Annie Jacobsen

I had the great fortune of interviewing 75 people who lived and worked at that base for extended periods of time, mostly leading up to the 90s because everything since then is classified, right? So things get declassified after decades, not everything but some, and that allows you to piece together stories.

I had the great fortune of interviewing 75 people who lived and worked at that base for extended periods of time, mostly leading up to the 90s because everything since then is classified, right? So things get declassified after decades, not everything but some, and that allows you to piece together stories.

I had the great fortune of interviewing 75 people who lived and worked at that base for extended periods of time, mostly leading up to the 90s because everything since then is classified, right? So things get declassified after decades, not everything but some, and that allows you to piece together stories.

I mean, Area 51 is huge, by the way. And it's, you know, it's a secret, it's a top secret military facility inside a top secret military facility inside the Nevada test and training range, which is this massive, not secret facility, right? So you're just talking about layers, talk about peeling the onion in reverse. And it began as a place to test the U-2 spy plane.

I mean, Area 51 is huge, by the way. And it's, you know, it's a secret, it's a top secret military facility inside a top secret military facility inside the Nevada test and training range, which is this massive, not secret facility, right? So you're just talking about layers, talk about peeling the onion in reverse. And it began as a place to test the U-2 spy plane.

I mean, Area 51 is huge, by the way. And it's, you know, it's a secret, it's a top secret military facility inside a top secret military facility inside the Nevada test and training range, which is this massive, not secret facility, right? So you're just talking about layers, talk about peeling the onion in reverse. And it began as a place to test the U-2 spy plane.

And literally the CIA set up shop there to build this plane away from the public eye. And then that led to another plane. espionage platform called the A-12 Oxcart, which is, you know, anyone who's seen the X-Men movies knows about the SR-71. And that's a two-seater, right? And before that, there was the A-12 Oxcart. And that was the CIA's stealth Mach 3 spy plane.

And literally the CIA set up shop there to build this plane away from the public eye. And then that led to another plane. espionage platform called the A-12 Oxcart, which is, you know, anyone who's seen the X-Men movies knows about the SR-71. And that's a two-seater, right? And before that, there was the A-12 Oxcart. And that was the CIA's stealth Mach 3 spy plane.

And literally the CIA set up shop there to build this plane away from the public eye. And then that led to another plane. espionage platform called the A-12 Oxcart, which is, you know, anyone who's seen the X-Men movies knows about the SR-71. And that's a two-seater, right? And before that, there was the A-12 Oxcart. And that was the CIA's stealth Mach 3 spy plane.

You know, think about that in the early 1960s. It's astonishing. And I interviewed the pilots who flew it. What did they say about it? Oh, my God. I mean, you know, look, I describe in detail in Area 51. But also the amazing thing, Lex, about that was that, and, you know, I just look back on that with such fondness. This is like in 2009 when I was reporting that.

You know, think about that in the early 1960s. It's astonishing. And I interviewed the pilots who flew it. What did they say about it? Oh, my God. I mean, you know, look, I describe in detail in Area 51. But also the amazing thing, Lex, about that was that, and, you know, I just look back on that with such fondness. This is like in 2009 when I was reporting that.

You know, think about that in the early 1960s. It's astonishing. And I interviewed the pilots who flew it. What did they say about it? Oh, my God. I mean, you know, look, I describe in detail in Area 51. But also the amazing thing, Lex, about that was that, and, you know, I just look back on that with such fondness. This is like in 2009 when I was reporting that.

And many of the guys who were in their 80s and 90s were World War II heroes, like serious World War II heroes, like Colonel Slater, who was the commander of Area 51. He flew the U-2 on the missions called the Black Cat missions over China in the early 1960s to see about their Lop Nor nuclear facility, right? So all of these things tie in when you're reporting on military activity.

And many of the guys who were in their 80s and 90s were World War II heroes, like serious World War II heroes, like Colonel Slater, who was the commander of Area 51. He flew the U-2 on the missions called the Black Cat missions over China in the early 1960s to see about their Lop Nor nuclear facility, right? So all of these things tie in when you're reporting on military activity.

And many of the guys who were in their 80s and 90s were World War II heroes, like serious World War II heroes, like Colonel Slater, who was the commander of Area 51. He flew the U-2 on the missions called the Black Cat missions over China in the early 1960s to see about their Lop Nor nuclear facility, right? So all of these things tie in when you're reporting on military activity.

And intelligence programs. But these guys had been World War II heroes and then were given this cushy job out at Area 51, you know. And it just came with all these perks. Colonel Slater told me this one perk I just love so much. They all had a... hankering for lobster one day, right? And here they are in the middle of the desert in Nevada. And they have these really fast planes, you know?

And intelligence programs. But these guys had been World War II heroes and then were given this cushy job out at Area 51, you know. And it just came with all these perks. Colonel Slater told me this one perk I just love so much. They all had a... hankering for lobster one day, right? And here they are in the middle of the desert in Nevada. And they have these really fast planes, you know?

And intelligence programs. But these guys had been World War II heroes and then were given this cushy job out at Area 51, you know. And it just came with all these perks. Colonel Slater told me this one perk I just love so much. They all had a... hankering for lobster one day, right? And here they are in the middle of the desert in Nevada. And they have these really fast planes, you know?

And they literally called, like they arranged, they didn't take the ox guard out for that one, but they got some lobsters from Massachusetts, like delivered to them in like record time. They didn't even need to put them on ice, you know? And again, those are these details where you're like, thank God, at least for me, thank God I got these details. These guys are all past now.

And they literally called, like they arranged, they didn't take the ox guard out for that one, but they got some lobsters from Massachusetts, like delivered to them in like record time. They didn't even need to put them on ice, you know? And again, those are these details where you're like, thank God, at least for me, thank God I got these details. These guys are all past now.