BOMARC B Fact Sheet
Written and Edited by Cliff Lethbridge

Essentially an improved and streamlined Bomarc A, the Bomarc B, designated IM-99B, was ready for flight testing in 1959.

The Bomarc B added a Thiokol solid rocket booster housed under the missile's body. Capable of producing a thrust of 50,000 pounds, the booster fired for 30 seconds before it was jettisoned.

Extra tankage was fashioned within the body of the Bomarc B to house additional JP-4 fuel for two improved Marquardt ramjet engines, each of which had a thrust of 14,000 pounds.

This upgraded propulsion system nearly doubled the range of the Bomarc weapons system. The missile also incorporated a more advanced Westinghouse radar system.

Boeing delivered a total of 349 Bomarc B missiles to the U.S. Air Force between 1961 and 1965. These either replaced aging Bomarc A missiles at existing bases or facilitated Bomarc B deployment at new sites.

New Bomarc B deployments occurred at Kinchloe Air Force Base, Michigan, Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota and Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York.

In addition, the Royal Canadian Air Force accepted Bomarc B missiles for deployment at bases in North Bay, Ontario and LaMacaza, Quebec.

The last of the Bomarc squadrons was deactivated in 1972.

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