Nike Base – Missiles in Wilmington, OH?
Most of you know that my wife, Rachel, is from Wilmington, OH.
When we were dating, we drove by what looked like an old military base from the 1950s near Cowan lake. When I asked Rachel about it, she told me it was called the ‘Nike base‘ (off of SR 730 south of Wilmington), and that it was a missile base at one time and that there was still a no-fly zone around it! It looked like something from the X-Files, but I had never looked for info on it.
I drove by the ‘old base’ again tonight and had to learn more about it.
So tonight I finally got online and read some info from a guy on a site called “Illicit Ohio” who supposedly went on site and took photos (see link below). He got photos of some cool military history from the place!
I have nearly the same post on Facebook about this. I sent an e-mail to the History Channel to see if they might be willing to take on a story about the base, and from what I read tonight, apparently the entire program that the Nike bases were part of.
In the link below shows photos, and one shows a 60s picture of a missile on a trailer that looks a lot like the one on static display at the National Museum of the Unites States Air Force in Dayton (still one of the best museums anywhere!). If the History Channel can’t help, I’ll see if the museum can. So many of the old buildings are still there, it would not be hard to make it a historic place of interest or even a museum. I’ll work on that…
I used to wonder why it was that Wilmington, Ohio had a Doppler radar unit when it seemed that this was such a farm community. It might just be that we have that now for weather purposes because of the base’s role back then? Hmmm. I need to talk to my neighbor. He was on a bomber in WWII, and he used to live out there…
- Thanks to all the great comments below!
- I’m still trying to track down the owner and see what we might be able to show, see, or maybe one day become a museum!
66 COMMENTS
I was stationed there 1969/1970 We closed the site in the spring of 1970 if I remember correctly.I was a section chief in the Launcher Area
I was stationed there july-1969/1970. I remember when I arrived or soon after they had a service in the mess hall for three guys that died driving out to Cowan Lake – they died in a car accident at a bridge. We closed the site in the spring of 1970 and they sent me to another site near Irwin, Pa. (From this site I drove home in 45 min. Instead of 5 hours.). I recall Joel, Frank Zofran and a few others at the Wilmington site. I was a missile maintenance tech and I remember taking those 18 missiles apart, packing the wings in a large wooden box, watching the warheads get trucked away with escorts heavily armed. After the launcher area was cleaned out they put me on guard duty. I recall it was cold and some snow, maybe March.
Typical month for the maintenance guys was to take a missile out of the pits, take it to the Warhead building, start to disassemble it and put the Warhead in the can, take the can back over to the exclusion area. take the nose/guidance package over to the maintenance building align the radar receiver to the site freq.. and other checks. After the warrant officer was satisfied we start to put it all back together again torquing every bolt and screw removed.
Thanks for your comments Jeff! Maybe if enough of you guys reply, you could do a reunion or something nearby? I’d be interested in meeting you all. Maybe the farmer who owns that property now would allow a tour…
I was the orders clerk in personnel at Wilmington approx. July-Dec, ‘69. The car in the wreck— I knew one of the guys — was brought on base for us to see and thus be wiser. I remember hair stuck on the windshield frame… the vehicle broken in two.
The E7 who ran personnel and I weren’t too symbiotic as I recall. He read aloud with delight my name —with emphasis —me being levied to Vietnam.
I was stationed there for eight months in 1969, Headquarters Battery. Yes the entire site was closed down and deactivated in early 1970. I stopped by the Headquarters Battery in March of 1970 on my way home to Seattle from Fort Eustis Virginia prior to shipping out to RVN. The only person still at the site was the supply sergeant Ira Polikoff.
Thanks for your service and for the share!
– Roger
Very cool George! That sounds like a pretty cool job! I’d still like to see that site made public and cleaned-up/fixed-up as a living museum (not a cow field). Maybe you know others who like that idea?
When I returned fro Vietnam in 1969 I only had 6 months left to
serve. they sent me to Wilmington. Even though I was in artillery
in Vietnam I knew nothing about Nike Missiles. I was only at
Wilmington for 3 weeks and iI was transferred to a Nike base i
Dillsboro Indiana. Where I was given a job in in the supply room.
I’d like to find out what base life was there at that time one day. Thank you for your service!
I was stationed at the Nike Headquarters in Wilmington from 1962 – 1964….anyone else there at that time???
Bob
My Dad was stationed there. John (Johnny) Hampton he was an MP . I remember growing up in Wilmington and going to the base from time to time. I remember to 2 areas. One on the main road and the other down another road.
Thanks! Feel free to use this page to connect with former colleagues or family.
I 1966 to 1967
Did you know Russell Sheeley or Robert Grooms? Do you have any pictures of Robert (Bob) Grooms?
