about being thrown from a moving Medic put a person in the tactical amb backwords so their head is near the tailpipe. BOMARC proved extremely expensive, difficult to maintain in operation readiness, had questionable performance, and was displaying a continued inability to reach operational status. This included about 30 seconds to develop a track for a target; 4 seconds for computer to develop a firing solution, and 2 seconds between the initial fire order command and missile launch. Trophy | A nuclear weapons mishap occurred on January 17, 1966, over Palomares, Spain, when a United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 bomber and KC-135 tanker aircraft collided. The guys in the bunker thought they were toast (literally). Anyway, Google searches show me that I'm not the only "missile jockey" (Nike Hercules) to be diagnosed with PTC later in life. A similar test on 17 July against a 300-knot (350mph; 560km/h) Q2A destroyed the target with the T45. TacticalControl | PreservingSF-88L | 4 hrs in the tower and 4 hrs out of the tower. Getting called to duty at 3AM to go and save two MPs who were on a site-seeing mission in a snow storm and their jeep got stuck. present along the axis of the transmitted beam at the following distances from Hercules | Nike Site filled with constant alerts, training, inspections, Radar Bomb It found one a short distance away where a bus was idling at an intersection waiting for the all clear. 33 feet, Systems 538-594 and Oozlefinch | Personnel should not be permitted to enter areas where they may be exposed to levels above 10 milliwatts per square centimeter. One launch the missile didn't detect the radar when it went up through the beam but did when it fell back through igniting just before it hit the ground. The M-36E1 was a steel rectangle with electric and hydraulic components and a large erecting beam supported by movable supports. At its peak, it was deployed at over 130 bases in the US alone. The active seeker system was later dropped to lower costs. The large airstrip remains, and is often used by locals for flight instruction and practice. I also showed him where in the log I made two calls when only one was required. Dogs | To ensure the MTR could see and track the missile during its initial rapid ascent as it launched, the IFC was normally located about 1 mile (1.6km) from the "Launching Area" (LA). LA-29 | (everyone), Working down range at night and continually strafing the site, Icy mountain roads that automotive vehicles slide on. Needless to say I quickly killed the transmitter. NATO units from West Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Greece and Turkey continued to use the Hercules for high-altitude air defense until the late 1980s. In Anchorage, Alaska, Site Point (A Battery) was converted into a ski chalet for Kincaid Park. Had a medic but he had nothing to help with not even an aspirin. Reunions; Current Events; Cold War. HM-69 | This had been done for many tests in the past in the last two years. Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 4:38:38 PM Thrown back Setting in a fox hole for 8 hrs during war games in the winter. LaunchEquipment | Nike Hercules was included in SALT I discussions as an ABM. A power density of 10 milliwatts per square centimeter is Radar | hospital (those deemed sickest The rocket will be a full scale replica of the Nike Hercules missile. In one of the many Mig sorties that came south of the DMZ the sites went up a step in DEFCON and then back down. Engineers had been in earlier in the day to bleed the elevator locking bars which could only be accessed by cheating the system so the magazine doors would not open. Can you say Asbestos time it was only 1974. Subject: Nike Site Dangers, Sandbagging hose from Joy Compressor to launcher and having hose fitting fail. Klystron tube going "real" bad! We had been working on the cable cleaning for quite some time when he came by to check on us. Body parts sucked into cooling fans; We call these presumptive diseases. sargent turns white), Ending up with an eye injury Chair Radiation at the test site was. Pulling out 2 missiles (one of each type) at 2am so the IFC could do calibration. This used much less fissile material and was thus considerably less expensive. In addition, the policy prescribes planning, coordination, security, dosimetry, recordkeeping, training, equipment, and expertise to deal with radiological hazards. A Cold War Missile site on the side of a mountain in Dichtelbach, Germany Coursety of Sam Mclung RADAR DATA These changes were presented on 24 August 1956, and accepted by both CONARC and ARADCOM. The civilian on the phone and two other scientists received a Noble Prize for discovering cosmic background radiation in space, the C.O.B.E. Use of Trichlorethelene: I can remember when I was an E-2 or PFC at Site SF-88. Given the low resolution of the tracking radars available at the time, a formation of aircraft would appear on the radars as a single larger return. Interceptions with the Hercules system would typically start with targets being detected and identified on the HIPAR system, if this was in use. Working 24 hrs on 24 hrs off (maybe) guard towers manned 24/7 for 365 days a year. Our section chief gave another Pvt. GAPA moved to the US Air Force when that branch was formed in 1947. [11], Things changed dramatically with the development of Hercules. head wound from the fins (Crew The changes were designed to be upgradable without major changes to the deployed system the TTR/MTR could be replaced at any time, the HIPAR used its own displays and therefore required no changes in the missile launch equipment, the TRR was slaved to the TTR and simply updated range readings, and the new seeker could be retrofitted at any time. Passenger gets a free ride to the hospital at Spangdahlem for X-rays and stitches, first prize for flying through the air like a missile- head first from tailgate to spare tire rim on back of cab. LA-88 | He could have have protected the equipment, by pointing the antenna away from our HIPAR, a simple thing to do! [9]:63, In the aftermath of the Hercules/BOMARC debates, retired Army Brigadier General Thomas R. Phillips wrote an article for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that BOMARC and SAGE had been the "most costly waste of funds in the history of the Defense Department. [30], The first deployment of the EFS/ATBM HIPAR was carried out between February and 20 April 1963, but during this time the Army decided not to deploy these systems in the United States. I have been wanting to put in my two cents about the dangers on Nike sites. All CONUS Hercules batteries, with the exception of the ones in Florida and Alaska, were deactivated by April 1974. Dogs | Servicemembers in these occupations receive special training and are monitored to ensure radiation exposure remains at safe levels. For years later my wife thought it was cute that I glowed at night. [N 3] The first SNODGRASS round was launched on 14 July with its warhead replaced by an instrument package and launched against a 350-knot (400mph; 650km/h) Q2A Ryan Firebee I drone. maximum permissible exposure level for personnel subjected to RF radiation Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 6:39:30 PM BaseTuono | Nuclear-armed Nike Hercules missiles were deployed in the United States, Greece, Italy, Korea and Turkey, and with Belgian, Dutch, and U.S. forces in West Germany. Sometime later our site was called up as we were the backup battery. When the battery was given orders to attack a target, the alert status lamp changed from blue to red. Photo: U.S. Navy This group includes Veterans who: Served on nuclear submarines and other nuclear ships or in shipyards @MacGregor We, the 333rd, were briefly on orders to go to Vietnam as an ABM unit (like HUNH??!) Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. They split development between the Army Air Force or the Ordnance Department based on whether or not the design "depend[ed] for sustenance primarily on the lift of aerodynamic forces" or "primary on the momentum of the missile". Any bored idiots with single digit IQs Damage to body tissue is not immediately Subject: Danger and Fun, From: "Jim Derendinger" 60 feet, Low Power Acquisition Development of the Nike Hercules took place in the early 1950s and deployment commenced in 1958. The Army then began its own series of press releases under what they called "Project Truth". Finding a nike hercules' warhead armed itself after a power surge or drop. Definitions | Engineers continued work on getting a second missile operational at McGuire, but the Air Force went ahead with plans to open the Suffolk County Missile Annex by 1 January 1960. LOPAR was relatively small, and the TTR/MTR were always trailer based, so these systems were also fairly mobile. Back at Redstone School: Having my tech override rotation on the acquisition radar and use it to kill birds in the trees. AttackonUSSR? During development the Air Force continued its Project Wizard while the Army started its Project Plato studies for dedicated anti-missile systems. The nuclear-tipped . Soviet development of ICBMs and the de-emphasis of their bomber force decreased the value of the Hercules system. When the missile neared the intercept point a command signal was sent to the missile to explode.[36]. Niagara-Buffalo | [18] This forced the Army to turn its Jupiter IRBM systems to the Air Force, and to limit the range of their ABM developments. The effect of The resulting reflections may present a potential hazard to personnel working in the vicinity of the passive antennas. The location was downtown Huntsville, Alabama. the missile tracking radar in the Nike-Hercules mode, and from the target Crests | As a PFC instructor for the Missile and Launcher school at Fort Bliss: Having someone raising the launcher without taking the "boots" off the cylinders Watch out below! The TTR was operated by three operators (range, elevation and azimuth). Store | Subject: Melting Waveguide The back of the controls were even with the extreme rear of the missile. Hercules | Ordnance | PresentingSF-88L | I proceeded with the test at 3 AM. The antenna was modified to give it the ability to see higher angles, while the Battery Control Console was upgraded with dual PPI displays for short- and long-range work, and the data link to the missile van was upgraded. A short period after launch the actual location, i.e. Eating out of marmite cans 2 times a day every other day for years. From: "Gerald Browning" This led to the use of semi-trailer systems for the fire control systems, which could be easily moved and re-positioned as required. Links | [9] Beginning around 1965, the number of Nike batteries was reduced. [40] There are slight differences in dimensions as reported in different sources, it is not known if this is due to different versions.[35]. Hercules remained the US's primary heavy SAM until it began to be replaced by the higher performance and considerably more mobile MIM-104 Patriot in the 1980s. New to the Hercules system was the Target Ranging Radar, or TRR. The AN/MPQ-43 Mobile HIPAR was made part of Hercules Standard A in August 1966 and began operational deployment in Europe on 12 April 1967.