Unveiling a Cold War Relic: Inert Nuclear Missile Discovery in Washington Man’s Garage
Bellevue, Washington – A surprising turn of events unfolded when authorities in Washington state were alerted to the presence of an old, rusted rocket in a local man’s garage, ultimately revealed to be an inert nuclear missile. The peculiar discovery took place on Wednesday when a military museum in Ohio contacted Bellevue police about a rather unconventional donation offer.
Responding promptly, the local police dispatched a bomb squad to assess the situation and ensure public safety. The identity of the man, who expressed annoyance at media attention and prefers to remain unnamed, claimed that the rocket belonged to a deceased neighbor and was obtained from an estate sale.
Upon investigation, the police confirmed that the device was a Douglas AIR-2 Genie, previously designated as MB-1, an unguided air-to-air rocket designed to carry a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead. Fortunately, the absence of a warhead meant there was no immediate danger to the community.
Bellevue Police Department spokesman Seth Tyler emphasized that the rocket was essentially a gas tank for rocket fuel, characterizing the incident as “not serious at all.” Despite initial confusion, the bomb squad determined the item to be an artifact with no explosive hazard.
Inert nuclear missile found in US man’s garage https://t.co/UhbYQshrtF
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 3, 2024
The call to the police originated from the National Museum of the US Air Force near Dayton, Ohio, raising questions about communication with the man offering the donation. The man, irritated by the media coverage, was cooperative and allowed authorities to examine the rocket, confirming its safety.
While there was no indication of a nuclear warhead, no mass evacuations were deemed necessary for the city of Bellevue, home to approximately 150,000 residents located 10 miles east of Seattle. With the military showing no interest in reclaiming the inert missile, the police left the item with the man, who intends to restore it for display in a museum.
According to historical records, the Douglas Genie rocket was utilized by the United States and Canada during the Cold War, with its only live firing recorded in 1957, and production concluding in 1962. The unexpected discovery serves as a reminder of the bygone era and the unconventional artifacts that can emerge from history’s pages.