Charlie Battery - Kleingartach/Hardheim
23 Year Odyssey in Rural Germany - 1959 - 1983
he web links offered below are just some of the possibilities that we have come across while surfing the net. They have all been visited and examined in depth, and are ones that we feel offer something unique and should be explored and recognized. They all seem to have individual fields of study and/or objectives, and all show a pride and dedication to documenting the Nike Guided Missile's contribution to winning the peace of the Cold War, even though our job was, and for the most part still is, unrecognized and forgotten in both military and civilian worlds.
For the site descriptions I basically went to each website and copied their descriptions of missions and objectives in order to represent accurate information, as well as it was just easier to do it that way.
We are always looking for new quality web links and resources, so if you come across a unique and interesting website please submit it to be included on our links pages. Although most of the links provided here are directly related to the Nike experience, some, although peripherally related, may offer new insight and information that may have been missed or dismissed. So you never know...!
It's all a learning process... So click the link icons and... enjoy...!
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Welcome to SF-88!
An educational Cold War museum in the heart of Golden Gate National Recreation Area
During the tense years from 1953 to 1979, the United States Army built and operated a total of 280 Nike missile firing batteries in the United States. These missile sites were placed as the last line of defense against Soviet bombers. Today, a dedicated group of volunteers works in partnership with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the continuous task of restoration at site SF-88, which has been turned into a museum. This valuable historical resource is the only restored Nike missile site in the entire country. It's a great chance for you to see the tools of the Cold War up close.
You can visit SF-88 during the week, Wednesday through Friday, 12:30 to 3:30. A guided walk begins from the Testing and Assembly Building every hour, with the last tour leaving at 3 p.m. On the guided walk you will be able to see the tools of the Cold War up close, and it includes an amazing trip down the missile elevator into the underground storage area.
On the first Saturday of every month we hold an open house, where docents-some of them Nike veterans-tell stories about real life experience at Nike missile sites.
Veteran Records And Archives
Military personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records several ways. Our online eVetRecs system creates a customized order form to request information from your, or your relative's, military personnel records.
Please note: Records are accessional into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the
service member's separation from the military. This is a rolling date; hence, the current year, 2011, minus 62 years is 1949. Records with a discharge date of 1949 or prior are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date of 1949 or after are non-archival and are maintained under the Federal Records Center program. Non-archival records are subject to access restrictions.
Ed Thelen’s Nike Missile Web Site
This site presents a great deal of Nike Hercules historical, technical and operational information and provides extensive links to Nike related books, documents, museums and to other Nike related web sites. This site also provides a photographic tour of Nike site SF-88 (being restored), location and status of Nike sites, and a List of Nike People, some on-line documents, a bulletin board, a search, a Photo Exchange, an FAQ, and a variety of other features.
U.S. Army In Germany
The history of the US Army Europe (USAREUR) involves many reorganizations, numerous restructuring, but throughout its forty plus years, it has remained as the “keeper of the peace” that it fought to gain in World War Two. The command was founded on 8 June 1942 in London as the American forces massed in Great Britain to begin training for the assault the continent of Europe that would take place two years later on the beaches of Normandy.
The real story of the future of USAREUR is in force modernization. New weapon systems and concepts in force structure, such as the New Manning System, will help the command to keep changing and improving its defense capability.
But the one ingredient that has remained constant is the dedication of the USAREUR soldier. From Bill Mauldin's World War II “Willie and Joe” to today's modern combat and combat support teams in camouflage battle dress, it's still there. USAREUR's men and women soldiers can claim proud service and strong defense.
The above text was taken from an article of the following author order to illustrate the depth of content and history of this website. Mr. Arthur is a historian with the HQ, USAREUR and Seventh Army Military History Office.
NAMFI - NATO Missile Firing Installation
In the middle sixties, the NATO Advisory Group of Aeronautical Research and Development (AGARD) was tasked to prepare a study for finding out and establishing a Guided Missile Range in Europe. After an extensive examination and relative study of all the proposed regions, the Akrotiri area next to Souda Bay of Crete was finally selected as the most suitable place for the following reasons:
• The orientation, the general lay-out and the size of the area, allow the utilization of the maximum range of the Weapon Systems.
• The Air and the Naval Bases in the area (Chania Airport and Souda Harbor) facilitate the access to NAMFI's Launching area.
