Protecting LA in the Cold War - Nike Missile Bases

During much of the Cold War, the United States saw large formations of attacking bombers as its primary strategic threat. Its answer to this threat came to be Nike supersonic anti-aircraft missile launch sites surrounding key American population and industrial centers such as Los Angeles. In 1952, the 47th Air Defense Brigade established its headquarters at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro to assume responsibility for providing air defenses for the Los Angeles area. By 1958, the brigade had established 16 Nike-Ajax launch sites surrounding the Los Angeles area. Missiles were concealed in underground bunkers and, in the event of a threat, were brought to the surface, loaded onto missile launchers and elevated for firing. By the end of the 1960s, the need for anti-aircraft missiles had begun to diminish. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) became the dominant strategic threat.

There are two Nike Missile Bases on the trails leading to the Widowers’ Benches. The Los Pinetos Missile Base, on the Santa Clara Road from Bear Divide Road was built in 1955-56. The original barracks now provide housing for Fire Camp Nine. The radar facility was located just west of the barracks and now is the site for radio & microwave transmission. The missile-launching site was just to the east of the barracks on a plateau. It is leased for communication purposes and is closed to the public. The Los Pinetos Nike site played an integral role in the Los Angeles Defense Area system from 1955 to 1958. The Los Pinetos site experienced the full range of the Nike development, including conversion from conventional Ajax to the nuclear capable Hercules missile.

The Chatsworth / Browns Canyon Nike Missile Base is on the Browns Canyon Road that Leads to Oat Mountain. The road to Oat Mountain traverses private property. This road continues past Oat Mountain where it meets the Weldon Canyon and East Canyon Roads at Jones Junction. The road crosses private property.

The Nike-Hercules was a solid fuel propelled two-stage surface-to-air missile, used by US and NATO armed forces for high- and medium-altitude air defense. Nike-Hercules system, a follow-up to the Nike-Ajax missile, was designed to destroy enemy bombers and enemy bomber formations, as well as serve as an anti-ballistic missile system. Western Electric, Bell Laboratories, and Douglas Aircraft Company were chief contractors for the system.