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UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI (Viewed 1963 times)
hokoglowko 


Location: Wisconsin
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Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
< on 11/8/2009 11:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The Nike Missile program was developed at the end of World War II. Its purpose was to defend U.S. urban areas from enemy aerial attack during the Cold War. Within the continental United States, Nike missile sites were constructed in defensive "rings" surrounding major urban and industrial areas.

A typical Nike air defense site consisted of two separate parcels of land. One area was known as the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) Area. This area contained the Nike system's ground-based radar and computer systems designed to detect and track hostile aircraft, and to guide the missiles to their targets. The second parcel of land was known as the Launcher Area. At the launcher area, Nike missiles were stored horizontally within heavily constructed underground missile magazines.

The particular Nike site featured here is located in Waukesha, WI. Designated M-74, this was one of eight sites that protected Milwaukee, WI. It was in operation from 1956 – 1971.

The map below shows the two locations that made up M-74 Nike Missile site. The launcher area is located one mile south of the IFC area. Milwaukee, the area that the missile site was designed to protect, is approximately 15 miles east.




The IFC was located in an area that is now known as Hillcrest Park. Photos of the IFC are below.

Entrance to the park
159101.jpg (129 kb, 704x528)
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Dedication marker
159112.jpg (118 kb, 484x483)
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View from park
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Radar tower
159103.jpg (113 kb, 704x528)
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Radar tower
159104.jpg (125 kb, 704x528)
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Radar towers
159105.jpg (119 kb, 704x528)
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Radar towers & Blast building
159106.jpg (107 kb, 704x528)
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Radar tower
159107.jpg (114 kb, 704x528)
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Hipar radar tower
159108.jpg (130 kb, 704x528)
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Radar towers
159109.jpg (116 kb, 704x528)
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Concrete slab where barracks were located
159110.jpg (123 kb, 704x528)
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Concrete slab where barracks were located
159111.jpg (126 kb, 704x528)
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Flag pole, dedication marker, & mess hall
159113.jpg (129 kb, 704x528)
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Flag pole
159114.jpg (78 kb, 704x528)
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Flag pole, dedication marker, & mess hall
159115.jpg (125 kb, 704x528)
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Below are photos of the launcher area. Not much to see here. Probably the most interesting thing to see at this location is an old guard shack, which is located next to the area's entrance. The underground magazines, where the missiles were located, are still there but are buried under concrete slabs and piles of wood chips.

Entrance
159118.jpg (85 kb, 563x422)
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Guard shack next to entrance
159117.jpg (101 kb, 563x422)
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Light pole along driveway
159119.jpg (108 kb, 563x422)
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Driveway past the entrance
159120.jpg (97 kb, 563x422)
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Missiles were located underground here
159116.jpg (92 kb, 563x422)
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Missiles were located underground here
159121.jpg (93 kb, 563x422)
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Missiles were located underground here
159122.jpg (97 kb, 563x422)
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shotgun mario 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 1 on 11/9/2009 3:06 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
nice research.

There's another nike within 20 miles or so from this one that you can climb down into. It's about 2 me.

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ToXiC 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 2 on 11/9/2009 8:47 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Very nice. I've always wondered if someone would be willing to dig slowly around those concrete barriers and explore the magazine underground.

Savage Hooligan
splumer 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 3 on 11/9/2009 2:45 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I live down the street from one. The silos are still there, but buried. A dude I used to work with who was a metal detector user said he had been through the park and found them. He said they were only about a foot or so underground.

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junkyard 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 4 on 11/9/2009 4:35 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
These weren't silo based. They were stored in an underground magazine and brought up by elevator, where they were put on launchers. I remember one site where the owner had a Buick engine to power the pump for the hydraulics to open the door and the elevator. Good job.

I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
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notscared09 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 5 on 11/12/2009 2:27 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
does anyone know how many missiles these sites used to hold?

If it says "Do Not Enter", I feel officially invited
junkyard 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 6 on 11/12/2009 4:59 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I used to. A quick Google will tell you, but if I remember it was about a dozen per magazine. And most sites had 1-3 mags. Ed Thelen would know though.

I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
Any problem can be licked with a case of beer and a few sticks of dynamite.
Strategic Beer Command ruling the desert since 1995 http://www.strategic-beer-command.com
hokoglowko 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 7 on 11/12/2009 3:30 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by notscared09
does anyone know how many missiles these sites used to hold?


In my research, I couldn't find any set number of missiles stored. What I did find was, just as junkyard said, that the number of magazines varied anywhere from 1-3 from site to site. My educated guess is that the number of missiles stored varied from site to site. I will continue to research, and will post if I find any additional info.

