Some remaining structures at the control area of site NY-88 in March, 1996. Photo: Don Bender
Becoming operational during 1955, site NY-88 was a “classic” three magazine Nike missile base. Both Regular Army and New Jersey Army National Guard units, manned this Ajax only site which was operational through 1963.
Fairleigh Dickinson University later renovated several buildings at the control area and utilized the former Army facility as a satellite campus for several years. Portions of the nearby launcher area were adapted to serve as township and county offices and a school bus maintenance facility.
Location
Launcher Area:
Mountain View, NJ
Control Area:
Wayne, NJ
Dates of Operation
1955-1963
Radar Types
ACQR
Missile Magazines
3 Magazines.
1 type “B” and 2 type “C”.
Missiles
Nike Ajax / 30
Units
Army –
D/483rd (1955-1958)
D/2/65th (1958-1959)
National Guard –
D/1/254th (1959-1963)
Present Status
The launcher area near Route 23 North was mostly demolished. Two original structures, a barrack and the Missile Assembly and Test Building remain and have been adapted as county offices and a maintenance facility, respectively. School buses and other vehicles are parked atop the magazine area. A small paint shed was also extant. The two buildings have since been demolished.
The control area on Alps Road contained more original Cold War era buildings and structures, when I first visited the site, although they were abandoned and vandalized. The site is now scheduled to be demolished and replaced by a residential subdivision. NOTE: This site was demolished and replaced by luxury housing.
The entire site has now been demolished. An attempt to more adequately photograph the remaining structures at the Launcher Area several years ago was unsuccessful.