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Boeing IM-99 'Bomarc'

Description
Notes: F-8C modified for Digital-Fly-By-Wire
  Manufacturer:Boeing
  Base model:IM-99
  Designation:IM-99
  Nickname:Bomarc
  Designation System:U.S. Tri-Service
  Basic role:Aerial Intercept Missile
  First Flew:1958/08/20

Specifications
Not Yet Available

Known serial numbers
56-4027 / 56-4033, 57-2730 / 57-2767, 57-6245 / 57-6267, 58-6999 / 58-7018, 59-1896 / 59-2202

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
USAF Armament MuseumEglin AFBFlorida

on display

USAF Armament Museum

USAF Armament Museum
   


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Dick Ensing
 Sevierville, Tn, TN
I worked at FortWalten Beach in 1961 on the Bomarc B missile..As a Electronic Tech we were required to get 6 missiles and the shelter ready for the Air Force. As a Tech I was requyired to wire in new moduales, test the complete missile and fire one missile from each shelter.1 week before about 6 of us Electronics tecs came on the job a shelter blew up and killed 5 techs.The then converter the 6 remaining shelters to solid fuel instead of liquid fuel that killed the 5 techs.I also worked in Telemetry lab and helped track some of the missiles a thatwe fired them down range . The Bomarc was a low flying short range missile but very acurate and powerful.The missiles that were ready to launch after we turned the project over to the air force were loaded with nucular warheads and aimed at Cuba. Even with the solid fuel we had missiles blown up over our heads after firing, missiles that went in the wrong direction, one example of almost a disaster was when we got ready to fire one and the big tri-helix antenae for tracking didnt respond so 2 of us techs climed up the 5 story building to the roof where the antenae was and as the missile was fired we manually tracted it by moving the big antenea by hand.The missile went in the wrong dir and came over the 5 story building and blew up about 500 ft from us .We had just climed down the outside of the building as we thought it would hit the building.One other thing that happen was a cotton mouth mocasin had got into one of the communication channels and messed up the wiring.
01/02/2013 @ 16:51 [ref: 67465]
 Stephen P. Burke
 Macomb, IL
I served in the 22nd Air Defense Missile Squadron at Langley AFB, Virginia, May 1966 to early Aug 1967. The 22nd was phrasing out the IM-99A model, which were being shipped to Florida at target drones. We had 24 IM-99B models on line, and I remember spending two to three days a week as part of the support teams in the launch area. There are photos posted on "http://www.airfields-freeman.com/VA/Airfields_VA_Hampton.htm", of the 22nd ADMS, as it was, and as the area is today.
06/12/2012 @ 12:56 [ref: 59612]
 john frye
 Bend, OR
I was assigned as a missile mechanic to the 37th ADMS at Raco in June of 1962. 34 long miles by bus to work each day from Kincheloe. I left there on 13 December 1965. I still have a list of serial numbers for all the Bomarcs there. Hey Renken, do you remember Cliff Himmel? He lives 100 miles from me.
05/15/2012 @ 15:33 [ref: 57309]
 Robert Daniels
 Canby, OR
Fresh out of HS in Northern NY, I joint the AF and after electronis and missle IM-99A schools, in Chanute training base in Illinois, I moved on to the 6th in Suffolk, NY. Was there during the Cuban Criss, I very well remember the Red alert during the 13 days, A REAL TENSE TIME FOR US AT THE BASE. We had all but a couple ready to launch at anything that came close to our shores. I was only in the IM-99A field for a year 1962 to 63, then was pushed on to cross train for the Hughs Gar Air-Air missiles. Wasn't until the internet I really understood why. They closed the base within a yr after I left, one of the first to close. Originally congress had authourised some 60+ units built around the USA Perimiters, only around 30+ ever were built.
I arrived in my new Gar unit in Paine Field, Everert, Wash in mid 63, to find a Bomarc B unit had been under construction, but was canceled. Those years hold some of my greatest memories, both the Bomarc and Gar. I spent 4 yrs in the AF and then 2 Yrs with the Spokane Nation Guard as a full time tech on the Gar missle. Then worked for Boeing, and eventually back to Paine Field on the 747.
Any old buddies that may read this, contact me
05/14/2012 @ 20:52 [ref: 57293]
 Bruce Cate
 West, TX
My first assignment out of school (1969) was the 4751st at Hurlburt Field. I worked at IMSOC for a little over a year then transferred to AGAT and BGAT until I left in 1971. IMSOC was a very interesting job especially when we had an A model blowup on take-off. I remember missile maintenance philosophy was "If it went over the fence, it was a good launch."
04/02/2011 @ 19:39 [ref: 37161]
 Jerry Harrell
 Troy, AL
I was stationed at Hurlburt Field Site A-15 from 1973 - 1977. I worked in IMSOC (Interceptor Missile Squadron Operations Center) later changed to LCC (Launch Control Center). The name was changed when we disconnected from the BUIC (Backup Interceptor Control) at Tyndall Air Force Base. During this time we launched many (at least 30-40) Bomarc "B" solid propellent missiles as targets. The first direct hit on these Bomarc's was from the Navy's F-14 with the Tomcat missile. Later the Air Force achieved a direct hit from an F-15 with the Aim 9 missile. One of the last test birds that we shot was run up to about Mach 5 before it tore apart. I loved the area and the duty.
02/11/2011 @ 07:21 [ref: 35975]
 Bernie Nitz
 Milan, IL
The Bomarc experience was the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding job of my working career. I went through the Chanute training program and was sent to Niagra Falls where I was assigned to the SMATE lab. I came to the lab with development experience on the F-111 terain following radar and I found the 'B' model target seeker facinating.

When Niagra closed I went to the 'A' program at Hurlburt. I'm not sure how many we launched over the next 3 years but it was a BUNCH well beyond our manpower. We had a great success record but as anyone who has worked on an 'A' knows not everything always goes as planned. I will not elaborate on our non-successes but one can find excitement in the process of seeking solutions.

The BOMARC is an experience that I will never forget and I still marvel at the beautiful machine every time I see it at the Air Force Museum.
09/28/2010 @ 18:22 [ref: 30736]
 Joel Holley
 Broken Arrow, OK
I was stationed at Raco from 1960 thru 1962. Enjoyed my stay in Michigan.
09/26/2010 @ 16:08 [ref: 30522]
 BOB WILCOX
 RIVERSIDE, MO
I SPENT SOME TIME AT FORT WALTON BCH WITH SOME MEMORABLE PEOPLE, BILL PINE AND HIS BUNCH--AND PETE BABBIT--THEN WENT TO RACO AND WORKED IN STD AND TRAINING WITH SGT COLIN. IT WAS GOOD DUTY AND ENJOYABLE. I REMEMBER JOHN FRYE AND THE JELLY HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE.
08/15/2010 @ 12:49 [ref: 29013]
 BOB WILCOX
 RIVERSIDE, MO
I SPENT SOME TIME AT FORT WALTON BCH WITH SOME MEMORABLE PEOPLE, BILL PINE AND HIS BUNCH--AND PETE BABBIT--THEN WENT TO RACO AND WORKED IN STD AND TRAINING WITH SGT COLIN. IT WAS GOOD DUTY AND ENJOYABLE. I REMEMBER JOHN FRYE AND THE JELLY HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE.
08/15/2010 @ 12:48 [ref: 29012]

 

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