Fishing Vessel Nets Sidewinder Missile With Live Warhead

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — A fishing boat’s unusual catch, which had been left sitting on a dock for about a week, turned out to be a Sidewinder missile with a live warhead.

A two-member Army ordnance disposal team from Ft. Sheridan, Ill., examined the missile Wednesday and then took it with them.

Police Capt. John Theune said that the eight-foot-long Sidewinder was snagged last week in a net while the fishing tug was eight miles out fishing on Lake Michigan. He said that officials had no idea where the missile came from or how it got into the lake.

Police were notified about the rocket Tuesday and contacted the ordnance disposal unit after first trying the Milwaukee bomb squad, which directed them to Ft. Sheridan.