Area 51 'declassified' in U-2 spy plane history

In 1994 there was a court case where some workers who were poisoned working at Groom Lake sued the gov&#x27;t. [1]<p>Apparently at one point a government lawyer, in using the state secrets privilege to deny examination of relevant witnesses referred to &quot;The alleged facility, if it indeed exists&quot;, at which point the opposing council offered to load up his car and drive everyone to the damn base =).<p>[1] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51#Environmental_lawsuit" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Area_51#Environmental_lawsuit</a>

Stories like this always remind me that large groups of people can work on unknown projects without the public finding out.<p>&#x27;Project Oxcart&#x27; known as the A-12 was the first stealth plane built in Burbank, CA by thousands at Locheed and kept in secrecy - then later transported to A51&#x2F;Groom Lake. It was the predecessor to the Blackbird.

Reminds me of BT Tower in London, built in the 60s. Despite being quite a tall and recognisable structure that obviously exists, it was considered an official secret and didn&#x27;t appear on any maps until the mid-90s.

I drilled several of the water wells at Area 51 and TTR.<p>I guess I can talk about it now. :-)

I&#x27;m reading a fun book at the moment about the true story of how the USAF had a squadron of MIGs for aggressor training there too...

Excellent ... now show us &quot;Area 50&quot; ...

Does it mean we are alone?

Not really much of a secret anymore, for a plane that has had parts in Cuban museums for the last 50 years.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Anderson#Wreckage" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Rudolf_Anderson#Wreckage</a>

So the Independence Day movie was lying? I&#x27;m so disappointed!

You mean it WASNT aliens <i>faints in surprise</i>