Area 51: History and Government’s Stance

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Table of Contents

Introduction
History
Operations and Government’s stance about Area 51
Government Policy on Public Viewing
The U.S. government’s positions on Area 51
The environmental lawsuit and government-made exceptions
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Area 51 is the nickname given by researchers to a remote land strip located in the southwest expanse of Lincoln County in the south of Nevada. Other names for it are Dreamland, McCartan’s County, Paradise Ranch, Home Base, Watertown Strip, Groom Lake, The Box, and Neverland. The government has no official name for this area and, in effect, has never acknowledged its existence. This land is owned by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Air Force and is part of the Nevada Test and Training Range, a test facility of the Air Force. It contains an airfield, which is primarily used for scrutiny and operation of enemy artillery equipment and aircraft. It is also believed to have a secret aircraft testing facility. Access to the base and its activities is highly restricted, and it is rumored to be the place where highly classified national security projects are developed. It has frequently been the central location in many UFO conspiracy theories (Wikipedia; Patton, 1998).

History

During World War II Groom Lake had been used for the purpose of bombing and artillery practice, but this practice had been discontinued until 1954 when Tony LeVier, a test pilot from Lockheed Martin (a leading multinational aerospace maker and advanced technology company), found this location to be ideal for the testing of a new contract his company had acquired – the U2 spy plane. He looked at various locations all over the desert before settling for the Groom Lake area, which he preferred as his final choice as it had a prime location: it was based near already existing facilities, it was surrounded by mountain ranges (Crisis Corner, Freedom Ridge, White Sides, and Supplemental Hills) which provided the much-needed cover for the secret operations to take place there and it also had a huge, dry lake bed which would suit the purpose of aircraft landings perfectly, particularly those of the troublesome aircraft Lockheed wanted to test at that particular point in time. The Nevada Test Site border would also prevent outside interference (“History of Area 51”).

After the government approved and consequently secured this location, the place became a highly secret testing facility in very little time. In August 1955, the first U-2 was tested successfully at Groom, and by the middle of next year, U-2s authorized by the CIA commenced their overflights of the Soviet region. While U2 development was still underway, Lockheed had started work on the CIA’s OXCART project, which was a state-of-the-art high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft (used to find out information about the enemy), and which later came to be known as the famous USAF SR-71 Blackbird. Because this was a more technologically advanced aircraft, it had different flight characteristics, and it required leading-edge maintenance facilities. This became the reason for a grand expansion of the existing facilities and runways present at Groom Lake.

Hence, when the first A-12 Blackbird finally flew there in 1962, the main runway had been expanded massively and now had a length of 8500 ft or 2600 m, and the human resource count had increased to about a thousand people. Fueling tanks had been added, a control tower erected in place, and recreational facilities such as a baseball diamond. This expansion also called for more tightened security and to prevent any sort of unwanted trespassing; the small civilian mine in the basin of the salt lake was closed. Additionally, the area which was around the valley was given the status of an exclusive military preserve, and any trespassers bore the risk of being subject to “lethal force” (“History of Area 51”).

In December 1977, the first in the series of the Lockheed Have Blue stealth fighter was flown at Groom, but it was the F-117 Nighthawk which in 1981 became the reason for many UFO controversies associated with this area. Lockheed’s top-secret ‘Proof of Concept’ aircraft or prototypes continued to be tested here, and in 1981, the site became the location for radar profiling, weapons testing as well as a training ground for the first batch of USAF F-117 pilots. However, in later years, the F-117 operations, owing to their highly secret nature, were shifted to other locations.

Groom Lake operations have continued since then, and the base, its airway system, and associated facilities have undergone even more expansions and advancements since the 1980s. However, curiosity regarding the nature of its activities has also grown unabated: civilian commuters from Las Vegas continue to arrive via daily flights to satisfy their curiosity. In 1995, the government took the decision to expand the boundaries of the restricted area surrounding the base to also include the mountains which were present nearby. Prior to this decision of the federal government, these mountains had provided a relatively acceptable view of the base, but after this restriction, today, the area can be viewed only from the tops of some mountains located eastward. Till this date, famous aircraft that are reported to have been tested at Groom are the Northrop Tacit Blue stealth demonstrator, several secret Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and a stealthy cruise missile, which is, in essence, a flying bomb (Wikipedia).

Operations and Government’s stance about Area 51

Area 51 or Groom Lake is an airbase different from others, as it does not contain any frontline units. Rather, it seems as if it is used only for the development, testing, and training purposes of new aircraft. After these aircraft have gone through a successful training phase and have garnered approval from the United States Air Force, they begin to operate similar to as they would at a normal air force base. However, this airbase is reported to be “the permanent home for a small number of Soviet-designed aircraft (obtained by various means),” which are examined and analyzed here and then used as a training aid.

