Cold War Relics
Louis Blotner Bomb Scoring
The Louis Blotner Radar Bomb Scoring Site served as the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) for the Connor Nike missile launch site. The IFC site would process data from tracking radar and deliver it to the Nike missiles so that they could hit their targets and (hopefully) protect Loring AFB from Russian bombers. The tracking radar would provide an anticipated intercept point and flight time and then the base commander would base firing decisions upon this information.
Early Nike missile sites were operated by the US Army. Once the Army "excessed" the sites, they were often turned over to the US Air Force. The Louis Blotner site was operated by the Army from 1957 to 1960 before being decommissioned. In June of 1963, the site was reactivated by the Air Force and operated under various names until 1990 when it was inactivated. The site was sold off in 1993, shortly before Loring AFB was finally closed in 1994.
To reach the Louis Blotner Radar Bomb Scoring Site from Bangor, take I95 north to Houlton and then take Route 1 north to Connor. Turn right onto Sheen Rd and then take a left onto Cote Rd where it tee's off. Cote Rd will go around a right hand corner and become Blotner Site Rd. Up the hill to your left is the main gate. If you're headed down Route 1 and you reach the Connor Nike missile site, you've gone about a half mile too far.
If you're at Loring, take Nebraska Rd to Madawaska Rd (right turn) and then take Beaulieu Rd (left turn) to Cote Rd (right turn). Cote Rd runs right into Blotner Site Rd.
Everything is on Google Maps, but I recommend bringing a Maine Gazetteer along (I sound like a broken record, don't I?). While you're on Google Maps, check out the nice straight line that you can draw from the Nike launcher site through the Louis Blotner site and over to Loring AFB. This is because Nike radar systems worked best within line of sight.
