Nike Battery NY-24, Amityville/Farmingdale, NY

Nike Battery NY-24
Amityville/Farmingdale, NY

Located in close proximity to Republic Aviation's Farmingdale, Long Island plant, Nike Battery NY-24 was of a somewhat unusual configuration having three of the larger type "B" missile magazines. These were converted to fire the more advanced Nike Hercules missiles by May, 1959. The site was one of the longest-lived in the New York Defense Area, surviving until 1974.

During that year, an Army helicopter believed to be loaded with warheads from the site made an emergency landing at nearby Jone's Beach, a popular bathing beach on Long Island's south shore. Armed soldiers kept startled onlookers and even the park police well away from the scene until the mysterious cargo could be flown away in yet another helicopter.

Location
Launcher Area:
North Amityville, NY
Control Area:
East Farmingdale, NY
Dates of Operation
1956-1974
Weapons Systems
& Missile Load
Nike Ajax / 30
Nike Hercules / 18
Missile Magazines
3 Magazines.
3 type "B".

Radar Types
ACQR, LOPAR, ABAR, HIPAR.
Unit Information
Army -
A/505th (1956-1958)
A/3/51st (1958-1964)

National Guard -
A/1/244th (1964-1974)

Present Status
The Launcher Area is presently utilized as a U.S. Army Reserve center. The missile magazines have been paved over, although the double fences surrounding this area are still intact. The Control Area is used as a New York Army National Guard training site. The administration building and barracks are intact. Several radar towers and related structures also remain intact as of February 2002.