Nike Ajax Explosion - Sandy Hook, NJ
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 40° 27.342 W 074° 00.237
18T E 584455 N 4478813
This Memorial was moved to Sandy Hook after the 1958 disaster site was demolished.
Waymark Code: WMB1F2
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 03/23/2011
Views: 9
On May 22, 1958 in Middletown Township, New Jersey several Ajax missiles exploded accidentally killing ten Army and civilian ordnance personnel. It is considered one of the worst missile-related accidents of the Cold War era. See (
visit link) for a brief history.
The disaster memorial is now at Sandy Hook's Fort Hancock. It consists of a stone marker with two Nike Missiles standing upright on either side of it. The text on the marker reads:
"In Memoriam
22 May 1958
Sgt. Daniel J. Lavengood
Sgt. Jerome W. Mould
SP3 Walter E. Berry
SP3 William I. Cochran
PFC Donald L. Marsh
Pvt. Nicklos J. Composino
Ord. Corps Civilians
Joseph Arciere
Joseph F. Brokos
Lee A. Parker
Charles Romanow"
A small plaque at the base of the monument reads:
"NIKE AJAX EXPLOSION
BATTERY B, 526TH MISSILE BATTALION
LEONARDO, NEW JERSEY"
This website has photos of the actual disaster accompanied by comments by some folks who were witness to the tragedy.