Groom Lake (Area 51)

USA / Nevada / Indian Springs /
 air force base, military
Area 51 (Detachment 3) (also called Dreamland, McCartan's County, Paradise Ranch, Home Base, Watertown Strip, Groom Lake, The Box, Neverland) is a remote tract of land in the southwestern portion of Lincoln County in southern Nevada, located at the southern edge of a large dry salt flat known as Groom Lake.

It lies within the Nellis Test and Training Range and is jointly owned by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. Area 51 contains an airfield whose primary purpose is believed to be the operation and analysis of enemy aircraft and weapons systems, and secret development and testing of new military aircraft.

Dreamland first began its life in July 1955 as Watertown Airfield. The specific purpose of Watertown was to allow Lockheed and the CIA to discreetly test the top secret U-2, code named "AQUATONE". With testing successful, Watertown then became the home for U-2 flight training from March 1956 to June 1957. Three groups of CIA pilots underwent training at Watertown. During that time, four U-2s were lost due to accidents, claiming the lives of three pilots. In June 1957 the U-2 test operation was moved to Edwards Air Force Base and CIA pilot classes finished. With its main purpose gone, Watertown became a virtual ghost town.

During the last three years at Watertown, things remained quiet. Several times the base was forced to evacuate due to radioactive fallout from the nearby Nevada Test Site. However in September of 1960, Groom Lake underwent significant expansions to accommodate a new tenant: Project OXCART. OXCART was the name given to Lockheed's A-12 program, which was to replace the earlier U-2 in the reconnaissance role. Hangers were constructed at the south end of the base, along with new administrative and support buildings. Groom Lake's initial runway was deemed too short for the A-12, so a new 10,000ft runway (14/32) was constructed along with a overrun area that extended onto the dry lake bed.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   37°13'59"N   115°48'25"W

Comments

  • the US Airforce built it, read the story above.
  • atomic energy maps of old show this as one of many 'areas' , just happened to be the 51. the skunk works made a base here to test secret planes because it was isolated and flat.
  • Bingo, US Governments cannot deny it's existence anymore.