Disclaimer: If you are looking for any confirmation about UFO or dead aliens among these 10 declassified facts about Area 51, I’m afraid you’re in for a disappointment. Although there are plenty of most likely conspiracy theories out there, the secrecy veil surrounding Area 51 was never pierced in a way that would allow a concrete proof of any extraterrestrial visitors’ escape. But there are plenty of other cool things CIA confirmed about the Mecca for all conspiracy theorists out there, so keep reading.
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Area 51 has been a synonym for a military top-secret black site for decades. The US government only acknowledged its existence in 2013, when pretty much the whole world was aware of it. The site has been in use since 1942 and known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 1. It consisted of just two dirt runways near Groom Dry Lake. In the 1950s, Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, called the Skunk Works, started using the site as a testing ground for highly classified U2 spy plane. Lockheed facilities in Palmdale weren’t considered safe enough for such sensitive work and the CIA choose the site for its remote location and as a part of Nevada Test and Training Range.
How far was the US government willing to go to deny the existence of Area 51 prior to the 2013 confession is illustrated by the fact that the Air Force refused to let the producers of Independence Day use its personnel and equipment in filming (to which they previously agreed) once they discovered that the film mentions the facilities at Lake Groom. Despite this, the allure of Area 51 was too strong and many movies, books and TV shows have featured it, making it very popular, a status not quite desirable for a top secret base.
Even if we discard all the theories surrounding Area 51, its place in history is secured. The numerous projects conducted there have helped shaped not just America, but the world as well. That is why these declassified facts about Area 51 draw so much attention. The last officially confirmed project at Groom Lake facility was F-117, which was finished in 1983. Since then, the Area 51 was enlarged and many buildings were added. The purpose of the base at this point is unclear and plenty theories exist trying to shed some light on the matter. In the future, more will be revealed and it will be very interesting to learn what other secrets Area 51 hides.
10.Existence
The first official mentioning of the base was in a memo sent by then-CIA director Richard Helms regarding a deployment of A-12 reconnaissance planes to Okinawa for the purpose of using them over North Vietnam in 1967. The memo had been redacted like all CIA memos before releasing them to the public, but people who were in charge of it made a mistake and let the mention of Area 51 slip out. Area 51’s existence was officially confirmed in 2013, when the CIA released a heavily redacted 355-page document, detailing the operations conducted in the base since the 1950s, mainly U2 and Oxcart programs.
9.Name
The origin of Area 51 name isn’t clear, although it was in use since at least 1967. The other officially confirmed name is Homely airport (KXTA), which suddenly appeared in civilian navigational databases in 2007. It is believed that the it was let out by mistake and since then Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has issued several warnings that neither landing nor use of KXTA as a waypoint should be attempted by any unauthorized pilots. During its construction in the 1950s, it was referred as Paradise Ranch, but it was more of a stunt to attract workers than an official name tag. The other names used to describe it were Dreamland, The Ranch, Home Base and Watertown. Today, the most likely name is Air Force Flight Test Center, Detachment 3, but that was never confirmed. Another unconfirmed theory proposes the name National Classified Test Facility.
8.U2
The reason behind the construction of Area 51 was the U2 ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. Designed to fly at altitudes considered impossible at the time (70,000 feet), U2 was delivered to Area 51 onboard C-124 cargo plane in July 1955. The tests were successful and the plane made its first flight over Soviet territory in 1956. Among other things U2 has accomplished, it was the dispelling of a “bomber gap” myth that is considered its finest achievement. However, some believe that U2 was crucial in developing the climate of mistrust in the US-Soviet relationship that led to the Cuban missile crises that brought the world to the brink of nuclear devastation.