OctaneTrev 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 8 on 5/22/2010 1:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
this is something i would like to check out, but it sucks you cant go into the silo.

does anyone know if there are any around that you can go into ?

junkyard 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 9 on 5/22/2010 3:31 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Yes, there are. The Milwaukee sites are pretty much bunged due to urban expansion. Summer Fest grounds was one of the sites. A good book when you can find it in print, which is off and on, is Rings of Supersonic Steel. Most major cities had air defence as with Ellsworth AFB. Again, Ed Thelen's site is by far the best.

I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
Any problem can be licked with a case of beer and a few sticks of dynamite.
Strategic Beer Command ruling the desert since 1995 http://www.strategic-beer-command.com
OctaneTrev 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 10 on 5/22/2010 4:54 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
i dont know why but that cold war and post ww2 time era really interest me. I watched a movie called Nuke Cafe or something like that and it was all about the communist - nuke scare. I cant beleive people thought that hiding under a school desk would protect you in a nuklear explosion ! crazy !

but i definelt want to go into an old missle silo !

NotBatman 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 11 on 5/23/2010 2:23 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by OctaneTrev
I cant beleive people thought that hiding under a school desk would protect you in a nuklear explosion ! crazy !


I'm pretty sure the actual idea there was that the desk might offer some protection if the ceiling (and the floors above) fell. (In actual fact, hiding next to a desk or something similarly solid is said to work much better.)

I'm a "Leave only footprints, take only pornography" kind of guy, myself.
/-/ooligan 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 12 on 5/23/2010 6:07 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I think each underground storage magazine was only big enough to store about 6 or 7 Nikes. Of course the Nike-Hercs were much larger than the Nike-Ajax, & the underground storage mags needed to be modified for them.

By the way, the THIRD edition of Rings of Supersonic Steel should be hot off the presses & available any day now.

http://www.holeintheheadpress.com/


/-/ooligan

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junkyard 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 13 on 5/31/2010 7:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Atomic Cafe was the title. And the real reason you hid under a desk, is that much like a tyrannosaurus Rex, an atomic bomb could only see movement. Also it was much easier when curled up in a ball with your head between your knees to kiss your ass goodbye. I guess it was the best protection against broken glass and other missiles on a moments notice. Thanks for the update Hoolie. I still can't find my old disk of out of print books from Mark.

I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
Any problem can be licked with a case of beer and a few sticks of dynamite.
Strategic Beer Command ruling the desert since 1995 http://www.strategic-beer-command.com
aretheygone 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 14 on 5/31/2010 8:09 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by splumer
I live down the street from one. The silos are still there, but buried. A dude I used to work with who was a metal detector user said he had been through the park and found them. He said they were only about a foot or so underground.

are you talking about the ones in parma?

splumer 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 15 on 6/1/2010 2:51 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by aretheygone

are you talking about the ones in parma?


Yes. The buildings at the north end of the park (the Parma Heights end) are actually left over from the missile site. I live less than a mile from there.

“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”

-Madeline Albright
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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 16 on 6/1/2010 4:40 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
oh really. i grew up right down the street from there. i never knew there was anything from the site left. ill have to swing by there soon.

SubUrban66 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 17 on 6/2/2010 4:22 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by OctaneTrev
i dont know why but that cold war and post ww2 time era really interest me. I watched a movie called Nuke Cafe or something like that and it was all about the communist - nuke scare. I cant beleive people thought that hiding under a school desk would protect you in a nuklear explosion ! crazy !

but i definelt want to go into an old missle silo !


At the time the threat had to be met with an action plan, however futile. With limited and scary information from the press and the government, the people were comforted by a safety plan. Since most classrooms were at ground level and above, a nuke explosion would probably wipe you out anyway. The janitors went to the basement, smart.

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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 18 on 6/12/2010 3:32 PM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
Does anyone prepare to visit at very nearest future to this place? I have not car, so will be good if somebody take me with yourself.
pls.
[last edit 6/12/2010 3:36 PM by RuDigger - edited 2 times]

See my post about USSR ICBM
http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post0
Orangedrink 


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Re: Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI
<Reply # 19 on 6/12/2010 5:35 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Mobile
 
Posted by RuDigger
Does anyone prepare to visit at very nearest future to this place? I have not car, so will be good if somebody take me with yourself.
pls.


Where are you at digger? Russia is a lil out of my way

UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > Nike Missile Site, Waukesha, WI (Viewed 1963 times)
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