Nike Missile Sites In Connecticut

Nike Missiles in Connecticut:
A Brief Overview

For approximately two decades, spanning some of the most tense years of the Cold War, Nike missiles defended American cities, industrial sites and key military bases. Operated by the U.S. Army's Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) these antiaircraft missile installations provided a vital last line of defense against the threat of an attack by long range Soviet bombers armed with nuclear weapons.

Within the state of Connecticut, two Nike defended regions were established. One defended area was centered on the important manufacturing city of Bridgeport. The other protected the Greater Hartford area. Each defended area contained six Nike missile batteries which became operational during 1956 through 1957.

Each of the twelve missile installations was initially manned by Regular Army units. However, within a few years, the Connecticut Army National Guard became an important participant within the Nike program, manning several sites within the Bridgeport and Hartford regions.

Connecticut's Nike missile batteries were initially equipped with the first-generation Nike missile, the Nike Ajax. Beginning in the late 1950s, three of the sites were upgraded to utilize an improved, second-generation Nike missile system known as Nike Hercules. The Hercules could be armed with either conventional or nuclear warheads, the latter types enabling a single missile to destroy a formation of several attacking aircraft.

Two of the upgraded missile sites were located within the Hartford region, at East Windsor and Cromwell. The third was located at Ansonia, north of Bridgeport.

The deployment of the more powerful Hercules missiles, combined with the changing nature of the air defense threat, meant that fewer Nike installations were required to defend the region. Inactivations of Connecticut's Nike missile batteries was begun during 1961 when five Army operated Nike Ajax sites were closed. During 1963, four Nike Ajax sites operated by the Connecticut Army National Guard were similarly inactivated.

By 1964, only three of the original one dozen Nike missile sites constructed in Connecticut remained in active service. The Cromwell site was closed during 1968. During the summer of 1971, the two remaining Nike missile sites in Connecticut (Ansonia and East Windsor) were finally inactivated, marking the end of the Nike era in the Nutmeg State.

Since that time, some of the former missile sites have been demolished. Others can still be seen today, devoid of their missiles and equipment, yet still partially intact. This Web site presents information relating to the history of these important Cold War era missile installations. Vintage and recent images as well as additional stories and information will be placed online as this Web site continues to evolve.

Viewers are encouraged to contact Don Bender via e-mail at [email protected] with information, stories and images relating to Connecticut's former Nike missile sites. Please visit again.