Milwaukee Sentinel - October 9, 1954
The actual article as it appeared in the October 9, 1954 edition of the Milwaukee Sentinel. The text of the article has been rewritten and is posted below.
Milwaukee Sentinel
October 9, 1954
Army to build Rocket Launchers Here
Plan Undisclosed Number of Sites in Milwaukee, Nearby Area
Construction of a ring of anti-aircraft rocket launchers around Milwaukee will begin next spring at a cost of several million dollars. The radar-controlled rockets are capable of shooting down enemy planes flying at supersonic speeds.
Brig. Gen. T.W. Parker, commander of the 45th Anti-Aircraft Brigade with headquarters at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., made that announcement Friday following a conference with city and county officials in Mayor Zeidler’s office. Reportedly there will be about six locations in the Milwaukee ring.
Thus Milwaukee will become the third city in the Middle West to be linked with nation’s “Nike” guided missile defense system. Similar installations are being put up at Chicago and Detroit.
The number and location of the Nike sites—each covering 44 acres—were not disclosed, not because final locations will be secret, but because advance work might result in soaring real estate prices.
However, Parker said that several of the sites would be located within the Milwaukee city limits and that the others would be in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.
Although exact descriptions of Nike launching sites have not been revealed by the military, they have been described as consisting of a launching area, underground area for storing the rockets, a missile assembly station, a testing area and administration and living quarters. A firing battery will consist of six officers and 88 enlisted men.
Parker assured local officials attending the conference that the launching areas would blend with the surrounding area and that no “practice firing” of the rockets would be carried on.
Real estate agents of the Army and Army anti-aircraft personnel will be in Milwaukee between now and spring to negotiate for sites. The project is expected to be completed with two years, Parker commented.
Gen. Parker said the Army will attempt to use government property as much as possible in order to save on costs.
October 9, 1954
Army to build Rocket Launchers Here
Plan Undisclosed Number of Sites in Milwaukee, Nearby Area
Construction of a ring of anti-aircraft rocket launchers around Milwaukee will begin next spring at a cost of several million dollars. The radar-controlled rockets are capable of shooting down enemy planes flying at supersonic speeds.
Brig. Gen. T.W. Parker, commander of the 45th Anti-Aircraft Brigade with headquarters at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., made that announcement Friday following a conference with city and county officials in Mayor Zeidler’s office. Reportedly there will be about six locations in the Milwaukee ring.
Thus Milwaukee will become the third city in the Middle West to be linked with nation’s “Nike” guided missile defense system. Similar installations are being put up at Chicago and Detroit.
The number and location of the Nike sites—each covering 44 acres—were not disclosed, not because final locations will be secret, but because advance work might result in soaring real estate prices.
However, Parker said that several of the sites would be located within the Milwaukee city limits and that the others would be in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.
Although exact descriptions of Nike launching sites have not been revealed by the military, they have been described as consisting of a launching area, underground area for storing the rockets, a missile assembly station, a testing area and administration and living quarters. A firing battery will consist of six officers and 88 enlisted men.
Parker assured local officials attending the conference that the launching areas would blend with the surrounding area and that no “practice firing” of the rockets would be carried on.
Real estate agents of the Army and Army anti-aircraft personnel will be in Milwaukee between now and spring to negotiate for sites. The project is expected to be completed with two years, Parker commented.
Gen. Parker said the Army will attempt to use government property as much as possible in order to save on costs.