My dad, Clifton D. Brown, was stationed there until I believe about 1963 or 64. when he transferred to Fort Knox. I regret not having asked him more about his time there but the one thing I do remember is he told me he spent the Cuban missile crisis in a bunker.
I was stationed at the base from 1961 until 1963. I meet my wife while there was best man At Jonnie Colson’s wedding. I have lots of fond memories of the time I spent there. Jonny rei-inlisted and did 2 or 3 tours in Nam. I would have also had I not married. Jonny retired and passed away a few years ago ne Ft. Benning GA. I wold love to gettogether with some of the guys.
Thanks, Bill!
Was at base from 1962/1964 as k9 mp.
Cool! Thanks for your service! I’m still trying to get a conversation with the leadership at R+L to see if there is a chance of having a reunion for all of you…
I was stationed there from 68-70 when it closed. I was one of a few that was the last there waiting on orders. It was a good place to be at the time . I have looked for people I was with there but no luck. One person My best man at my wedding Scott Hill can’t find anything on him I would like to talk to him again. Had some good times there.
Thanks Larry! Feel free to use this post to look for former service members you were with at the time. I wish they’d make that a museum for what it was! – Roger
I was stationed there 1967. great base!
Thanks for your service! To all who have commented here as well!
I was there in 67, some a-hole back from Nam tried to kill me in my sleep, nobody there gave a damn, Addcap had cigarette burns on the consoles. I lost a white 55 Chrysler 300 while there, anybody see it ?
Sorry to hear about your experience! I was hesitant to post this as it sounded like spam, but am trusting what you said is legit. If so, that’s bad on a few accounts. :^(
Thank You, unfortunately it’s very true, we seemed to be a dumping ground for returnees who weren’t quite ready yet for the world ! The base was a farce to me, I was sent there instead of Homestead, as the army promised but we know how that works, ended up in Okinawa in a hospital helping wounded recover before being discharged.
Here’s more, rarely at night was the security door shut to ADCAP, the control board screen was used as a dart board & some shifts were drunk, the phone operator for our communications on land line was locked in a 4×4 room with a 30 cal carbine & no ammo but you could drive right thru the gate sometimes at night . I got outa there fast !
Wow that is really interesting I’ve often wondered what went on between the shifts because I’m sure that people would have to play cards or something can occupy their time when they weren’t busy watching the equipment but that’s pretty wild but I guess stuff like that that would go on I just got back a couple of weeks ago from getting to thankfully see if you do things on the Jefferson Proving Grounds in Madison Indiana and that was such an amazing place it was a very big place being 15 miles long it was just that basically testing area for a Munitions but still was very cool to see a piece of History like that I think everyone at all these bases for their service I wish I would have gone
Cool, thanks for the two comments! Did you serve in or around one of these bases? Or just interested?
Any updates on the facility? It’s very interesting and would love to find out more about it’s current conditions and maybe who actually owns the property.
I’ve not had time to ask the property owner. However, over the past 4 years, I worked with a guy who lives north of Wilmington, Ohio where the base was (is) on a book about a small railway that ran through the area. It is a book on history, so maybe I can use that to my advantage to try to get access and try to document what remains there. I’ll try! Could be the start of another book…
For the rest of you who follow this post, please try to steer any former military who worked at the Nike base to share info about their time here? I suppose some stuff can’t be shared, but by now, I would think most could?
This place has been kind of a facination for me ever since we used to drive past it to go camping as they were flooding ceasars creek. I have seen dozens of photos but cant seem to find the owners name. Should be a simple record check but no. I am 54 and would love to explore it with my younger brother. Maybe with a metal detector. If you Know who owns it please e-mail me. And the “illicit ohio” pics are really something to see. Thanks for any info you can give me. I live 35mins away.
Agree! Thanks! A guy I wrote a book with last year is a big time farmer, I’ll see if he has contact with the farmer who owns the old base land…
Hello, I currently work at the old Nike base. If you want to know what it’s up to now see us on Facebook at PCS Clinton.
R&L carries owns it, there in the process of getting power ran to it so they can get the elevators functioning. Don’t know what there going to use it for.
Thanks! I had just heard that might be the case! I am now working at R+L in their Media Design team, so maybe I can get some details on this. I’ll keep you all informed… – Roger
Actually, R&L does not own it, they have tried, though. It’s currently owned by PCS Clinton
We’re working on getting the new power into the bunkers as of this week! Fascinating area, with all the History. I took a few pictures today. Not sure how to share the pictures to this site.
