Lakefront Nike Site to Close
From the May 14, 1969 edition of the Milwaukee Journal
One of the three remaining Nike missile sites of the Milwaukee area closed in 1969. Some publications list this site's closure date as June 1971, which is the same date the remaining two Milwaukee-area sites eventually closed.
A scan of the article is at left; the text of the article is below.
One of the three remaining Nike missile sites of the Milwaukee area closed in 1969. Some publications list this site's closure date as June 1971, which is the same date the remaining two Milwaukee-area sites eventually closed.
A scan of the article is at left; the text of the article is below.
Milwaukee Journal
May 14, 1969
Lakefront Nike Site to Close
Journal Washington Bureau
Washington, D.C. – The Army Wednesday confirmed the closing of the Nike-Hercules missile site on Milwaukee’s lakefront, saying it would save money without harming national defense. The Nike-Hercules system is a predecessor to the proposed Safeguard anti-ballistic system now before congress.
Because it is designed to protect areas only from bomber attacks, the Nike-Hercules system has been considered obsolete by some military experts for many years. But the army has resisted demands to abandon the entire program.
Meanwhile, a resolution to study future use of Nike site and the adjacent land on the north harbor tract was proposed Wednesday by Ald. Robert O. Ertl. His study would cover land extending from the municipal passenger pier to the harbor entrance.
Varied Uses Seen
Ertl said the property could be used for a variety of services. Among them he said, are harbor use, helicopter port, recreation and commercial uses. Long range plans now call for use of the land for additional piers for the harbor.
An army spokesman said four other sites also would be closed in Detroit, Carelton, Mich., Warrington, Pa., and Felicity, Ohio. The announcement said closing the five sites would save $3.6 million a year.
The closing had been reported in Tuesday’s Milwaukee Journal before the formal announcement was made by the Pentagon.
Will Remove Launchers
Missile launchers and other equipment at the five sites are scheduled to be dismantled during the fiscal year starting July 1. The land is to be turned over to the general services administration for disposal.
The army said 270 soldiers at the Milwaukee and Detroit sites would be transferred elsewhere. National guard units manned the other three sites. A total of about 75 civilians worked at the five sites. A breakdown on how many military men and civilians were at the Milwaukee lakefront site was not available.
Information on the closings was distributed to congressmen Monday but was classified until Wednesday’s announcement.
It was mistakenly believed Tuesday that Nike-Hercules sites in River Hills and near Waukesha would be closed along with a radar installation in Lake Park. The Army’s announcements made no reference to those installations.
No Full List of Sites
The Army never has made public a list of existing Nike-Hercules sites around the country, although it is believed that between 75 and 100 will remain after the latest closings.
An Army spokesman declined to comment on whether the other sites in the Milwaukee area eventually would be closed.
“The batteries to be eliminated constitute only a portion of the defense system involved,” an Army spokesman said. “The units remaining will continue to defend the city or the area as they have done in the past.”
The lakefront missile site, at old Maitland field, had come up in freeway and harbor planning. It had been suggested that the Nike-Hercules site be moved to a 13 acre site in an industrial park at 60th and Ryan rd. in Franklin, but this was opposed by suburban officials.
The proposal to move the installation was made after the army suggested that structures for the Lake freeway might confuse the missiles’ radar control system
May 14, 1969
Lakefront Nike Site to Close
Journal Washington Bureau
Washington, D.C. – The Army Wednesday confirmed the closing of the Nike-Hercules missile site on Milwaukee’s lakefront, saying it would save money without harming national defense. The Nike-Hercules system is a predecessor to the proposed Safeguard anti-ballistic system now before congress.
Because it is designed to protect areas only from bomber attacks, the Nike-Hercules system has been considered obsolete by some military experts for many years. But the army has resisted demands to abandon the entire program.
Meanwhile, a resolution to study future use of Nike site and the adjacent land on the north harbor tract was proposed Wednesday by Ald. Robert O. Ertl. His study would cover land extending from the municipal passenger pier to the harbor entrance.
Varied Uses Seen
Ertl said the property could be used for a variety of services. Among them he said, are harbor use, helicopter port, recreation and commercial uses. Long range plans now call for use of the land for additional piers for the harbor.
An army spokesman said four other sites also would be closed in Detroit, Carelton, Mich., Warrington, Pa., and Felicity, Ohio. The announcement said closing the five sites would save $3.6 million a year.
The closing had been reported in Tuesday’s Milwaukee Journal before the formal announcement was made by the Pentagon.
Will Remove Launchers
Missile launchers and other equipment at the five sites are scheduled to be dismantled during the fiscal year starting July 1. The land is to be turned over to the general services administration for disposal.
The army said 270 soldiers at the Milwaukee and Detroit sites would be transferred elsewhere. National guard units manned the other three sites. A total of about 75 civilians worked at the five sites. A breakdown on how many military men and civilians were at the Milwaukee lakefront site was not available.
Information on the closings was distributed to congressmen Monday but was classified until Wednesday’s announcement.
It was mistakenly believed Tuesday that Nike-Hercules sites in River Hills and near Waukesha would be closed along with a radar installation in Lake Park. The Army’s announcements made no reference to those installations.
No Full List of Sites
The Army never has made public a list of existing Nike-Hercules sites around the country, although it is believed that between 75 and 100 will remain after the latest closings.
An Army spokesman declined to comment on whether the other sites in the Milwaukee area eventually would be closed.
“The batteries to be eliminated constitute only a portion of the defense system involved,” an Army spokesman said. “The units remaining will continue to defend the city or the area as they have done in the past.”
The lakefront missile site, at old Maitland field, had come up in freeway and harbor planning. It had been suggested that the Nike-Hercules site be moved to a 13 acre site in an industrial park at 60th and Ryan rd. in Franklin, but this was opposed by suburban officials.
The proposal to move the installation was made after the army suggested that structures for the Lake freeway might confuse the missiles’ radar control system