Ed Thelen's Nike Missile Web Site
Ed-Thelen.org is a long-standing reference website dedicated to the history, technology, and operational context of the U.S. Army Nike Hercules air defense missile system and related Nike missile programs.
The site contains historical research, technical information, photographs, documents, and personal recollections intended to support study, education, and historical preservation.
Since its creation, the website has served historians, veterans, researchers, students, and the general public seeking reliable information about Cold War era air defense systems.
About the Founder
This website was created and developed by Ed Thelen, who devoted many years to researching and documenting the Nike missile program.
Ed Thelen passed away after establishing this site as one of the most comprehensive publicly accessible resources on the Nike Hercules missile system.
Stewardship and Continuity
Following the passing of the site's founder in 2024, responsibility for Ed-Thelen.org has been assumed by a new steward, Greg Brown, Nike Veteran and NPS SF-88 Nike Missile museum volunteer.
Click here to read our Stewardship and Content Preservation policy for Ed-Thelen.org
Lt. Susan P. Cheney - The first female Executive Officer at SF-88
Lt. Susan P. Cheney served as Executive Officer (XO) at SF-88 during the early 1970s. She was on duty during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, when the site was placed on heightened operational status. Lt. Cheney later attained the rank of Colonel. Learn more about Lt. Susan P. Cheney-Click Here! |
View a Nike Missile Guidance Circuit Board - Radar Van Chassis and Power Panels
|
|
Visiting again? - updates
Table of Contents.
|
Remember Payphones ? |
Customer Service |
 Men Today |
Maybe we are getting the quality of government we pay for?? - as of June 2021
|
|
Disagreeing with Aristotle, Copernicus claims: a) The earth turns around once a day. b) The earth goes around the sun once a year. c) The earth is not the center of the universe. To halt spread of the above disinformation: a) Copernicus book is on the Forbidden List. b) Giordano Bruno didn't recant - burned alive. c) Galileo recanted - permanent house arrest. Stamp Out Disinformation and Copernicus |
Is the DGB
Disinformation Governance Board replacing the Roman Inquisition ??
Sounds like Vladimir Putin's
|
|
"Peace in our time"?? - Russia invades Ukraine, China threatens Taiwan.
United Nations Security Council, the 5 members with veto power include Russia & China Russia is attacking Ukraine, Ukraine is so desirable USA Please send us your HAWKS--HAWK Missiles are defending Ukraine China threatens Taiwan, Taiwan has TSMC The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), is the world's largest, best, and most valuable semiconductor manufacturer. China makes 12 times more steel and burns 7 times as much coal than the U.S. If the U.S. gets into a serious war, it will have to import more steel from China. The US Navy's shrinking fleet China surpasses our Navy with 400 Ships--US Navy 296 Ships Trump-pledges-to-resurrect-shipbuilding-as-china-seen-outpacing-us- |
|
What Nike is all about
Created in 2021, an excellent 13 minute Youtube by Scott Manley
Nike Hercules Missile Q5 High Altitude Intercept - 1.5 minutes
This three minute video
is a (successful :-) test of an early Nike Ajax destroying a radio controlled WW-II B-17.
Later tests verified that the Nike Ajax was also a killer of higher flying sub and supersonic jets
such as used by the Soviet Union.
The next generation was the Nike Hercules which was faster, longer range, and could carry
nuclear warheads to destroy multiple targets.
Mike Stucka, a staff writer for the Taunton Daily Gazette, was looking for images for a Nike story
and e-mailed
| ( That story has disappeared - I should have made a "local copy" ! ) I thought for a bit and replied: "Most look back and smile, and like to share the warm feeling :-))" |
This site has become a cooperative effort as more than 350 people have contributed text, stories, ideas, information, and corrections.
| The Nike surface to air missile system was named after the winged goddess
of victory in Greek mythology. Two versions of this system defended the U.S.
and other places from hostile aircraft.
The 1st version, the Nike Ajax, was deployed in the U.S. from 1954 to the early 1960s. It had an effective range of 25 miles. The 2nd version, the Nike Hercules, was developed which was faster, had a range of over 75 miles, and had nuclear capability. The Hercules was deployed starting in 1958. In 1963, there were 134 Nike Hercules and 77 Nike Ajax batteries defending the U. S. - as per "Rings of Supersonic Steel". Both versions above are made light and transportable by wheeled vehicles, transportable in cargo planes for "easy" mobility. With practice and preparation, a site could be moved in a long, hard day. As many parts as practical are made of aluminum or magnesium, the standard power frequency is 400 Hertz (cycles per second) saving iron and weight in transformers and motors as in aircraft.
The Nike Hercules sites in the continental United States mostly closed around 1974, with the exception of Alaska and Florida, which were closed around 1979.
|
|
This web site does not present photos, histories, nor detailed status of most NIKE sites.
I link to other web sites take up that interesting challenge.
