Fairchild Defense Area
Missile · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Nike air defense area, consisting of several Nike missile batteries to defend urban, industrial, and military targets from Soviet bomber attacks.
Four sites initially protected the Spokane region and the Strategic Air Command Base at Fairchild. Nike Ajax Batteries were built and activated at (F-07) Spokane, (F-37) Cheney, and (F-45) Medical Lake in 1957; the fourth battery at (F-87) Deep Creek was built and activated in 1958. Medical Lake was converted to Hercules missiles in 1960 and 1961. Headquarters facilities were located at Fairchild.
The Seattle District of the Corps of Engineers had land acquisition, design, and construction supervision responsibilities. The Army deactivated the Nike Ajax batteries in 1960. The two Nike Hercules batteries remained activated until 1966.
Subtopics
- Nike F-07 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1957 - Jun 1960 . Both Control and launch sites transferred from DoD control to another party.
- Nike F-37 12 Nike Ajax launchers.. Operational 1957 - Jun 1960 . Control site private ownership. Launch site private ownership.
- Nike F-45 12 Nike Ajax/Nike Hercules launchers. Operational 1957 - Mar 1966 . Control site private ownership. Launch site private ownership.
- Nike F-87 11 Nike Hercules launchers.. Operational Sep 1958 - Mar 1966 . Control site private ownership electrical service. Launch site private ownership.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Nike Ajax, Nike Hercules
- Bibliography
- 13403