BOMARC Missile Accident Site

The BOMARC Missile Accident Site is a 75-acre restricted area within a military base in New Jersey containing radioactive materials. The landscape shows the remains of a Cold War missile defense facility with contaminated zones marked throughout the property.

A helium tank explosion inside a BOMARC missile on June 7, 1960, ignited a fire that scattered radioactive materials across the facility. The incident required cleanup efforts that continued for decades afterward.

The site marks an important moment in how Americans prepared their defenses during the Cold War era. Visitors walking through this area can grasp the tension and readiness that characterized the nuclear age.

The area remains closed to the public due to radioactive contamination, with fencing preventing entry. Information about the incident and its impact can be found through military history resources and archival records rather than site visits.

Approximately 300 grams of weapons-grade plutonium was never recovered after the accident despite massive cleanup operations. This lost amount represents one of the more troubling consequences of the incident.

GPS coordinates: 40.03456,-74.44293

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45