B-15 Nike Missile Launch Site (Beverly, Massachusetts)

USA / Massachusetts / Wenham / Beverly, Massachusetts
 military, Cold War 1947-1991, nikemissile
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Site B-15L Beverly (1957-1963). This launch site had 3 magazines with 30 Ajax missiles and 12 launchers. Not converted to Hercules.

Dates of Operation
1957-1964

History
Nike-Ajax site used as Nike Site by Active Army Mar 57 to Aug 59, MA ARNG Aug 59 to Jan 64. Scheduled initial construction completion was May 56 but delayed until
Mar 57.

Weapons Systems & Missile Load
Nike Ajax / 30 (10 per launcher section)
12 mounted on launchers ( 4 per launcher section)

Missile Magazines/ Launcher Sections
3 Magazines.
1 type "B", 2 Ajax


Units
Btry A, 605th AAA Missile BN (Nike) (Continental)
Mar 57-Oct 58
redesignated (NIKE AJAX) Apr 58
redesignated as below Oct 58
Btry A, 1st Msl BN (Nike Ajax), 57th Artillery
Oct 58-Jun 60
Btry C, 2d Msl BN (Nike Ajax), 241st Artillery
Aug 59- Aug 62
Btry C, 1st Msl BN (Nike Ajax), 241st Artillery
Aug 62- Jan 64
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°35'17"N   70°54'41"W

Comments

  • We toured the NIKE site at Beverly Airport on Armed Forces Day about 1958. It was staffed by the Regular Army troops then. I was 17. They even took us down inside one of the missile launch bunkers. They opened the overhead doors and raised the missile up through it. Pretty impressive. Years later before they tore down the abandoned buildings, I went in with my camera and recorded all the structures still standing, such as the barraks, mess hall, day room, etc. The photos are now at the Beverly Historical Society. Richard Symmes - Beverly,, MA
This article was last modified 12 years ago