US ResearchConflictsIndian Wars and Frontier ConflictsCaliforniaNike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts

Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)

1956
California
Era
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts
Year
1956
Location
California
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring) was a Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts engagement fought in California, 1956.

LA-96 is one of only two Nike missile sites in the US preserved and open to the public (the other is SF-88 at San Francisco). These represent the first surface-to-air missile defense of American cities.

Forces engaged
US Army Air Defense Command: Nike Ajax then Hercules missiles; crews of ~100 per battery
Casualties
None in LA area; Nike explosion at Leonardo NJ (1958) killed 10
Outcome
LA Nike ring consisted of ~16 batteries; deactivated 1974. LA-96 IFC/control site at San Vicente Mountain Park (near Encino/Brentwood) is now preserved.

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring) take place?
Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring) took place in 1956.
Where was Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring) fought?
Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring) was fought in California, United States.
What was the significance of Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)?
LA-96 is one of only two Nike missile sites in the US preserved and open to the public (the other is SF-88 at San Francisco). These represent the first surface-to-air missile defense of American cities.
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Everything a full report reveals about Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)

This page covers Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring). A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)

Rancho El Encino
Colonial · 3.1 mi
Kress, George R., House
Industrial · 4.6 mi
Carroll Avenue, 1300 Block
Pre Contact · 4.9 mi
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Manzanar Riot, California 1942
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Tule Lake War Relocation Center
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Manzanar War Relocation Center
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Japanese Submarine Shelling of Ellwood
1942
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Japanese Submarine Attack - Ellwood California
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Nike Missile Battery SF-88 (San Francisco Bay Defense)
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Watts Riots 1965
1965
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Los Angeles Riots 1992
1992
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All battles in CaliforniaIndian Wars and Frontier Conflictsconflicts ›Historic sites in California
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

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