MISSILE FIRE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29228, 11 June 1960, Page 17

MISSILE FIRE

Investigation Begins

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE (New Jersey), June 8. A three-way investigation began today into the incident > which a nuclear-anned Bomarc missile caught fire in its launching pen here yesterday. Among other things, the investigators will try to establish who was responsible for th scare which stemmed from ra. erroneous early alarm describing the mishap as an “atomic warhead explosion.”

The triple investigation is being carried out by the Atomic Energy Commission, the Defence Department and the New Jersey Department of Health. The Bomarc incident resulted in a controversy between Air F 2. r S e an<l New Jersey State police officials over the blame for creating panic.

The needle-nosed 47-foot Bomarc missile caught fire yesterday afternoon in one of the 54 concrete launching shelters at the base, and some radiation escaped from its nuclear tip. No-one was injured. There was no danger from radioactivity in the area, though first reports from the site indicated it might exist. The cause of the accident was not announced.

An Air Force spokesman accused the State police of “distorting the whole story, blowing it out of proportion.”

In reply, State police maintained that the Air Force had labelled the incident a “disaster” in which an atomic warhead “exploded.” The investigators will also try to find:

What caused the 1,000,000-dollar anti-aircraft missile to catch fire. It was described as a total loss. What precautions are taken to protect civilians and military personnel from radiation near Bomarc launching sites.