Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

164 THE FIRST 100 YEARS
it “the first example of a new hazard of the
pushbutton age.” It also erroneously reported
the missile exploding over the expressway,
producing “a large number of fragments…
much like the shrapnel [sic] of conventional
artillery.”
However, the incident occurred early in the
Nike program, and led to development and
implementation of improved procedures.
These improvements ensured safe operation
of both Ajax and the later nuclear warhead
Hercules system, until the last Nike sites in the
United States were deactivated during 1974.
***
(Pg. 162) A public display of Hawk, Dart and
Hercules Missiles. (Above) 35th Artillery Head
Quarters, Missile Master Control inside building
#1978. Today, this building houses the Network
Enterprise Center.
(Below) Loading missles. (Right) Standing ready
to fire.