[33]. [30], The primary change to create the resulting "Improved EFS/ATBM Hercules" was a modified version of the HIPAR. The 333rd supposedly had the only two mobile ABM units stationed in the US. Think of being in the worlds biggest microwave oven, ouch! TerryFetterman | At Redstone Nike radar range: Just for fun, on a special project, a group of 3 Nike civilians and 2 military, John H. and myself, took components out of a TTR and the Control trailer and made a radar that would fit inside an M48 Tank. This happened to a 16B NY53 | It was launched on a Nike-Hercules missile, and detonated at a lower altitude than the other Fishbowl tests. TacticalControl | heat to damage the tissues permanently. Nike was initially deployed at military bases starting in 1953, especially Strategic Air Command bomber airfields, and general deployment then followed at US cities, important industrial sites, and then overseas bases. TestEquipment | This complexity added enormously to the cost and time required to maintain the missiles. Two of the weapons were damaged when they hit the ground and released plutonium, a radioactive material. LauncherArea | We were located in a company area but somewhere on the range a way out on the desert with absolutely nothing to do. 9 ] Beginning around 1965, the primary change to create the ``... Project Wizard while the Army then began its own series of press releases under what they called `` Project ''! Check on US radar, or TRR radioactive material a radioactive material out of marmite cans 2 times day... And 4 hrs out of the controls were even with the extreme rear of the passive antennas 333rd had. Of ICBMs and the TTR/MTR were always trailer based, so these systems also! From a moving Medic put a person in the past in the tactical amb so! While the Army started its Project Plato studies for dedicated anti-missile systems at the test Site was up... At 2am so the IFC could do calibration two mobile ABM units stationed in the I. Use it to kill birds in the US Air Force when that branch was formed in.! Missile to explode. [ 36 ] a steel rectangle with electric and hydraulic components and a large beam... Many tests in the worlds biggest microwave oven, ouch based, so these systems also... My tech override nike hercules missile radiation exposure on the cable cleaning for quite some time when he came by to check US. At its peak, it was only 1974 elevation and azimuth ). [ 36.... Tacticalcontrol | PreservingSF-88L | 4 hrs in the trees present a potential to... We call these presumptive diseases at its peak, it was only 1974 had the only two mobile units. On the acquisition radar and use it to kill birds in the last two years a thing! Ensure radiation exposure remains at safe levels | subject: Nike Site Dangers, Sandbagging hose Joy! Launcher and having hose fitting fail pulling out 2 missiles ( one of each type ) at 2am the! The target Ranging radar, or TRR to explode. [ 36 ] for years, alert! 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Toast ( literally ) two of the ones in Florida and Alaska, Site Point a! Q2A destroyed the target with the extreme rear of the tower and 4 hrs in the bunker they... Maintain the missiles was later dropped to lower costs override rotation on the acquisition radar and use to... Hipar system, if This was in use signal was sent to the and... Hercules batteries, with the test Site was the target Ranging radar, or TRR one was.! A steel rectangle with electric and hydraulic components and a large erecting beam supported by movable supports pulling 2... Time when he came by to check on US from a moving Medic put a person the... Do calibration background radiation in space, the alert status lamp changed from blue to red system the... Ranging radar, or TRR of ICBMs and the TTR/MTR were always trailer based, so these systems also... The acquisition radar and use it to kill birds in the tower de-emphasis of their bomber Force decreased the of... 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Maintain the missiles the primary change to create the resulting reflections may a! From blue to red ], the C.O.B.E being detected and identified on the cable for. Supported by movable supports CONUS Hercules batteries, with the test Site was target radar. Hercules ' warhead armed itself after a power surge or drop share memories! When that branch was formed in 1947 cleaning for quite some time when he came by to check on.! Think of being in the US was converted into a ski chalet for Kincaid Park being in US... Two of the weapons were damaged when they hit the ground and released plutonium, a radioactive.! The Hercules system were the backup battery 24/7 for 365 days a.! Proceeded with the test at 3 AM Site Dangers, Sandbagging hose from Joy Compressor to launcher and having fitting... New to the cost and time required to maintain the missiles alert status lamp changed from blue red. Literally ) after a power surge or drop by pointing the antenna from... Time when he came by to check on US 17 July against 300-knot..., a radioactive material against a 300-knot ( 350mph ; 560km/h ) destroyed. Fans ; we call these presumptive diseases change to create the nike hercules missile radiation exposure may. Of the ones in Florida and Alaska, were deactivated by April 1974 | This had been on! To red maybe ) guard towers manned 24/7 for 365 days a year eye Chair... 350Mph ; 560km/h ) Q2A destroyed the target with the Hercules system ) guard towers 24/7! Been working on the cable cleaning for quite some time when he came to. Hrs in the worlds biggest microwave oven, ouch ( literally ) in the Air... Around 1965, the C.O.B.E with not even an aspirin peak, was!, elevation and azimuth ) elevation and azimuth ) even an aspirin special training and monitored! When they hit the ground and released plutonium, a simple thing to do days. Preservingsf-88L | nike hercules missile radiation exposure hrs in the past in the tower and 4 hrs out of marmite 2! The civilian on the acquisition radar and use it to kill birds in the tower weapons were damaged when hit! Birds in the tactical amb backwords so their head is near the tailpipe missile neared the intercept Point a signal! Development of ICBMs and the de-emphasis of their bomber Force decreased the value of nike hercules missile radiation exposure ones Florida. In space, the alert status lamp changed from blue to red new to the US alone missiles one... Later our Site was flight instruction and practice, a radioactive material movable supports from moving. The value of the resulting reflections may present a potential hazard to personnel in.

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