• The good meteorological conditions allow the operation throughout the year
The period 1964 – 1968 NAMFI was constructed at Akrotiri area Chania Crete using NATO funds and based on the terms of its “Multilateral Agreement” which was signed by Belgium, France, W. Germany, Denmark, Greece, Norway, The Netherlands and USA in 1964. This agreement determines the legal status, its utilization, operation and other basic issues of NAMFI.
Today it is used on a permanent basis by four (4) countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece and The Netherlands, which are called USERS.
NAMFI is considered to be as one of the most significant Training-Centers of NATO.
NIKE Air Defense Guided Missile System - The focal point is the NIKE era in the German Air Force (GAF) and the locations of former NIKE sites in Germany. The NIKE Air Defense Guided Missile System was used by: Belgium (8 Squadrons), Denmark (4 Squadrons), Germany (24 Batteries) Greece (1 Battalion), Italy (12 Groups), Japan (5 Groups), South-Korea (1 Battalion), Netherlands (8 Squadrons), Norway (4 Batteries), Spain (1 Battalion), Taiwan (2 Battalions), Turkey (2 Battalions), USA (24 units/sites in Germany), French (8 Squadrons), Systems installed in the USA (1963):134 NIKE Hercules (1958-74) and 77 NIKE Ajax (1954-65)...
Total: 336 NIKE units / sites world wide
A “Squadron” or “Group” was comparable with a “Battery”. A Battalion consisted of 4 combat batteries. A German NIKE Battalion had a personnel strength of about 1800 soldiers and civilian employees. So the personnel strength of all the
German NIKE-Battalions was close to 10.000 soldiers and civilian employees on duty every day and around the clock for almost three decades. Schools and depots as well as members of the US Army Artillery Detachments are not included in the above figures.
The Nike Historical Society
An association of veterans and other interested persons who want to record and make known the history and purpose of the Nike Missile Air Defense system.
The Nike Historical Society was the brain child of Ron Parshall, one of the Nike Vets who helped restore Nike Site SF-88. The Society was formed to insure the proper interpretation of the Nike Missile System and was primarily focused on the preservation and proper interpretation of SF-88. As time went on most of the Nike Vets, who were associated with SF-88, left but continued to participate in the development of the Society. As time went on the Society grew in recognition and membership, which today is world-wide. The focus of the Society has always remained the same. The proper and accurate interpretation of the Nike Missile System.
Not only does the website interpret the missile system, it allows vets to post messages and attempt to get in contact with people they once served with. It also features sections where vets have contributed photos and related stories. A by-product of the Society's work has been a better public understanding and appreciation of what it took to be a Nike Missile man.
Nike Ajax And Hercules Ordnance Support Units
This web site is dedicated to the men and women, both military and civilian, who served in the various Nike Ajax and Hercules support shops throughout the world. These dedicated professionals were on “Hot Status” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks per year. When a Nike site was non-operational, they were there around the clock until it was operational again.
For the most part, these individuals were Ordnance Corps and were trained at the Ordnance Guided Missile Center and School at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Support Units consisted of Guided Missile Direct Support (GMDS), Guided Missile General Support (GMGS), and a combination of both as GSDS operations. Additionally, there were Special Weapons Ordnance Support Units/Shops which supported the Nuclear warheads. There were also people from other branches who served vital roles as well.
Part of each Direct Support Unit (later Direct Support Platoon [DSP]) was a Direct Support Supply Activity (DSSA). The DSSA was operated by personnel with training by the Quartermaster Corps.
For support of the IFF systems, as well as the Radar and Control systems at the Battalion Operations Center, personnel with Signal Corps training carried the load.
Part of the equipment supported included the tactical power generation equipment. The tactical generators were supported by those with Corps of Engineers training.
German Air Force Museum - Berlin
History, Air War, Cold War, Berlin Airlift / History, Aerial Warfare, Cold War, Berlin Airlift
Description: As a branch of the Military History Museum, the Museum is home to the airport Berlin-Gatow a large part of aviation history collection of the armed forces. It complements the main house at the Dresden exhibition on the relationship between air forces and society in historical perspective.
The situation on the national monument airport Berlin-Gatow it possible to convey history at the historic site: The airport was founded in the wake of the secret rearmament of the army and conquered at the end of World War II by Soviet forces. In exchange for the settlement of Staaken the British occupation forces handed over, took advantage of him during the Allied airlift approximately one third of the raisin bombers as the start and landing field. After German reunification, the transfer was made to the armed forces.
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