by Thomas Koedel
1952 – 1967
I. 1952 – 1955
3 RA 90 mm Gun Battalions |
| 74th AAA Bn |
| (operational 13 June 52) |
| HQ & Btty A – West View |
| Btty B – Schramms/McKnight |
| Btty C – Etna (Shaler) |
| Btty D – Blawnox Prison Farm |
| 701st AAA Bn |
| (operational 1 Feb 53) |
| Btty A – Frick Park |
| Btty B – Kennywood Park |
| HQ & Btty C – South Park |
| Btty D – Brentwood |
| 509th AAA Bn |
| (operational 1 Dec 52) |
| HQ & Btty A – Moon Run |
| Btty B – Bridgeville |
| Btty C – Heidelburg |
| Btty D – Kennedy |
II. December 1956
3 RA Nike-Ajax Bns, 1 RA and 2 ARNG 90mm Gun Bns |
| 1st AAA Missile Bn |
| A – Monroeville (PI-25) |
| B – Herminie (PI-37) |
| HQ & C Irwin (PI-36) |
| D – Elizabeth (PI-42) |
| 74th AAA Missile Bn |
| HQ & A – West View (PI-93) |
| B – North Park (PI-92) |
| C – Dorseyville (PI_03) |
| D – Rural Ridge (PI-02) |
| 509th AAA Missile Bn |
| A – Coraopolis (PI-71) |
| B – Bridgeville (PI-62) |
| HQ & C Finleyville (PI-52) |
| D – Elrama (PI-43) |
| 701st AAA Gun Bn (RA) |
| A – Greensburg Pike |
| B – Kennywood Park |
| HQ & C – South Park |
| D – Brentwood |
| 708th AAA Gun Bn (ARNG) |
| HQ & A – West View (PI-93) |
| B – Schramms/McKnight |
| C – Etna (Shaler) |
| D – Blawnox Prison Farm |
| 724th AAA Gun Bn (ARNG) |
| HQ & A – Moon Run |
| B – Bridgeville |
| C – Heidelburg |
| D – Kennedy |
III. January 1959
3 RA Missile Bns |
| 1st AAA Missile Bn |
| A – Monroeville (Ajax) |
| B – Herminie (Herc/Ajax) |
| HQ & C – Irwin (Herc/Ajax) |
| D – Elizabeth (Ajax) |
| 74th AAA Missile Bn |
| HQ & A – West View (Herc/Ajax) |
| B – North Park (Ajax) |
| C – Dorseyville (Herc/Ajax) |
| D – Rural Ridge (Ajax) |
| 509th AAA Missile Bn |
| A – Coraopolis (Herc/Ajax) |
| B – Bridgeville (Ajax) |
| HQ & C – Finleyville(Ajax) |
| D – Elrama (Herc/Ajax) |
| All
three gun battalions were deactivated in October 1957 |
IV. December 1959
2 RA Missile Bns, 2 PARNG Missile Bns |
| 3rd Missile Bn, 1st Artillery |
|---|
| A – Monroeville (Ajax) |
| B – Herminie (Herc/Ajax) |
| HQ & C – Irwin (Herc/Ajax) |
| D – Elrama (Herc/Ajax) |
| 5th Missile Bn, 3rd Artillery |
|---|
| HQ & A – West View (Herc/Ajax) |
| B – Coraopolis (Herc/Ajax) |
| C – Dorseyville (Herc/Ajax) |
| D – Finleyville (Ajax) |
| 1st Bn (Nike/Ajax), 176th Arty PARNG |
|---|
| A – North Park (Ajax) |
| B – Rural Ridge (Ajax) |
| 2nd Bn (Nike/Ajax) 176th Arty PARNG |
|---|
| A – Bridgeville (Ajax) |
| B - Elizabeth (Ajax) |
V. 1967
1 RA Missile Bn and 1 PARNG Missile Bn |
| 3rd Battalion 1st Artillery |
|---|
| B – Herminie (Hercules) |
| HQ & C – Irwin (Hercules) |
| D – Elrama (Hercules) |
| 2nd Battalion 176th Artillery |
|---|
| HQ – 826 Crane Avenue Pittsburgh |
| A – West View (Ajax/Hercules) |
| B – Coraopolis (Ajax/Hercules) |
| C – Dorseyville (Ajax/Hercules) |
From its inception in 1952,
Pittsburgh was protected by 90 mm anti aircraft guns. Originally the plan
called for two (2) battalions of four (4) batteries each. Before the first
units were deployed it became apparent that two battalions were not sufficient
and an additional battalion was added. While permanent units were
being formed, the original sites were manned by soldiers of the New York, Ohio
and Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
FIRST ON THE
SCENE
Initial deployment of military personnel consisted of the
209th AAA Group, 105th AA Operations Detachment and the
102nd AAA Gun Battalion; all were New York Army National Guard units
from the Buffalo and Batavia, NY area.
The 182nd AAA Gun Battalion was a unit of the
Ohio Army National Guard from the Dayton area.
The 708th AAA Gun Battalion was a Pennsylvania
Army National Guard unit.
These units were to man the sites until regular Army
units could be formed.