Spy satellites owned by the Soviet Union had captured photographs of this area during the time when the Cold War was at its prime, but these pictures do not provide any conclusive evidence about the various beliefs associated with the Groom Lake area. Rather, the photos simply show an ordinary airbase, airstrip, hangars, and the nearby lake but do not show anything which can substantiate the claims about the secret underground facilities purported to be located here. Other images obtained via satellite have confirmed the expansion of the base over the years but have not pointed out anything particularly distinctive about it.

While one factor which had influenced LeVier’s choice of the location, the surrounding mountain ranges, provided effective cover for the operations of the airbase initially, as time went on, people began noticing the aircraft flying in and out of the area and began exploring to satisfy their curiosity. When they did so, they came across curt warning signs, hidden road sensors, and cameras that indicated the presence of top-secret activity in the area. Eventually, this led the place to acquire a mysterious reputation, and people started coming to see for themselves what the fuss was about. To this day, the government has denied that such a facility even exists, and the only clue which points to its existence is the marking of “Nellis Air Force Bombing and Gunnery Range,” listed somewhere on area maps.

Government Policy on Public Viewing

The popular belief that Area 51 is surrounded by fences, guardrooms, or similar security devices is not true. Rather, the area is secured through road sensors, secret cameras, and other unconventional devices which comprise high-technology sensors, which can detect the slightest movement and distinguish between that of a human being and a desert animal (SparTech Software).

Until 1993, the government did not have as strict restrictions on photography in the area. If civilians came close to the location, the guards would be seen after in their Jeeps to investigate and monitor these onlookers. Some vehicles would even contain viewing towers so that guard could easily keep an eye on them. Some people later also reported the presence of camouflaged troops and veiled vehicles. In some cases, the guards would summon the local sheriff, who would ask the onlookers if they were taking pictures. If they replied in the negative, there would be no more questioning, and if they admitted to taking pictures, their film and camera equipment was taken by him. Arrests were made as well, but in few scenarios (SparTech Software).

As late as March 1993, a TV crew from Texas was recording a special news story on the secret complex and was filming on location there. The sheriff was called, and he saw the filming of the story as it was happening. He wanted the videotape for it, but the TV crew refused to hand it over. After a fiery argument, lawyers and the government were contacted. However, the government did not want to blow the matter out of proportion, and it settled the matter easily, permitting the channel to retain their film and recording equipment (SparTech Software).

However, it is said that not even a year had passed when the government’s attitude towards trespassers and public viewing became more strict and hostile. The New York Times Magazine was on location capturing images for its article when through their telephoto lenses, they discerned camouflaged guards who were monitoring their activities. Since their scanner was turned into the local sheriff’s frequency, they heard the call made to him, which reported their presence, the details about their vehicle, and themselves. The crew drove away in their 4-wheel drive truck but decided to trek across the desert in an attempt to prevent collision with the sheriff, who was expected to arrive soon. When it became impossible to maneuver the vehicle further, they left it and started walking with their equipment (SparTech Software).

A little while later, they detected unconventional-looking, green helicopters circling the area and flying at noticeably low heights. Though they tried to hide behind some shrubs, a helicopter soon discovered them, and the sheriff arrived on the spot in minutes. He took their film from them, and they were given a very strict warning before they were finally released (SparTech Software).

As mentioned earlier in the report, in 1995, the government finally added the surrounding Freedom Ridge and White Sands ranges to the exclusive restricted area. Tikaboo Peak was not obtained by the government, and the reason for this is said to be an existing law that restricts land confiscation to 5000 acres. Hence, even though this peak is not so close to the area, it is popularly used by onlookers as it offers them a clear view of Area 51. It is frequented by people wanting to satisfy their curiosity and see a unique aircraft take off from the base’s runway, which is 18,000 feet long and said to be the largest runway in the world (Darlington, 1998).

The U.S. government’s positions on Area 51

In 1997, the “U.S. Government declassified the existence of Area 51”. Other parts of the Nellis range are not subject to such extreme security measures, but this particular area can not be accessed by civilians or by unauthorized military air traffic. Radar stations provide unparalleled protection to the area from any unauthorized personnel, which, if detected, are dealt harshly with and immediately expelled. The Nellis Air Force Range conducts military training in nearby areas, but their pilots risk strict action if they are ever to unintentionally come into the restricted area which surrounds Groom Lake (Hall & Skinner, 1993).

Private security guards working for EG&G’s security subcontractor Wackenhut continuously monitor the area via patrol in their Cherokees and military 4-wheel drive motor vehicles. These guards are armed with M-16s, but so far, there have not been reports of any violent encounters with trespassers. Rather, these guards simply follow the onlookers out of the restricted area’s boundary and call the local sheriff. However, they are authorized to use ‘lethal force’ if, upon severe warnings to the visitors, they continue attempting to violate these warnings and enter the restricted area. Monetary fines are highly common, and these are generally for about $600. Nonetheless, there have been reports of visitors and journalists who have later been visited by FBI agents. The latest technology and equipment are used for surveillance purposes, such as buried motion sensors and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters (Dreamland Resort).

