Editing CIM-10 Bomarc (section)

===Initial studies===
During [[World War II]], the [[US Army Air Force]] (USAAF) concluded that existing [[anti-aircraft gun]]s, only marginally effective against existing generations of propeller-driven aircraft, would not be effective at all against the emerging jet-powered designs. Like the Germans and British before them, they concluded the only successful defence would be to use guided weapons.{{sfn|Zeus|1962|p=165}}

As early as 1944 the [[United States Army]] started exploring anti-aircraft missiles, examining a variety of concepts. At the time, two basic concepts appeared possible; one would use a short-range rocket that flew directly at the target from below following a course close to the line-of-sight, and the other would fly up to the target's altitude and then tip over and fly horizontally towards the target like a [[fighter aircraft]]. As both concepts seemed promising, the Army Air Force was given the task of developing the airplane-like design, while the Army Ordnance Department was given the more ballistic collision-course concept. Official requirements were published in 1945.{{sfn|Walker|Bernstein|2005|p=39}}

Official requirements were published in 1945; [[Bell Laboratories]] won the Ordnance contract for a short-range line-of-sight weapon under Project Nike,{{sfn|Zeus|1962|p=165}} while a team of players led by [[Boeing]] won the contract for a long-range design known as [[Boeing Ground-to-Air Pilotless Aircraft|Ground-to-Air Pilotless Aircraft]], or GAPA. GAPA moved to the [[United States Air Force]] when that branch was formed in 1947. In 1946, the USAAF also started two early research projects into anti-missile systems in Project Thumper (MX-795) and Project Wizard (MX-794).{{sfn|Walker|Bernstein|2005|p=20}}