Post-Attack Command and Control System Facility, Hadley

USA / Massachusetts / South Amherst /
Originally built in 1957 as a hardened PACCS bunker as an extension of Westover AFB, MA. Also known as "The Notch" or "Westover Communications Annex". Designed to be a TOP SECRET nuclear bomb proof SAC Command Post, but replaced with a more suitable, much more spacious command post some distance from here. Originally it was thought that the Soviets would not be able to reach into the U.S. to this distance with anything more then a 1 megaton air burst. After the Cuban Missile Crisis the U.S. ramped up intelligence efforts against the USSR and realize that this facility was woefully inadequate, and thus was shut down in 1970. There are many code names for this site including "AMHERST", "THE NOTCH", "WESTOVER", "DELTA TWO", and others. Originally connected to the SACCS/SACDIN network, and had the capability of launching and controlling all nuclear missiles, and bombers in the U.S. inventory. The sisters sites were located at Barkdale AFB,LA; March AFB, CA; and Offutt AFB, NE; but this was this first hardened site as the other three sites were either smack dab in the middle of a major AFB, while this site was hidden several miles away from Westover AFB, at what was then thought to be a safe distance. Currently being used by several colleges as a book depository.rnrnThe replacement site is still online.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Attack_Command_and_Control_System_Facility,_Hadley
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°18'21"N   72°32'5"W

Comments

  • pretty cool place to walk around
This article was last modified 3 years ago