Message posted by Peter Merlin on July 11, 2004 at 20:11:09 PST:
I think it is more likely that H&N was subcontracting from REECo. The single most important detail to take away from this is that the existence of the Groom Lake facility (Watertown, later Area 51) was never classified. It was announced in the May 1955 press release. The 1957 booklet of "Background Information on Nevada Nuclear Tests" mentions the "Watertown Airstrip" and "Watertown Project" twice, and states specifically that it is located at Groom Lake. It even mentions the U-2 operation (with the "NACA weather research" cover story). Other 1950s documents and press releases also refer to watertown. Later unclassified documents(beginning in January 1960)listed Area 51 telephone numbers and softball scores. Area 51 appeared on unclassified maps (inclued in those on public relations handouts)until at least the late 1970s. The Groom Lake facility didn't really become "nonexistent" until August 1984 when the Air Force seized most of the Groom Mountains. Prior to that, the northern third of the lakebed was actually outside the restricted area.
In Reply to: Re: Original Contractor? posted by Trevor on July 11, 2004 at 19:45:33 PST:
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