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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami and Florida AVIATION Historical Photos Gallery - Airports, Airlines, Aircraft - All Years - click on image to view >> NRAB Miami, Naval Air Station (NAS) Miami, MCAS Miami then Opa-locka Airport - Historical Photo Gallery > 1962 - a U. S. Army Nike Zeus rocket on display at the Opa-locka Air Show
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MAY-1962 © 1962 Dave Kleylein

1962 - a U. S. Army Nike Zeus rocket on display at the Opa-locka Air Show

Dade County, Florida


Thank you to former Miamian Dave Kleylein (William Jennings Bryan Elementary, North Miami Junior High, North Miami High, and Norland High Class of 1962) for contributing this image.

I attended this air show and about the only thing I can remember is the young ladies dressed up in Arabian Nights veils and outfits symbolizing Opa-locka's theme. The airport had already been deeded to Dade County by the federal government, except for the Coast Guard property, after the Navy and Marine Corps closed their air stations there.


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Mark Lincoln 16-Oct-2016 20:39
The Army was pushing hard for deployment of the Zeus which Eisenhower had shunned and McNamara was about to balk.

The Zeus was only active in a limited way on an atoll in the Pacific with a limited anti-satellite role for a short period until being replaced with Thors.

The Nike missiles deployed in South Florida wereNike Hercules, There were a number of sites South florida. They were:
HM-01, HM-03, Opa Locka/Carol City
HM-01 DC, Richmond AFS (NAS Richmond)
HM-40 Key Largo
HM-65 (later HM-66) Florida City
HM-69, Florida City, in Everglades NP, open to public
HM-85 10 SW Miami
HM-95, Southwest Miami
HM-97 West Homestead
HM-99 West Homestead

The Opa Locka/Carol City, off 183rd street, near Red Road was the last Nike site operational in the contiguous states. It was shut down in the late 1970s.
Don Boyd27-Jun-2012 07:29
Juan, the image athttp://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/117847914 in the MISSILES gallery shows the Integrated Fire Control facility (now a U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center that moved from Tigertail in Coconut Grove) on NW 186th Street and the missile base that was north of it just north of the Dade/Broward county line and south of the Snake Creek Canal.

Don
Juan C. Pena 27-Jun-2012 00:05
There was also a Nike Hercules missle site just north of Miami Gardens Dr at about NW 62 Ave. There is currently, I think it's a National Guard compound, on this site. I remember in the late 60's going with my friend's there. There was a machine gun nest next to the entrance.
Ray19-Sep-2008 02:07
You may have seen this installation: http://sffma.net/sdtour_oldradar.htm. It may still be standing.
Parks Masterson 13-Jan-2008 02:14
I remember visiting Nike and Hawk missile bases in South Dade. I was in a rocketry club at Ponce De Leon Jr. High. I think there are still some of the bunkers and radar towers still standing. I think we had Nike Ajax and Nike Hurcules missile bases down here. I don't remember the Nike Zeus. The Hurcules version could be armed with a nuclear war head. It had a range of about 75 miles.