Many people don't know what old Florida was like so I want to show you all that's historic, beautiful, retro, kitschy and untamed. Much of it has changed now, but you can still be a part of the adventure if you look in the right places. I love writing about Florida and submissions are always welcomed.
Enjoy your stay in the F.L.A.
It was really exciting to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Nike 2/52 this past weekend in Miami. Students from the George T. Baker Aviation school restored a 41 foot, 4 ton missile that was unveiled yesterday at the HM69 Base (Battery A) at Everglades National Park.
One interesting thing I learned is that reunions like this help the veterans piece together information. During the Cuban Missile Crisis if you were stationed at any one of the bases in South Florida you were threatened with 10 years in jail and a 10 thousand dollar fine for talking about top secret activities. You only knew what you were told. Now that the information is declassified it’s easier to start figuring out what went on in the field. There is still so much to learn about the time the United States came to the brink of nuclear war and there are many dedicated people involved in bringing those details to light. For more information about the batteries check out the Nike 252 website run by Charles D. Carter.
The students of George T. Baker Aviation did an incredible job on the restoration. If you were to see it up close you would think it was capable of launching. What an amazing project for such a young group of students and their teachers.
After the program on Saturday, we were able to drive down to visit B Battery in Key Largo. This abandoned base is off limits to the general public, but I was able to get access with a group that was stationed there (post to follow). I encourage you to go to Everglades National Park and visit the HM69 base and see how they are making history come alive. Call 305-242-7015 to arrange a tour.
