Nike T-53 IFC
Date Activated: 1958
Date Deactivated: January 1959
State: California
Nearest Town: Potrero Hills
Defense Area: Travis AFB
Coordinates:
Latitude: 38°12'26.53"N
Longitude: 121°56'57.89"W
Decimal:
Latitude: 38.207369
Longitude: -121.949414
GPS:
Latitude: 38 12.4421666666667
Longitude: -121 56.9648333333333
Long time trans-Pacific air terminal for the Air Force, Travis AFB also hosted a Strategic Air Command bombardment wind during the 1950s and 1960s. The base was selected for Nike Hercules deployment during the first round of construction; in an interesting turn of events, the Travis battalion eventually assumed responsibility for the San Francisco Defense Area.
Air Force operations at the base during the Nike period included SAC's 14th Strategic Aerospace Dividion and 5th Bombardment Wing; ADC's 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron; MATS' 1501st Air Transport Wing; and MAC's 60th Military Airlift Wing. Fairfield AFS, adjacent to Travis, served as an Air Materiel command nuclear storage and maintenance depot.