BOMARC System
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History of the BOMARC Missile System
The supersonic BOMARC missile was a Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) designed to cary conventional and nuclear warheads against enemy aircraft. The BOMARC was launched from fixed launchers on prepared concrete sites. When launched the missiles were powered by rocket engines during a climb phase to cruise altitude where a pair of ramjet engines powered it to the target. The final phase was a dive to the target where radar or proximity fuses would detonate the warhead (conventional or nuclear) within range of the target(s).
The original BOMARC program called for 40 sites and 4,800 missiles. That program was reduced several times and only 10 sites reach operational status supporting about 500 missiles. Eight of the operational sites were in the U.S. while two were in Canada. Each site was constructed with fixed launchers in multiples of 28 with the largest sites having 84 launchers.
Two models were produced:
- 'A' Model - Liquid-fuel booster electron-tube based guidance radar and computer. Boeing/MARC CIM-10A
- 'B' Model - Solid-fuel booster transistor based guidance radar and computer. Boeing/MARC CIM-10B
The 'A' model had to be fueled before launch and required very hazardous liquid fuel. The 'B' model had a solid fuel booster, transistor electronics and because of the room saved, more ramjet fuel could be carried and it had a longer range.
The BOMARC missile system was integrated into the SAGE system and launches could be controlled by the SAGE direction centers. As the threat of a Soviet manned bomber attack diminished and the SAGE system declined, the BOMARC system phased out with the 'A' model only sites closing in 1964 and the remaining sites closing 1972.
Sources: Berhow, Mark, US Strategic and Defensive Missile Systems 1950-2004, Osprey Publishing, 20 Sep 2012, page 62.
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See Also:
| Site | Type | State | Unit | A Model | B Model | From | To | GPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuire | AFB | NJ | 46th ADMS (BOMARC) | 28 | 56 | 1959 | 1972 | 40.035, -74.441389 |
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| Otis | AFB | MA | 26th ADMS (BOMARC) | 28 | 28 | 1960 | 1972 | 41.682222, -70.539167 |
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| Langley | AFB | VA | 22nd ADMS (BOMARC) | 28 | 28 | 1960 | 1972 | 37.099167, -76.479722 |
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| Suffolk | AFB | NY | 6th ADMS (BOMARC) | 56 | 0 | 1959 | 1964 | 40.833333, -72.680833 |
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| Dow | AFB | ME | 30th ADMS (BOMARC) | 28 | 0 | 1960 | 1964 | 44.853056, -68.786389 |
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| Niagara Falls | AFMS | NY | 35th ADMS (BOMARC) | 0 | 56 | 1961 | 1969 | 43.1175, -78.946944 |
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| Kincheloe | AFB | MI | 37th ADMS (BOMARC) | 0 | 28 | 1961 | 1972 | 46.348056, -84.805 |
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| Duluth | IAP | MN | 74th ADMS (BOMARC) | 0 | 28 | 1960 | 1972 | 46.932222, -91.883333 |
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| North Bay | CFB | ON | 446 SAM Squadron | 0 | 28 | 1962 | 1972 | 46.429444, -79.471111 |
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| La Macaza | CFB | QC | 447 SAM Squadron | 0 | 28 | 1962 | 1972 | 46.411389, -74.768889 |
Location Approximate |
| Camp Adair | AFS | OR | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 44.702222, -123.2 |
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| Charleston | AFB | SC | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | ||||
| Ethan Allen | AFB | VT | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 44.510556, -73.163611 |
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| Paine | AFB | WA | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 47.911944, -122.265278 |
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| Travis | AFB | CA | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 38.487260, -121.883231 |
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| Truax | AFB | WI | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 43.190833, -89.154167 |
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| Vandenberg | AFB | CA | 0 | 28 | Cancelled | 34.729722, -120.504167 |