HM69 Nike Missile Base

 

Aerial View of Nike Missile Base Launch Area

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A Relic of The Cold War

Everglades National Park houses one of
the best preserved relics of the Cold War in Florida. A historic Nike Hercules Missile Base, dubbed HM-69, remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site was terminated in 1979.

This missile base was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, completed in 1964 at the height of the Cold War, imme-diately following the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962. At a time when national security against Soviet attack was America’s main priority, the United States Army chose this strategic site within Everglades National Park, located 160 miles from the Cuban coast, to build an anti-aircraft missile site.

The area includes 22 buildings and struc-tures associated with events that have made a significant contribution to American history. Some of the extant structures include three missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel and barracks.

 

The Cuban Missile Crisis

On October 14th 1962, an American U2 spy plane flying reconnaissance photographed Soviet Missile Sites in Cuba. The next day President Kennedy was informed of the pres-ence of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads to major U.S. cities and killing mil-lions of Americans in minutes. Throughout the Cold War, the United States’ Air Defense had been poised only to defend against attacks coming from the Soviet Union over the North Pole. There were no known threats in South America. The Cuban Missile Crisis revealed that fallacy, exposing south Florida as the nation’s “Achilles heel.”

 

The Nation’s Response

As the Cuban Missile Crisis played out, the military scrambled to seal the U.S. perimeter in south Florida.

In late October 1962 the U.S. Army’s
2nd Missile Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery was deployed in the middle of the night not knowing their final destination. The 2nd Missile Battalion was made up of four Batteries, each consisting of a Battery Commander and approximately 150 men.

Two Batteries set up tent encampments just outside the entrance to Everglades National Park. Heat and humidity made it a struggle to maintain sensitive equipment while frequent rains turned into mud.

In response to the gravity of the situation, park managers at Everglades National Park issued the U.S. Army a permit to build a base within the park. In 1965, A Battery moved to the new permanent missile site, HM-69.

 

Living in Fear

With the nation on edge, south Florida resi-dents took comfort in the sight of missiles being trucked down main streets to the four Nike Hercules Missile Batteries and eight Hawk Missile Batteries located from North Miami south to Key West.
Within the park, A Battery soldiers main-tained 41-foot missiles in a constant state of readiness.

Some missiles were fitted with nuclear war-heads capable of intercepting an entire fleet of bombers. The nuclear warheads ranged up to 40 kilotons, roughly three times the power of the Hiroshima bomb.

Although these missile sites served to protect the Miami metropolitan area, a Nike Hercules was capable of striking a ground target within mainland Cuba.

 

Semper Paratus (Always Ready)

The air defenders in South Florida regularly saw Soviet and Cuban piloted MiGs on their radar screens.
On November 26, 1962 President Kennedy travelled to Homestead Air Force Site to personally award the men of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery the Army’s Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Generally this commendation was given dur-ing wartime but Kennedy felt they played a key role in deterring further escalation of the crisis.

A Battery also received “Excellence” awards four years in a row for precision and accuracy during annual inspection. An “E” for excel-lence streamer was permanently added to the Battery flag.

We owe life as we know it, in part, to the skill, accuracy and restraint of these Cold Warriors. On the ground in south Florida, “eyeball to eyeball” with the enemy, these men appropri-ately responded to the constant testing of our defenses by enemy aircraft and never once jumped the gun. They are heroes of a war never fought.

 

A Historic Site

The site remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site ended in 1979. Construction of the site by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was completed in 1965, just after the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. At the time, the nation's air defenses were positioned to protect against a possible Soviet air attack over the North Pole and thus, this and other anti-aircraft missile sites were established to protect against a possible air attack from the south. The Nike Hercules missile site was listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior Register of Historic Places on July 27, 2004 as a Historic District.

The area includes 3 missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel, barracks, 2 Nike Hercules missiles, and various support elements. HM69 was also significant because of the technology employed. The South Florida Nike Hercules sites were integrated with Hawk missile sites to provide an all altitude defensive capability around South Florida. Approximately 140 soldiers staffed the 3 above-ground missile barns of HM69 to protect against an air attack from Cuba. The personnel of HM69, along with the members of other South Florida units, received the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation which was one of the few times that it was awarded for deterrence rather than engagement with the enemy.

Visiting the Site

Visitors may visit the site most days between early December and late March between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. During the winter season is an open house program, as well as Ranger-guided tours. Our visitor programs fluctuate due to seasonal changes and staffing capability. Please check with the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center or view our park calendar for scheduled programs at the site.

Early April through Late November, the site is only accessible through the Everglades Institute taking visitors to the site daily as a part of their programming, visit evernpi.org for mor information.

 

Nike Hercules Missiles on missile launcher in South Florida.

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Unit Roster

A Unit Roster of the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery lists those who served at the South Florida sites. Please contact us with corrections / additions.

Volunteering at the Nike Missile Site HM-69

Are you interested in supporting Nike Missile Site HM-69? A new group of volunteers have recently come together as the "Friends of Everglades Nike Site". If you would like to be added to the email list and informed of opportunities to be involved, please email the site coordinator.