Ed-Thelen.org is a long-standing reference website dedicated to the history, technology, and operational context of the U.S. Army Nike Hercules air defense missile system and related Nike missile programs.
The site contains historical research, technical information, photographs, documents, and personal recollections intended to support study, education, and historical preservation. Since its creation, the website has served historians, veterans, researchers, students, and members of the general public seeking reliable information about Cold War–era air defense systems.
This website was created and developed by Ed Thelen, Nike Veteran who served in the Chicago Defense area. Ed was also an Electronic and Computer engineer who understood the workings of the Nike Missile system better than most laymen. Ed devoted many years to researching and documenting the Nike missile program. His work reflects a deep respect for historical accuracy and for the people who designed, operated, maintained, and supported these systems.
Ed Thelen passed away in 2024, after establishing this site as one of the most comprehensive publicly accessible resources on the Nike Hercules missile system. His original work remains the foundation of this website.
Following the passing of the site’s founder, responsibility for Ed-Thelen.org has been assumed by a new steward, Gregory Brown who is committed to preserving the site’s content, structure, and purpose and the original content.
The guiding principles of stewardship are:
The site is maintained as a historical resource rather than a commercial or promotional project.
The intent of this approach is preservation and clarity, not reinterpretation.
The website maintains an email address for questions, comments, and corrections. Correspondence from readers has been overwhelmingly constructive and respectful.
Messages that contribute factual corrections, historical context, or additional documentation are welcomed and reviewed. Due to the archival nature of the site, not all submissions can be incorporated.
This website exists because of the dedication and work of Ed Thelen, and because of the many individuals—veterans, historians, engineers, and families—who continue to value the preservation of this history.
The goal of ongoing stewardship is simple: to ensure that this information remains accessible, accurate, and intact for future generations.
Ed-Thelen.org is intended to remain a living website, not a static archive. New Nike Missile information will continue to be added on a regular basis as material becomes available.
A key resource for this effort is access to the National Park Service archives at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. These archives contain a large collection of U.S. Army Nike Technical Manuals (TMs). Work is ongoing to scan and post these manuals to the website so they can be available for public reference.
Many of these documents were originally collected in the early 1990s by volunteers of the Nike Historical Society, under the leadership of Colonel Bud Halsey. With assistance from Air Defense Artillery (ADA) support at Fort Bliss, Texas, the manuals were obtained and later transferred to the National Park archives for preservation.
This effort has continued over the years through the work of Ed Thelen, Charles Carter, and other volunteers, and it remains an active project.
Additional information and articles continue to arrive from a wide range of contributors, including Nike veterans, engineers, contractors, members of the U.S. military, and NATO allies.
Contributions of relevant Nike history and technical information are always welcome.