As far as the presence of the base on maps is concerned, public government maps do not show it and the USGS topographic map for this region shows only the obsolete Groom Mine. Nevada’s Civil Aviation Chart marks out a large restricted area, but offers no more details, simply marking it as a part of Nevada’s ‘restricted airspace.’ In the same fashion, the map in the National Atlas, which provides an illustrative view of federal lands in Nevada, groups the Groom area together with other parts of the Nellis range and does not distinguish it in any way. Even before the official declassification of Area 51, the original imagery captured by the U.S. Corona spy satellite was changed. When the government was faced with questions regarding freedom of information, it replied that the film which recorded images of the Groom area and the whole of Nellis Air Force Range had been permanently erased and destroyed. Terra satellite images, which were previously accessible to the general public, were removed from the internet servers in 2004 as well as from the black-and-white data server of the United States Geological Survey. However, some images can still be availed by people. This includes images captured by the NASA Landsat 7, the most recent satellite of the Landsat program, which is an enterprise aiming to capture cloud-free and clear pictures of the Earth from space. Aside from this, images that are not under the control of the U.S. government, such as those taken from Russian satellites and the commercial IKONOS system (an earth observation satellite), can be accessed on the internet with great ease. So far, the most comprehensive illustrative coverage of this area is available to the public on Google Earth, which provides a detailed view of the runway marking, base facilities, aircraft, and other vehicles.

The state government of Nevada recognized the curiosity the area had aroused and rightly thought this to be a great opportunity for attracting potential tourism. With this in mind, it renamed the part of Nevada State Route 375 in close proximity to the base as “The Extraterrestrial Highway” and has marked the route with illustrated signs (Renegold, 2007). Security is so tight that even the Lincoln County tax assessor is not permitted to enter the area to conduct an assessment of the land, which, since it is owned by a private contractor, is liable to state and local taxes.

The environmental lawsuit and government-made exceptions

In 1994, a suit was filed against the USAF and US Environmental Protection Agency by five civilian contractors, who said that they had been present when huge amounts of unknown chemical substances had been burned in pits at Groom. Hence, their argument was that they had suffered massive skin, liver, and respiratory damage due to this exposure, and this had proved fatal for two contractors. They wanted compensation for their injuries since they claimed that dangerous materials had not been handled according to the legal standards of doing so. Additionally, their suit sought comprehensive details about these chemicals as they wanted this to aid the treatment of those who had survived. U.S. Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, was quoted as telling a reporter on TV, “The Air Force is classifying all information about Area 51 in order to protect themselves from a lawsuit”.

The government tried to prevent the disclosure of secret information by citing the State Secrets Privilege in a petition to the trial judge, stating that this would be a threat to national security and would invariably expose highly confidential information, but this petition was not upheld by the judge. The U.S. government, however, was not to be deterred. The President at the time, Bill Clinton, passed a Presidential Determination, on the basis of which “The Air Force’s Operating Location Near Groom Lake, Nevada” was excluded from environmental disclosure regulations. As a result of this, the case was dismissed as there was not sufficient evidence for trial. Though the case was appealed by the civilians’ lawyer on the basis that the government was ‘abusing its power to classify material,’ but the Air Force filed a brief saying, ” disclosures of the materials present in the air and water near Groom “can reveal military operational capabilities or the nature and scope of classified operations.”” The appeal was rejected, and the case concluded. To this day, every year, the President issues a determination that reinforces the continuation of the Groom exception. This determination, combined with a barely implicit mention in other government communications, is one of the rare instances when the U.S. government acknowledges the status of Groom Lake as anything more than a nondescript area in the Nellis complex.

Conclusion

Area 51 is a highly classified air force base in Nevada, the existence of which the government continued to deny, but satellite images proved its existence, and records showed that about 1,851 employees render their services here. Then, on April 17, 2000, the Air Force finally ceded to the Associated Press Reporters, “We acknowledge having an operating site there (Area 51), and the work is classified”. Additionally, their spokesperson also said that the work which is done at this location includes “operations critical to the U.S. military and the country’s security.” Other than the fact that it is a flight-testing ground for aircraft, people do not really know the happenings at this location, and the Air Force is protected by an executive exemption from disclosure of information pertaining to waste disposal operations at this location. Hence, the U.S. government has gone to extreme lengths to prevent any information sharing about this piece of land, and the reason it provides for doing so is that by doing this, it is acting in the best interests of the nation (Baltheser, 2003).

References

Balthaser, Dennis. “Area 51: Still above the law.”

Darlington, David. Area 51: The Dreamland Chronicles. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1998.

Dreamland Resort, “Area 51 – Dreamland Resort“. Web.

Hall, George, and Michael Skinner. Red Flag. Motorbooks International, 1993.

“History of Area 51.” 2004.

Patton, Phil. Dreamland : Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51. New York: Villard Books, 1998.

Regenold, Stephen. “Lonesome highway to another world?” The New York Times. 2007. Web.

SparTech Software, “Area 51” h

Wikipedia, “Area 51” Web.

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