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A rusted Cold War missile built to carry a nuclear bomb discovered in a Washington garage, says report
Business Insider ^ | February 4, 2024 | Rebecca Rommen

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 ...


TOPICS: History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: coldwar; douglasair2genie; missile; oldnews; washington
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To: NWFree

“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.”

Note to self... don’t try to donate anything unusual to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio unless you enjoy having your home overrun by the police.


21 posted on 02/09/2024 8:03:45 AM PST by fireman15 (Irritating people are the grit from which we fashion our pearl. I provide the grit. You're Welcome.)
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To: PeterPrinciple
air to air nuclear rocket. think about that.

It was a crazy world with the US probably doing more insane things than the Rooskies who had to catch up to us as we tried to catch up to the non-existent "missile gap"

But these were to take down incoming Russian nuclear bombers, so it was a rationally insane idea - you had to think about it before realizing it was a screwball idea rather than recognize that it was bat-shit crazy out of the box.

22 posted on 02/09/2024 8:05:19 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: AndyJackson

air to air nuclear rocket. think about that.


Research indicted it was tested once with nuclear tip over the desert. Lots of things tested, not implemented.

Yet, thousands were manufacture with ordinary explosives.


23 posted on 02/09/2024 8:11:52 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Twotone

Much ado about nothing.

The museum will put it on display for a few months and then it’ll be forgotten somewhere in storage.


24 posted on 02/09/2024 8:23:10 AM PST by bgill
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To: Twotone
I'm glad the guy wasn't charged with attempted mass murder for owning a device that could have carried a nuclear bomb.

Because then anyone with a truck could also be charged.

25 posted on 02/09/2024 8:25:59 AM PST by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Twotone

It reminds me of the guy currently in the Oval Office, corroded and capable of a lot of damage.


26 posted on 02/09/2024 8:28:34 AM PST by skr (Righteousness exalteth a nation: sin is a reproach to any people. - Proverbs 14:34)
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To: PeterPrinciple

It looks like a miniature V2…


27 posted on 02/09/2024 8:30:12 AM PST by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: PeterPrinciple

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197594/mcdonnell-douglas-air-2a-genie-rocket/


28 posted on 02/09/2024 8:32:18 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: PeterPrinciple
"air to air nuclear rocket. think about that."

It had a range of 6 miles and a 1.5kt yield and was intended for use against bomber formations.

It's not like it was a dogfighting missile you'd loose at 500 yards. :)


29 posted on 02/09/2024 8:33:12 AM PST by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
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To: Twotone

“… The unguided air-to-air rocket was designed to carry a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead.…”
*************************************************

I think all rockets designed to carry tactical nuclear weapons should be UNguided. What could possibly go wrong? /sarc


30 posted on 02/09/2024 8:38:15 AM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA. -PRO-MAX)
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To: Twotone

You never know what one could pickup on facebook marketplace!


31 posted on 02/09/2024 9:43:30 AM PST by funwithfood
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To: Twotone
Probably by someone who worked at McChord AFB in Tacoma, WA.
The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron used this weapon on the F106. The 106 also carried 4 AIM9 guided air-to-air missiles. The idea was that if NORAD detected a fleet of Russian bomber coming across the Pacific, the F106 interceptors would be send out, the AIM 9 would get them through some of the Russian fighters, then they would launch the ‘special weapon’, point blank, then turn around and run like hell. That's my guess anyway.
32 posted on 02/09/2024 2:12:08 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (It is the nature of liberals to pervert whatever they touch.)
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To: NurdlyPeon

Correction: The F106s at McChord carried the AIM4 Falcon, not the AIM9 Sidewinder.


33 posted on 02/09/2024 2:14:20 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (It is the nature of liberals to pervert whatever they touch.)
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To: Twotone
We need Dietrich.


34 posted on 02/09/2024 2:23:17 PM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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