 min status we slept in our sleeping bags in the sections panel room, on concrete , we would be relived to go eat.

About two weeks ago I looked on Google Earth for my old unit in Germany and to my surprise I not only found the location but both IFC/Admin compound and the Launcher Area was in tact . My unit was D bty 4th Bn 6th Air Defense Artillery . I looked at it after I send you that last email and was very disappointed , the IFC/Admin area is now a Solar Energy Farm. It was like I lost something dear to me. The picture I am sending you is of the Launcher Area. There are three sections and I was in Brovo Section. All the sections was set up the same.


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Updated August 13, 2018