B-3:60 ADA

• Lineage: B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (B-3/60 ADA) traces its origins to the 60th Coast Artillery, which was constituted in the Regular Army in 1917. • World War II Service: The parent unit, the 60th Coast Artillery, was heavily involved in the defense of the Philippines and fought bravely during the Battle of Corregidor in 1942. • Cold War Role: In the Cold War era, B-3/60 ADA transitioned to an anti-aircraft artillery mission, providing air defense for key sites in the continental United States and overseas. • Missile Era: The unit was equipped with the Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile system, one of the primary US Army air defense weapons during the 1960s and 1970s. • Vietnam War Connection: While not deployed as a battery, personnel from the 60th ADA Regiment served as individual replacements and advisors in Vietnam. • Modernization: B-3/60 ADA was among the first units to transition to the Improved HAWK missile system, reflecting the rapid evolution of air defense technology. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The unit’s insignia features a winged missile, symbolizing its air defense mission, and a red shield, reflecting artillery heritage. • Overseas Deployments: Elements of the 3rd Battalion, 60th ADA have served in Germany and South Korea, protecting US and allied forces against aerial threats. • Reorganizations: The unit has undergone numerous activations, inactivations, and redesignations, adapting to the changing needs of the US Army Air Defense Artillery branch. • Veteran Community: B-3/60 ADA alumni remain active in veterans’ organizations, preserving the memory and traditions of this storied air defense unit.