Nike Missile Site

Nike Missile Site. . Center Panel , Guardians of the Sky , Technological advances during World War II brought new threats to the Bay Area. Traditional weapons were useless against new, fast, high-flying jet planes. This need for better antiaircraft defense led to project Nike, a “last-ditch” line of air defense., The sense of urgency grew in 1953 when the Soviet Union developed long-range bombers that had the capability to drop nuclear warheads on the continental United States. Although the army had left Angel Island in 1946, it returned in 1954 to build a Nike missile site. Radar control was set up on Mount Ida (now Mount Livermore), and three sets of four Nike Ajax missiles were placed underground. Nike missiles were not armed with nuclear warheads but were meant to shoot down planes carrying nuclear weapons., As nuclear weapons delivery technology advanced, the Ajax missiles became obsolete. The army removed them in 1966, ending ninety-nine years of military presence on Angel Island., Did You Know? , . The missiles were named for Nike, the winged goddess of victory in Greek mythology. , . Nike Ajax missiles could reach speeds of 1,600 miles per hour, could hit targets at altitudes of up to 70,000 feet, and had a range of 25 miles. , . Nike missile sites were constructed in defensive rings around large cities and in other strategic military locations. , . The next-generation Nike Hercules missiles were developed with better range. Thus, only half as many sites were needed, and the Angel Island one was closed., Nike Ajax missiles had three warheads, one in the nose, one in the midsection, and one in back., Caption Two: The Nike missile control sight on Mount Ida (now Mount Livermore), seen from the air., Caption Three: Soldiers staffed the “ready room” around the clock, waiting for orders to fire on incoming enemy planes., Caption Four: The Nike Ajax missiles on Angel Island were never launched., Caption Five: The M33 radar system enabled remote aiming of the missiles., Right Panel , Discover , A Silent Reminder , The site before you is a concrete reminder of the fear people felt during the Cold War. Do you think these missiles eased those fears? How are things similar or different in our country now?, While You Are Here , 1. Can you see the three large notches cut into the hillside? The army carved them so the radar system on the flattened mountaintop could communicate with the missiles. , 2. Cross the road to the side closer to the water and look down to see the missile assembly area. , 3. Take a hike to the top of Mount Livermore, which was restored to its original height in 2002. Enjoy the view Cold War radar operators had from the top of the island. , 4. This is a great place to photograph interesting fog patterns and views of the Bay Area., Safety Starts Here , The Angel Island Nike missile site is closed; please stay outside the fence. You can visit the restored SF-88 site in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands., Left Panel , Angel Island State Park , (map)