Seattle Defense Area (original) (raw)

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Seattle Defense Area

Nike air defense area, consisting of several Nike missile batteries to defend urban, industrial, and military targets from Soviet bomber attacks.

Home of Boeing Aircraft Company and military installations, Seattle was ringed with defenses manned by both Regular Army and Washington National Guard units. Land acquisition, design, and construction supervision was handled by the Seattle District of the Corps of Engineers. The first missile sites were activated in 1956, and by 1959 the number had grown to 10. Batteries S-13 and S-32/S-33 built at Redmond and Lake Youngs were double sites. Other batteries designations and locations were:

(S-03) Kenmore (S-62) Ollala

(S-20) Cougar Mt./Issaquah (S-81) Poulsbo

(S-43) Kent/Midway (S-82) Winslow/Bainbridge Island

(S-61) Vashon Island (S-92) Kingston.

Headquarters facilities were located at McChord AFB, Fort Lawton, Redmond, Phantom Lake, O'Brien, and Kent. A radar section was posted at Fort Worden.

Army units manning the Nike Ajax batteries earned a reputation as tops in the nation as in 1956, 1957, and 1958 Seattle-based batteries earned the Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) Commander's Trophy as a result of high scores achieved at Annual Service Practices at McGregor Range.

The Army National Guard took over of some of the sites 9 months after the initial Army National Guard takeover in California. Gun batteries were part of the defense net until 1960.

Nike Ajax sites were phased out from 1960 to 1963. Sites at (S-13) Redmond, (S-61) Vashon Island, and (S-92) Kingston were upgraded to launch Hike Hercules missiles and survived until 1974. A "Missile Master" command and control complex was built at Fort Lawton. With the deactivation of the Nike Ajax batteries, a less complicated "BIRDIE" system took over the missile defense coordination duties.

Subtopics

Nike S-03 8 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1957 - Mar 1964 . Control site obliterated; Horizon Heights Park. Launch site partially intact; FEMA Agency Region XHQ.

Nike S-13/14 23 Nike Ajax/11 Nike Hercules launchers. Operational 1957 - Mar 1974 . Control site intact; WAArNG scheduled for development. Launch site intact; private ownership nursery.

Nike S-20 8 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1957 - Mar 1964 . Control site obliterated; Cougar Mountain County Park. Launch site partially intact; Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park.

Nike S-32/33 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1956 - Dec 1961 . Control site partially intact; King County Sheriff's Department. Launch site intact; Maple Valley Christian School South King County Activity Center (shared launch with S-33).

Nike S-43 10 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1956 - Feb 1963 . Control site intact; WAArNG Center. Launch site partially intact; King County Parks and Kent School District.

Nike S-61 12 Nike Ajax/7 Nike Hercules launchers. Operational 1956 - Mar 1974 . Control site partially intact; Vashon High School. Launch site partially intact; Vashon Island Equestrian Park and Nike Events Center.

Nike S-62 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1958 - Mar 1963 . Control site intact; Ollala Guest Lodge. Launch site partially intact; private ownership.

Nike S-81 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1956 - Nov 1960 . Control site intact; South Kitsap School District and Frank Raab Municipal Park. Launch site private ownership.

Nike S-82 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1958 - Nov 1960. Control site partially intact; Bainbridge Park District Eagledale Park. Launch site partially intact; Strawberry Hill Park Titan.

Nike S-92 8 Nike Ajax/Nike Hercules launchers.. Operational 1958 - Mar 1974 . Control site intact; Laborer's Training. Launch site intact; North Kitsap County School District Spectrum Alternative Center.

Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Nike Ajax, Nike Hercules. Bibliography: 13403.

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