Posted on 02/09/2024 7:28:17 AM PST by Twotone
A rusted Cold War missile was discovered in a deceased man's garage in Washington state, The Seattle Times reported.
What seemed like an ordinary rocket caught the attention of the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, prompting them to alert the Bellevue Police.
The museum was made aware of the missile when someone called to offer to donate the rocket, purchased at an estate sale, said reports
A bomb squad identified the relic as a Douglas AIR-2 Genie. The unguided air-to-air rocket was designed to carry a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead.
Fortunately, the lack of warhead and rocket fuel rendered the missile harmless, with no explosive hazard.
Bellevue Police Department spokesman Seth Tyler quipped that the rocket was essentially a "gas tank for rocket fuel," per the BBC.
The police's bomb squad was dispatched to the man's residence. On X, Bellevue Police humorously noted, "And we think it's gonna be a long, long time before we get another call like this again," referencing Elton John's Rocket Man.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
NBD, I probably have a couple myself, have to check.
It was actually just a piece of rusted fuselage but that doesn’t sound as dramatic
Brandon says Americans need them to protect us from his military.
“Fortunately, the lack of warhead and rocket fuel rendered the missile harmless, with no explosive hazard. “
Huge weapon of mass destruction deal made over a big paper weight.
This how they brainwash people into bias against arms.
Agree, overly dramatic report.
No fuel or warhead? That’s really gonna hurt the resale value.
It is sort of like the RPG they breathlessly described finding a few years back and it turned out to be just the disposable tube.
Davy, Davy Crockett. King of the M-29.
Behind a Corvette, perchance?
Probably a prop used in the Dr. Strangelove movie.
When they were demolishing the old Kodak campus in Rochester, they found a coin-sized piece of Uranium 235 in a file cabinet.
Kodak ran one of the U-235 separation facilities during WWII.
The chunk - very far from a critical mass - was probably tested in a Kodak lab, and passed around at a meeting or two.
Ah ha! So that’s where I left it!
Agree, overly dramatic report.
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Agreed, I wonder how much the Bomb squad and probably SWAT team cost taxpayers? Sending the county Sheriff over to take a look would have cost nothing……
Back in the 1960's, my uncle gave me a fired LAWS tube. Even in those days there was at least one pearl-clutching ninny who was certain that I was running around with a functioning "bazooka."
The AIR-2A Genie is an air-to-air rocket with a nuclear warhead designed for use against formations of enemy bombers. It has no guidance system and is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor. The AIR-2 (formerly known as the MB-1) was first test-launched in 1956 and became operational in January 1957. On July 19, 1957, a Genie was launched at 18,000 feet from an F-89J interceptor and detonated over Yucca Flats, Nev. It was the first and only test detonation of a U.S. nuclear-tipped air-to-air rocket.
The AIR-2A was carried primarily by F-89J, F-101B and F-106A interceptor aircraft. Thousands were built for the USAF before production ended in 1962; they remained in service until the mid-1980s. A training version of the Genie with an inert rocket motor and no nuclear warhead, known as the ATR-2, was also in service.
I want one!
I wanna see what else is in that garage!
My wife is a military historian, speaker, and presenter. She volunteers regularly at local museums especially. She is in constant demand by various organizations. Today we are getting ready to travel to a different state for a presentation she will be doing tomorrow for a military historical society.
I mention this because we come into contact with people who collect all types of military vehicles and ordinance. We have helped many get in contact people who have these types of items. This reminds me of our friend “Larry the Bomb Guy”. He spent his career in the military working with bombs that were dropped from aircraft and sets up displays for various events. He does an amazing job restoring this type of artifact.
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