Almost all Nike Hercules related information has been declassified - the only exceptions are some IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) information, some flight characteristics, and some nuclear warhead information. This site has a little information on the Nike Ajax, and no information on Nike Zeus (external link), also youtube A 20-year History of Antiballistic Missile Systems. I installed and maintained Nike Ajax fire control equipment (radars & computer) at Chicago site C-41 during 1955-1957. Maybe "we" deterred "them". I have served as a volunteer helping restore an old Nike site (SF-88) near San Francisco for the National Park Service. About submitting photos to this web site.
|
|
Hercules Night Launch, (17 K bytes) ![[Herc night launch]](nike_017.jpg)
From previous army pictures at http://www.redstone.army.mil/ history/archives/nike_017.jpg.
|
![[Herc day NAMFI launch]](nike_kreta1.jpg)
Four seconds from now, the missile will be:
The Nike Hercules shown here defended major U.S. target areas against aircraft attack from 1958 to 1974. It had an effective range of over 75 miles and a speed of mach 3.6. South Korea has over 200 of these missiles, with associated radars and guidance systems, currently in service.
Its predecessor, the smaller Nike Ajax, was in service from 1954 through about 1965. It had a range of 25 miles and a speed of mach 2.5.
...
...
|
2.3 MBytes A short easy introduction to the Nike Anti-Aircraft system from Michael Keller Posted May 3, 2013 Click on image to download the .pdf |
"Camp Sarafi", South Korea
from Al Dietz ... I believe the balloon antennas are left to right: TTR, TRR, and MTR. The LOPAR acquisition radar is behind the building. I don't normally post pictures of individual sites (too many), but isn't this bleak ?? Gads - imagine winter ?
|
A Great Photo Study of an abandoned Nike site - by Rich Lewis
| Lumberton, New Jersey PH23/25,
Rich Lewis photo study
A local HTML version, (I worry about "good stuff" going away.) |
Intercept - A little more technical ;-))
|
This is a plot of a Nike Hercules intercepting a target flying at 52,000 feet.
The vertical scale is altitude in feet. (max 100,000 feet) The left trace is the Nike missile, the right is the target. The horizonal scale is computed time to intercept, in seconds. The middle is time zero, intercept. Note: Against high flying targets such as this, the Hercules does not necessarily go above the target. from TM9-1400-250-10/2 page 36, Manual |
Cold War in South Florida, ... Study available free online - posted Mar 4, 2010
3 MBytes |
Click on image to download the .pdf
Good news. The Cold War Study of Nike Hercules in South Florida ($19.95 plus shipping) has been re-released in pdf format as a public domain document. The tours of HM-69 has been overwhelming at Everglades National Park for the second year. Tours will be conducted through the end of March. Charles D. Carter |
|
Fort Bliss Pictures
Excellent pictures of Ft. Bliss, Juarez and El Paso, courtesy of Butchijo Alaska Nike Veteran Reunion A-2-562 information Help is needed to sponsor Nike Reunions The Cuban Missile Crisis by James Whitaker (Nike, South Florida) The Cold War is an Electronic War (Soviets shot down 23 of our ELINT Planes) 36 minutes through 44 minutes
Michael Keller wrote (Feb 2009) & (Dec 2010) & (Aug 2011) & (Dec 2012)
|
|
Cover of 2 MByte brochure.
Just found this nice piece on Ebay.
Printing Date is 10-15-56.
"The purpose of this booklet is to inform high-school graduates and their parents of the matchless opportunities that lie within the Army Antiaircraft Command." Well, most of the once-addressed kids will be retired by now, but maybe they remember this booklet. 
It's a 3 page folder, size 500mm x 100mm. (Yes I prefer metric 🙂) But look on the front cover: seems that track LIMA296 has slipped through!! It has a beautiful painting inside and a funny 70's scene on the backside. 
It contains the original Team Nike decal and a small brochure. Both items came together with the MISSILE MASTER booklet [600 KB]. The diameter of the decal is 4.06 inch (103 mm). With kind regards from Germany. A recruiting brochure featuring the Nike Hercules, "Now making its appearance on-site." |
|
What is a Radar Mile?
12.36 Microseconds |
|
Who Invented the first working radar system ? The English like to take credit for radar, but a German inventor named Christian Hulsmeyer from Dusseldorf Germany invented the first working radar system for boats on the Rhine River in 1904. He thought it would be a success and all the shipping companies would want to buy it. Instead, they thought it was a useless contraption, even though it was well designed and worked perfectly. 35 years later, when Germany began bombing Britian, the radar concept gained new interest. The English scientist Sir Robert Watson Watt can take credit for perfecting the first working radar system for detecting aircraft in flight. The predecessor was invented 35 years earlier by the German Inventor for detection of moving ships and had several patents. |
|
TU-4 "Bull" Bomber photo credit Wikipedia |
TU-95 "Bear" Bomber Wikipedia |
TU-22M "Backfire" Bomber photo credit Wikipedia |
?Soviet Airfield? A response |
Nike Missile Batteries and Community ServiceThis circa-1966 letter from the Battalion Commander of the Los Angeles Defense Area reflects the often-overlooked civic role of Nike missile units. Beyond their Cold War mission, soldiers assigned to Nike Site LA-78 in Malibu actively supported local organizations and contributed significantly to the regional economy through their payroll and daily presence in the community.  |
