NATO Longare WSA

Italy / Veneto / Longare / Strada dei Martinelli
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Former WSA Longare a.k.a. Site Pluto. Nuclear storage 1963-1992. Declassified documents revealed a permanent stock of 24x ADM and 50x 155mm arty shells for US Army use and 29x 8 inch shells, 60x Nike Hercules and 42x Lance warheads for Italian use in case of WW-3.
Supervision: US Army 69th Ordnance Company
Security: 28th USAFAD

During operation "silent echo" (1990-1992) in which most NATO WSAs were cleared and the nuclear warheads were transported back to the USA, site Pluto was used as a collection point for the "specials" from other Italian WSAs. From here they were helo airlifted to a US Navy aircraft carrier which moved them back to the USA. Site Pluto was deactivated after completing operation "silent echo" in 1992.

Note: the empty complex appx 300yds southwest of the storage site was a Hawk missile site providing a 24/7aircoverage for the area

This is a nice photolink concerning the wereabouts of the unit:
www.sitepluto.com/Photos/Places/index.htm
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   45°28'49"N   11°36'4"E

Comments

  • All connecting reference to site pluto takes you to a site about the planet Pluto.
  • I was with the 69th Ordnance co. (SW ammo) Sept ‘55 to May of ‘58. I joined the unit at Sandie base Albuquerque New Mexico, then moved to Fort Bliss Texas to join up with the rest of the unit and then on to Vicenza, Italy. We wore a red and white patch with SETAF on the top which we all assumed meant something even the army forgot.
This article was last modified 11 years ago