the Belgian Nike

Introduction

On October 30th 1990 both Belgian Missile Wings, 9 WMsl and 13 WMsl, were, after being in service for about 30 years, disbanded.
From 1959 till 1990 the Nike Air Defence Weapon system was operational in the Belgian Airforce. For most of this time, the Nike units were stationed in West-Germany.

This site is meant to be a remembrance, in respect of the people who served in the units of the Belgian Nike and took part in the history of the Belgian Air Force!

Organization

The Belgian Nike was composed of a "Missile Group", a "Missile Support Wing" and two Wing Operations, the "9 Missile Wing" and the "13 Missile Wing", with each four Squadrons equiped with the "Nike, Air Defence Guided Missile" system.

Missile Group

As a Liaison Staff with the General Staff of the Tactical Airforce, the mission of the GpMsl was in all fields important for the organization and coordination of the Missile units.

Missile Support Wing

The core mission of the WSMsl was to give significant technical and logistical support to both Wing Operations.
The WSMsl was stationed in Düren. In Grefrath there was a Support Detachment.

9 Missile Wing

The Staff of the 9 WMsl was stationed in Grefrath. The Staff coordinated the readiness of the 4 Squadrons in the fields "personnel", "military security', "operations" and "logistics".
It was of the upmost importance that the knowhow of the operational personnel was up to date. Many inspections and exercises were organized to check the readiness of personnel and equipment.

The "Battalion Operation Centre" (BOC), the commandpost of the Wing, was also manned by Staff personnel.

The Batteries

54 Squadron

The 54 Squadron was based in Xanten.
The squadron was operational from Sep 1971 till Nov 1989. At first, from 1962 onward, the unit was used for training purposes.

The squadron's emblem was the "Silver Eagle in a Blue Ring" with the motto: "quaerens quem devoret" (looking to whom to devoure). The badge with the "Silver Eagle" is known since 1935.

55 Squadron

The "Winged Arrow" was the badge of the squadron. The badge was designed around 1938.

The 55 Squadron was deployed in Kapellen-Erft. The unit was in service from Mai 1962 till Jun 1985.

The housing area for the families was in Grevenbroich.

56 Squadron

In Grefrath the 56 Squadron was at home. The squadron was different because the barracks also housed the 9 WMsl Staff. This situation as a "Colocated batterie" was confirmed by the implantation of the "BOC", Battailon Operation Centre, on the BCA.
The 56 Squadron was operational from Nov 1963 till Jun 1990.

The squadron's badge a "Silver Swan in a Ring", an in paper folded bird, originated in 1918 as a personnal distinctive of "Willy Coppens" painted on his "Bébé Nieuport".

The family quarters were situated in Kempen.

57 Squadron

The 57 Squadron was based in Erle.
The unit was active from Oct 1975 till Sep 1983.
At the start this squadron was a part of the 13 WMsl. But because of the geographical position, most northern unit of the Belgian Nike, the squadron was transfered to the 9 WMsl and the 53 Squadron to the 13 WMsl in 1978.

The badge of the 57 Squadron was a "Black Panther, ready to jump from a rock" on a blue French blazon and was first used in 1951.

13 Missile Wing

The 13 WMsl, in the beginning known as 3 WTTGL, was the first European Missile wing.
In 1959 there was still a long way to go. The assigned sites in West-Germany were not ready yet and it took till 1962 before the 13 WMsl settled down in Dueren.

The core mission was identical with the mission of the 9 WMsl.

The Batteries

50 Squadron

Also in Dueren the 50 Squadron was at home.
The unit was the "Colocated batterie" of the 13 WMsl. The 50 Squadron was the first Belgian unit, in Oct 1959, in Jan 1990 the unit was disbanded.

The "Swallow in a Red Ring" with the cry: "Compos Sui" (Master of One's self) was the squadron's badge. The badge was already known in 1918.

51 Squadron

The 51 Squadron was the most southern unit and was deployed in Blankenheim.
The unit did start up in Oct 1959 and was in service till Nov 1989.

The "Silver Eagle in a Red Ring" with the motto "quaerens quem devoret", originated in 1935, was the squadron's badge.

52 Squadron

The 52 Squadron was stationed in Euskirchen.
The squadron was active from Oct 1959 till Jul 1984.

The squadron's emblem was a "Hollyleave with 3 Hollyberries, surrounded by a Golden Belt" with the cry "Qui s'y frotte, s'y pique". The badge was first assigned in 1913.

53 Squadron

At first the 53 Squadron was a part of the 9 WMsl and in 1978 changed to the 13 WMsl.
The squadron was based in Kaster, and was operational from Dec 1959 till Sep 1983.

The 53 Squadron's badge the "Golden Dragon", was designed as a personnal aviator's destinctive and became a unit's badge in 1918.

The housing area was in Grevenbroich.

Finally

After the startup and growingpains, there were, in the course of the years, a lot of changes and modifications of the weapon system as well of the organization.
The Belgian Nike units became good and respected partners in the 2ATAF sector of the Nato defence line against the Warsaw Pack.
That all came to a rather sudden end, when in 1987 the Belgian Government decided not to replace the Nike by the successor, the "Patriot Weapon System", as some of the Nato allies did. This situation created a big gap in Nato's defence line.
In a short period of time the Belgian Airforce did loose an important role in Nato's Air defence. Nato was weakened by that desicion. Belgium became very small in Nato and appeared not to be a very loyal ally.
The service people of the units were bewildered and amazed ...

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And now ...

Years had past, and the sites and barracks are deserted and have fallen into decay, someplaces been rank. Many buildings are smashed up.
Some sites are used by cattleholders or by civil services, as "THW". Some barracks are in use as immigration centre or became industrious area.
But in Kapellen-Erft one finds a nice initiative, the LCA became, with respect for the typical military buildings and without denying the cold war, a historical fact, part of an art project, Stiftung Insel Hombroich.

Nike and Patriot links

Video