Declassified CIA Files Expose Area 51’s True Military Role
Area 51, a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada, has long been shrouded in mystery, with rumors of UFOs and alien technology. The site gained notoriety in 1989 when Robert Lazar claimed to have worked at a secret facility near Groom Lake, known as “S-4,” studying extraterrestrial spacecraft. While the base’s existence was officially confirmed in 2013, declassified documents revealed its true purpose: testing advanced spy planes like the U-2 and A-12 during the Cold War.
According to the CIA, the U-2’s high-altitude flights (above 60,000 feet) in the 195-60s sparked numerous UFO reports. Pilots mistook the aircraft’s reflective surfaces for otherworldly phenomena. The agency’s 2013 report noted these sightings accounted for over half of all UFO claims during that era.
Established in 1955, Area 51 (officially the Groom Lake Test Facility) began with a 5,000-foot runway and basic infrastructure. It became a hub for developing the U-2 and later the A-12 reconnaissance plane. Secrecy was maintained by limiting personnel movements and using code names like “Project AQUATONE.”
Despite efforts to stay hidden, public curiosity exploded. In 2019, a viral Facebook event, “Storm Area 51,” drew over 900,000 RSVPs, though the “raid” was later revealed as a joke. While conspiracy theories persist, declassified files emphasize Area 51’s true role: a testing ground for military tech, not alien visitors.