I’ll email you and you can send to me if that is okay? – Roger
That is really cool I would really like to go underground and check out one of these launcher areas ever since I first discovered what these bases were and never knew they had been around I would really like to go check some of them out there were some that were over out around Florida and California but that would be a bit too far of a drive for me but I’m sure it would still be worth it this is the site the launcher site that’s down by Wilmington right?
I know some of the hardware is gone from the location, but the bunkers and some of the surface items are still there.
Are there any pictures of a soldier in 1963/64 named Robert (Bob) Grooms?
I have been told I am related to him. I don’t want anything, I’d just like to see a picture.
Thank you
Hi Susan, the post is just from my own personal interest in something that is local to where I live. I love history and all things military so I am happy to share information. But I’d have to get you to reach out to the others on this post’s comments for the help you are after. Perhaps one day I’ll get a history page up, but for now, this is all I have. — Anyone else on here able to help Susan out? Does anyone have former command contacts who can help? Please let her know here or directly.
Is your wife a science teacher ?
On paper, she is my wife but she decided to be a “walk-away wife” in 2017 with her own idea of how marriage should work… but yes, right person. 🙂
Thanks, Bob!
– Roger
Is there another link to the photos? I could not get the illicit ohio to work. Would love to see photos.
I can’t find the site you mentioned anymore either. :^( I’ll keep looking for it but if any of you followers find something, please share here! I’ll approve your links if they are safe! Thanks for your service if you were former military!
I was stationed there after I returned from Vietnam. I was in the motor pool at the Headquarters area. That was April through September of 1968 when I was finished with my service time. I remember a Mr. BEasly , a warrant officer who was the Motor officer. I had never been out to the firing site during the time I was there. I think there were about 4 different firing sites that were under this headquarters . Does anyone remember the drive in with the huge burgers in Wilmington during the summer of 68? That is when the Cincinnati Bengals were training at the college in Wilmington. They used to have one that they said you would get it free if you could eat the whole thing.
Thanks! Please share with others you may have been there with. One day I would like to have a reunion there set up…
I was in the motor pool there too. I also remember Mr. Beasly and a guy named Marconi (sp?). I think he was a sergeant? I was discharged in January 1968, so we never met. I just enjoyed hearing those long ago familiar names again, so I’m thought I”d say hi.
Thanks for your service and for taking the time to comment on this post! 🙂
I remember it as a kid. I remember when the 3 soldiers were killed in a car accident. The car ended up at the family business. The main Base is now a school. The old launch site down the road is still there. Owned by R&L Trucking. I would love to get in there to look around!
I made this original post before I was hired by R+L but now that I am part of the Media Design team there, I am hoping to get leadership’s ear on this location and try to do a reunion of sorts with all of you who have posted here. Let’s hope! 🙂 Thanks for your comments! – Roger
My wife and I plus a group of friends gather at Cowen Lake every fall and I have noticed that the base seems to be completely abandoned but there are approximately 10 to 12 new modern electrical stations/equipment evenly spaced throughout the facility. A little overkill for a trucking parking facility. *cue the X-Files theme music*
I served there from 1966 until 1969 at the Hq battery. I was a ‘BIRDIE’ repairman (Battery Integrated Radar Display Equipment). The Nike Base was fairly close to my home in Sugar Grove, Ohio.
Thanks, Glen for your service and for all those who had served there or in other places in their lives. I keep trying to find out if I can get the current owners to give me permission to do a reunion for all of you there. I would like to see that!
My father was a staff photographer there at the base in the 1960’s. Cliff Fugett. I remember going to the base with him and messing around while he worked.
Cool! Still, got any of his photos you’d share that are allowed to be shown here?
Roger,
Let me recommend 2 resources to help you gain a better understanding of the role and mission of CD-27. The book Rings of Supersonic steel (Amazon) is a detailed record of every Nike/AA base during the cold war. Second there is a fully operational base museum in California, Fort Ord I believe. There are several tour videos on You Tube. Hope this finds you well and good health. If you can’t find the book you can borrow my copy, I am fairly local to you.
Brian
Thanks, Brian!
– Roger
I was stationed at HQ in ADCAP from Sept 1962 until July 8 1965.
My late grandmother, Barbie Hayslip, got pregnant and gave birth to my father in July, 1967. He has never known who his father is/was. My father was told that his name was William (Bill) Fountain Reynolds and that he was stationed at the Nike base in Wilmington Ohio when he met my grandmother. Any information would be awesome!
Thanks!
Landed here while researching a metal detector find zippo lighter. It was found at a state park not far from the Nike center, it has the US army air defense command insignia and the initials S C R.
It looked pretty good when I dug it but a lot of the paint on the insignia hasn’t liked being out of the ground after all those years and the chrome didn’t like being in the ground all those years. Cool lighter though, I’ve been carrying it and using it with honor and a new insert of course
Cool!