Bomarc Missile Battery Site: Part II of II

The gate at the Bomarc missile base, circa early 1960s. The guard house and building to the right still stand, the water tower has been replaced. 

I previously wrote about scouting around the perimeter of the Dow AFB's missile defense site in this post and delved some more into how these supersonic unmanned (nuclear capable) interceptors in Bangor's backyard had fit into the greater scheme here.

I ended up re-visiting the rows of actual missile launch houses at the site, daring to get a bit closer to the businesses who occupy the "business park."

Blast doors that will likely never open again.

Where this is my final post on the Bomarc missile defense site, let's take a look at a snippet from the Lewiston Daily Sun, from November 16th, 1957:

"PORTLAND, Nov. 15 AP - A 10 million dollar installation to be built at Bangor will be equipped with the Bomarc guided missile which boasts a range of 300 miles. Brig. Gen. Alden Sibley, commander of the New England district of Army Engineers said the defense installation would be constructed near Dow Air Force Base. He didn't say when the construction would begin."

According to Air Force Magazine, Bangor was one of the very first Bomarc bases to have been built, along with Cape Cod, Long Island, and the ill-fated (and still largely irradiated) McGuire AFB in New Jersey. Continuing along, toward the current day, let's dip into this snippet from the Bangor Daily News, from May 1st, 1958:

BANGOR --- The Army Engineers, New England Division, informed US Sen Frederick G Payne that about 750 men will be employed on the construction of the Bomarc site in Bangor. They expect that probably some 800 to 900 men will be needed on the construction during the summer months.

The John A. Volpe Construction Co. of Malden, Mass, has been awarded the contract for the Bangor Bomarc Missile site. 

The property where Boeing Airplane Co's missiles will be located covers more than 50 acres of land and runs from Burleigh Rd to Broadway and Essex St. 

J.R. Cianchette Sr. has the work of clearing land in preparation for construction and work has already been in progress on this phase of the program. 

The Bomarc base, such as the one to be built at Dow, consists of a lunching area where the missiles will be kept in a "ready status", a support area where missiles are maintained and inspected, and a "cantonment" area which will provide the necessary housekeeping activities.

I've looked up the number for Volpe Construction in Malden, if I have any luck I'll update the post.

But in the mean time, let's have a look at what's left of the missile launch houses in bangor.

Bomarc Launch Buildings in Bangor

The above image was taken while standing between two rows of missile launch buildings. I took that photo while standing on a mound of grass indicating a conduit/utility tunnel between the missile prep building and the readiness area. Here's a photo of the vent for the 6x6 tunnel:

$10 to put your head in there.

Below is what the buildings would have looked more like if they were left untouched.

Courtesy Urbexobsession - Bomarc site in Ontario - I did not take this photo

These buildings have been modified nearly beyond recognition. But while we're on the topic, below is what one of them would have looked something like, had the site not been turned into a business/self storage park.

Same site in Ontario - I did not take this photo

Notice the folding roof that would have allowed vertical launch. It's very sad that very little is left onsite in Bangor.



-T