Nike Missile Base C-32, Indiana
This site was opened in 1957. It was converted to Nike Hercules missiles in 1958. The IFC (radar/barracks) area is now the head quarters for the area National Park Service. Most of the original buildings seem to still be in place though many of them have had a dark brown wood siding put on them. This may have been done to make them appear more rustic. The radar towers and their concrete pads are long gone. The head ranger told me that they were removed in the mid 1980s. The launch area is located on Wagner Rd just off Oakhill. It has been in private hands since the government sold it. It appears to be in untouched condition except that the inner (exclusion area) guard shack was removed in early 1999 for reasons unknown. C-32 was manned by B Battery, 79th Anti Aircraft Missile Battalion which had a name change in 1958 to B Battery, 1st Missile Battalion, 60th Artillery. A final name change took place in the mid 1960s to B Battery, 1st Battalion (Nike Hercules), 60th Air Defense Artillery.
Only buildings at IFC that have not had wood siding placed on them. They are painted in the original colors.
Assembly building in the launch area
Ready building. The couple that bought the launch area from the government converted this building into their home. The gentleman passed away and the woman does not seem to be there anymore. They were elderly.
Launch area outer guard hut.
Unknown building close to above guard hut on Wagner Rd.