For almost 20 years, Nike missile batteries formed a suburban ring around Boston that ushered the city into the 1950s and the atomic age. The Ajax missile and its successor, the Hercules, were intended to defend Boston and its many military assets from Soviet bombers flying over the North Pole to rain nuclear destruction on the Hub. The ring of bases stretched from the South Shore to the North Shore and far inland, always ready to fire in 15 minutes or less. The Nike program was an open secret, with base gates sometimes thrown open for the public and reporters alike. But there were more closely guarded secrets, as well. Like the fact that the Ajax missile wasn’t really equipped to engage modern jet bombers. Or the fact that a successful interception by the later Hercules would result in a nuclear detonation in our own backyards, with tens of thousands of Americans killed or injured.
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Blazing Skies The underground magazine and elevator with an Ajax at Bedford An Ajax on the erector at Bedford Hercules in the foreground, Ajax in the rear during a public demonstration at the Weymouth launch area Fueling an Ajax at Bedford Two views of the Long Island launch site in 1955 Long Island launch area, 1959 The Squantum IFC site in 1955 Hull Integrated Fire Control at Hog Island Cohasset launch area, 1959 Probably a bad place to stand during launch, Lincoln site, Globe photo Lincoln radar during an open house, Globe photo Our cover image, taken during a public drill at Bedford Early Nike test against B-17 bomber, Globe photo Ajax erector Ajax launch area Boston Globe diagram of Nike radars Hercules launch area Hercules avionics Missile Master