Message posted by Diligent Searcher on May 07, 2010 at 21:11:02 PST:
Det 1 AFEREG in Mercury, NV is Detachment 1 of the: ** Air Force Element Research Evaluation Group ** The proof of this is found at the following Web site, where Douglas Lautner, the Assistant Chief of the Fire Department attached to AFEREG, spells out the acronym in a paper he published (scroll down until you get to call number 28645): http://www.lrc.fema.gov/starweb/lrcweb/servlet.starweb?path=lrcweb/STARLibraries1.web&search=itype%3Defo%20paper%20and%20date%3D1998 We know this is AFEREG because Mr. Lautner identifies himself as the Assistant Chief of Det 1 AFEREG in Mercury, NV in the actual paper itself (read the title page): www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo28645.pdf It's not clear what "element research" refers to, but since others found via Google to be associated with AFEREG are employed as "flight test engineers" and such (such as Stephen A. Cramm, a civilian USAF employee, https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/Detachment190AlumniRelations/1980s.html?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true), my guess is that "element" refers to physical materials and components used in the manufacture of experimental top secret aircraft. In other words, at Groom Lake (the real location of the AFEREG, not the Mercury mail drop) is Detachment 1 of an Air Force organization who research and evaluate various materials and components for potential use in military plane construction.
Replies: