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Locations of Former NIKE MISSILE SITES (text)

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SouthDakota

For locations and views, fly in using Google Earth thanks to NikeSiteSearchers
Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
AADCP Ellsworth AFB Ellsworth AFB - is about 5 miles NE Rapid City, South Dakota on I-90
It had Titan 1 and later Minuteman II ICMBs.
Current usage, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota Air and Space Museum. See links #1 and #2
E-01 Ellsworth AFB 5.2 miles N Ellsworth AFB
[{Murdock, S} (updated May 20, 2001)
E-01C
E-01L & Hsg
E-01C 44-13-35 103-04-21
E-01L 44-12-09 103-05-50
E-01 Hsg
(Later Ellsworth Family Housing
Annex #1)
44-11-57 103-05-59
]
[{Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) ... a third site, apparently E-01C, for sale. It's described as "36 acres for $96,000; former Nike missile site, unique, historical, many possibilities." The realtor is Mike Alley, Raben Real Estabe, (800)888-1619 or realty@rapidcity.com. From what we saw the site was intact and in good condition, maybe two buildings surviving (the majority of the battery structures were at E-01L).

also see Trip Report with photos Saturday 12 May 2001
Also see Mark's trip report, ]

E-20 Ellsworth AFB 5.3 miles ENE Ellsworth AFB
[{Murdock, S} (updated May 20, 2001)
E-20C
E-20L & Hsg
E-20C 44-09-31 102-58-52
E-20L 44-09-02 103-00-12
E-20 Hsg
(later Ellsworth Fam
Hsg Anx #3)
44-09-15 103-00-06
]
[{Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) ... for sale. The first is former E-20L on the east side of Ellsworth, currently owned by Mr. Steve Gowan, Classic Haulers, Inc. The site is immaculate; 21.29 acres, fence is still up, seven buildings (27,888 square feet), three intact magazines. One of the admin buildings has been converted into a house, very nice inside. Of the four batteries in the Ellsworth Defense Area, this one is in the best shape. Mr. Gowan is asking $395,000; his realtor is Keith Carlyle/Coldwell Banker. Interested parties can contact Mr. Gowan at PO Box 3649, Rapid City, SD 57709 or at yomama@enetis.net.
Also see Mark's trip report, ]
E-40 Ellsworth AFB 3.5 miles SSE Ellsworth AFB
[{Murdock, S} (updated May 20, 2001)
E-40C
E-40L & Hsg
E-40C 44-05-18 103-05-12
E-40L
(Later Ellsworth Academic Annex)
44-06-13 103-05-55
E-40 Hsg
(Later Ellsworth Family Housing
Annex #2)
44-06-11 103-05-32
]
[{Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) ... The owner of E-40L, Box Elder, is looking for information and assistance on repairing his A-section elevator and getting it running again. If you can help, contact Mike Leffler at Lefler Auto Truck & Tractor, (605)923-4136, 923-4000, or at 14765 Bus Barn Road, Box Elder, SD 57719. ]
Also see Mark's trip report,
E-70 Ellsworth AFB 4.9 miles WSW Ellsworth AFB
E-70C
[{Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) ... for sale is E-70C, on the west side of Ellsworth. This is the IFC for the Ellsworth west battery, 14.34 acres, eight buildings with 28,129 square feet, have been converted to living quarters. Private well and septic; has served as private housing for the last 19 years and is in excellent condition. Site has access to E-70L. The owner is Rev. Burton E. Brush; his realtor is also Keith Carlyle/Coldwell Banker. Interested parties can contact Rev. Brush at (605)348-8001, 22395 Pioneer Trial North, Rapid City, SD 57701 or bbrush@enetis.net. ]

E-70L
[{Koons, Weston} (Dec 31, 2018)
My cousin owns the property on which site E-70C is located. I’ve learned thru your website that the berms to the south of the site are for the fueling of the missile and serve (I’m guessing) as a protective shield somewhat. The concrete drive that goes between those mounds goes thru a series of dips maybe about 18” deep. Do you have any idea what those dips are for?

