City
A Bellevue Man’s Unusual Donation: The Rocket That Caught Attention
Bellevue’s rocket saga: from a man’s garage to a museum donation, a peculiar twist in the city’s history.
In a peculiar turn of events, the Bellevue Police Department found themselves facing an unexpected situation involving a Bellevue man and a military-grade rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. What seemed like a storyline out of a sci-fi movie turned out to be a real-life incident that briefly raised eyebrows and prompted swift action.
Read the story on KIRO website: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/police-find-military-grade-air-to-air-rocket-bellevue-mans-garage/QJDWMVTRK5AILC3NVKFIGNW6XU/
The call to the Bellevue Police Department’s bomb squad reported a man in possession of a rocket in his garage. Yes, you read that right—a rocket in Bellevue. However, this wasn’t a tale about the famed “Rocket Man” a lá Elton John; this was a unique scenario with its own twist.
The man, who acquired the rocket from an estate sale via his neighbor, decided to donate the item to the Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio. What made this donation stand out was the nature of the rocket—a Douglas AIR-2 Genie, designed to carry a 1.5 kiloton W25 nuclear warhead. Fortunately, the rocket was devoid of any warhead, alleviating concerns about immediate danger.
Upon inspection by the Bellevue bomb squad, it was determined that the rocket was inert, lacked rocket fuel, and posed no explosive threat. Subsequently, the rocket was handed back to the man for donation to the museum.
As the unusual situation unfolded and eventually resolved without incident, a spokesperson for the Bellevue police humorously remarked, “And we think it’s gonna be a long, long time before we get another call like this again.” The event, though brief, left a mark on the community, showcasing the unexpected encounters that can arise even in the most tranquil of neighborhoods.
This curious incident serves as a reminder of the diverse and unpredictable nature of human experiences, where even a military-grade rocket in a garage can spark intrigue and amusement. While the rocket may have briefly captured attention, it ultimately found its way to a more fitting setting—a museum—where its historical significance can be appreciated by many.
In the end, the Bellevue man’s rocket donation will likely be remembered as a unique chapter in the city’s history, blending a touch of the extraordinary with a hint of the surreal, and leaving behind a tale that will be retold with a mixture of fascination and amusement for years to come.
Source: KIRO