BOMARC Missile Accident Site

USA / New Jersey / Hamilton /
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June 7, 1960 /BOMARC/ McGuire AFB, New Jersey:

A BOMARC nuclear air defense missile in ready storage condition (permitting launch in two minutes) was destroyed by explosion and fire after a high-pressure helium tank exploded and ruptured the missile's fuel tanks. The warhead was also destroyed by the fire although the high explosive did not detonate. Nuclear safety devices acted as designed. Contamination was restricted to an area immediately beneath the weapon and an adjacent elongated area approximately 100 feet long, caused by drainoff of firefighting water.

courtesy of GlobalSecurity.org
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOMARC_Missile_Accident_Site
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°2'1"N   74°26'28"W

Comments

  • Ive been in the "missile base" many times and have journeyed through just about every square foot of the place, it has a very creepy feeling to it. if anyone has any questions or could give me some information on it please email me at the address Ive provided as my username
  • oh one other thing, the only way to get into the base is by going through a hole in the fence that leads right into the contaminated area, Ive walked across that area at least 20 time. Am I at risk to radiation poisoning?
  • Daelinbradleygmail.com: No, you're fine. In 1960, they left the burnt out building standing and surrounded the whole area on the left side with a chainlink fence and rolls of razor wire you can see on the map. They also covered that whole area with concrete and painted over it so they could keep the base open. It closed a few years later and they left it that way. As you can see they went back in from 2002-2004, dug up all the old concrete, knocked down the building and shipped everything by rail to Yucca Flats, Nevada. It should be perfectly safe since 2004.
  • i throw parties there all the time
This article was last modified 6 years ago