I’ve also wondered what those concrete pads are on site. I assumed they were gun mounts but it didn’t really make sense to me why they were there.
See next paragraph under this box.

The property was returned to the family after the Air Force was done with it. My uncle let some salvagers come and take the elevators and doors leaving two big holes in the ground. Since my family are ranchers - big holes and cattle don’t mix. In 1972 the Rapid City flood came along destroying hundreds of vehicles. The city needed a place to junk those vehicles and my uncle needed something to fill up the slots left by removing the elevator doors. So he allowed destroyed cars to be brought in and stacked up high enough to be level with the openings. Then dirt was brought in and covered the cars leveling the area.

Now the entire place has become a haven for rattle snakes and is not safe to even walk around.


[{Eichenlaub, John } (updated Feb 10, 2010) - Re: {Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) below - "In particular, we're curious about four concrete pads at E-70L a few yards from the magazine area which appear to have been old gun positions."
Those concrete pads were the base for Nike rails. We had a temporary setup (Operational) for a number of months, pending completion of the Launcher Area. I have several other details you may be interested in. Feel free to email me, or call me at 419-238-2776. (I have "unlimited long distance", so can call you back to prevent a big phone bill.) ]
[{Murdock, S} (updated May 20, 2001)
E-70 Hsg
E-70C 44-09-22 103-12-30
E-70L 44-09-11 103-12-59
E-70 Hsg
(Later Ellsworth Family Housing
Annex #4)
44-09-01 103-12-10

also see Trip Report with photos Saturday 12 May 2001 ]]


[{Morgan, M} (May 19,2001) ... {we} are looking for anyone who served in the Ellsworth Defense with the 531st or 2/67th. In particular, we're curious about four concrete pads at E-70L a few yards from the magazine area which appear to have been old gun positions. If anyone can contact me at rangermk@sbcglobal.net or Scott Murdock at scott123murdock@yahoo.com; Tim Tyler; or Ron Plante at rgplante@aol.com, we have some questions about that site and a couple of the other batteries.
Also see Mark's trip report, ]

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Spain
From Charles Carter, Aug 2020
Designation General Location Detailed Location (Current Status)
? San Roque-La Línea La Linea de la Concepcion, about 5 km north of Gibraltar
? ? ?

from Robert Lawrence - Oct 2017
Hi Ed Thelen, was reading your blog about Nike battery in Spain. I got the unit wall insignia plaque from them when I was in the US Navy at Rota Spain in July 1975. In case you have never seen it, see attached. Best Wishes, Robert

From Simon Loewenthal - 11 May 2012
from Gibraltar Chronicle chronicle 11 May 2012

"Fire fighters took several hours to extinguish a scrub blaze behind La Linea on Sierra Carbonera yesterday. The fire forced men from the Grupo SAM missile base to relocate some equipment from a nearby battery. Military personnel also assisted with the fire fighting operation. The cause of the blaze had not been established as this edition went to press. Fires are common in this area during the summer months."

Rolf D. Görigk's Web Page says that
in September 1974, there was "1 Nike batallion" (4 batteries?) in Spain.

Luis Garreta says
I only know that they were placed in South-Spain, on Gibraltar Strait area. They were replaced on 80's by Hawk ADS and they are out of service now. But I don't know if they are in storage or they were sold or scrapped.
I will tell you any info I can get.
and May 2001 added:

I know that location was a site called Campo de Gibraltar situated near Gibraltar Strait. Now I'm searching unit operating name.

In Spain, Nike missiles were retired from active service on mid 80's. It was only one battery with four launchers and 16 missiles. This battery was placed in San Roque-La Línea (where today are placed Hawk units). [La Linea de la Concepcion, about 5 km north of Gibraltar]

Don Bender says
Offhand, I've forgotten some of the details, but I think there was a site in or near Malaga on the coast. These sites were way down there and I wonder precisely what the strategy was. Four Herc sites in southern Spain. U.S. mil. bases, Gibraltar, aircraft or surface targets ... one wonders what went through the minds of the Nike folks.


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Updated May 11, 2012