7.Project Oxcart
Once the development of U2 was finished, for a while it seemed that Area 51 has outlived its usefulness and it would be closed. However, a new project came along, named Oxcart. Again the facilities near Groom Lake saw the members of Skunk Works testing aircrafts, this time A-12, much more capable U2’s successor. The site was enlarged and numerous buildings added to accommodate a larger number of personnel needed for the tests. Although A-12 remained in service for only one year, it provided the ground works for several other aircrafts, including the SR-71 and D-21 drone.
6.D-21
When a drone is mentioned, people usually have an image of a high-tech Predator drone buzzing over Afghanistan. But the CIA had drones in the seventies as well. Based on A-12, a high-speed high-altitude reconnaissance drone was tested in Area 51 in 1964 and 1965. It was designed to be launched from another airplane, either a-12 or B52 bomber. The project was abandoned after just 4 missions over China. The drone was too unreliable and the massive deployment of unmanned aircrafts had to wait for the technology to catch up with the idea.
5.American MiGs
In 1966, Captain Munir Redfa of Iraqi Air Force defected to Israel, flying his MiG-21. In 1968, the plane was delivered to Area 51, the only site deemed secured enough for basing such a prize. Later, MiG 17s also arrived at Groom Lake. To prevent any accidental sightings, the airspace surrounding the base was closed off for all civilian and even military air traffic without a special clearing. Air Force pilots flying over the restricted area could face a court martial. The MiGs were used as part of Top Gun training program which taught US pilots how to defeat Soviet planes. The knowledge gained in Area 51 proved vital in the US air dominance over North Vietnam. Under the code name, HAVE GLIB Area 51 was also used to evaluate Soviet radar equipment that found its way into American hands.
4.Security
Number 5 on our list of declassified facts about Area 51 is security. Regular patrols, cameras, and motion sensors are the staples of security around Area 51. However, in some cases it was required to secure the locations that were outside the base’s perimeter, like in a case of test flight crash. One such incident occurred in 1963. A-12 crashed in Utah and a team was dispatched from Area 51 in a cargo plane to recover the remains. Once on site, they discovered that a family camping nearby has already taken photos of a plane remains and the local sheriff’s deputy was arriving at the scene. The film from the camera was confiscated and both the family and the deputy were informed that they weren’t allowed to talk about the incident. But to further secure their cooperation, they were given $25,000 in cash as an incentive to keep their mouths shut.
3.Skylab incident
Before the crew of Skylab 4 mission was sent into space, they received a security briefing. Among other things, they were told that the only location on Earth they weren’t allowed to photograph from orbit was Area 51. Naturally, the moment the astronauts got their hands on a camera, they turned it towards Groom Lake and “inadvertently” took photos of a facility that officially didn’t exist. Upon their return, their photos were sent to National Photographic Interpretation Center, which was to review all photos taken from space on an agreement between NASA and CIA. Once they spotted Area 51 on film, CIA higher echelons promptly entered the panic mode. Unfortunately, the discussion regarding the incident between directors of CIA and NASA wasn’t recorded. We’re sure it would provide for a very entertaining reading.
2.F-117
Continuing the tradition of developing and testing top-secret airplane designs in Area 51 was F-117 Nighthawk. In June 1981, the first prototype flew from the airstrip at Groom Lake. The Nighthawk went on to become one of the most iconic airplanes of the 20th century and the world’s first stealth airplane.
1.Project Blue Book
Well, we had to mention UFOs at some point, so the last declassified facts about Area 51 is Project Blue Book. Project Blue Book was conducted from 1952 to 1970. It was the largest of several similar projects that had the goal of verifying UFO sightings over the US and determine if they pose a threat to the national security. Truth be told, they weren’t just about the little green men, as several high-ranking officials believed that at least some of the UFO’s were, in fact, Soviet spy planes. The team behind the projects painstakingly crisscrossed reported UFO sightings against the flight logs kept in Area 51 of various experimental planes, namely U2 and Oxcart projects and determined that more than a half of sightings can be attributed to US airplanes. The rest were explained by natural phenomena. In short, no evidence of extraterrestrial visitors was discovered.
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