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DET 3 AFFTC
Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center
Presumed Operator of Area 51
The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC), headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base, is the
presumed operator of the secret air base at Groom Lake (Area 51). This
assumption is drawn because "AFFTC" appears on many documents regarding base security and land
use, and known Groom Lake alumni claim AFFTC credentials. AFFTC is a logical master because the
Groom Lake base was founded for the testing of secret aircraft -- initially the
U-2 -- and Edwards is responsible for that function. Groom Lake is
Detachment 3 (DET 3) of AFFTC. Det. 3 Personnel often claim to have worked at
Nellis Air Force Base or "Pittman Station," a now-defunct post office in
Henderson, Nevada.
Connections
Alumni
- NASA Astronaut Roy D. Bridges, Jr. -- Was "Assistant Director of Plans" at Det. 3 of
AFFTC/Nellis between Nov. 1979 and July 1980.
- NASA Astronaut Candidate Carl E. Walz.
Related Organizations
- Edwards Air Force Base. AFFTC Headquarters.
- Area 51. Aircraft testing base at Groom Lake.
- Cammo Dudes. DET 3 SP - Area 51 perimeter security force.
- Nellis Air Force Base & Range. Provides cover and support.
Land Holdings in Nevada
According to the 1994 environmental impact study of Edwards AFB [Reported by [email protected]] 18
off-base properties are owned by the Air Force Flight Test Center, including the following:
- Bald Mtn., NV (in Groom Mtn. Range overlooking Area 51): 3 acres, 1971 to present, Microwave
Radar Annex
- Beatty, NV: 32 acres, 1959 to present, Aircraft Test Research Facility
- Bishop, CA: 62 acres, 1966 to present, Test Site
- Coyote Flats (SW of Bishop): 642 acres, 1965 to present, Test Site
- Also included are a string of microwave radar annexes and microwave relays running from
Goshute, NV to Mt. Pinos, CA which were established in 1971 and 1972. Four missile tracking
annexes in California are included.
- Contractors
- Science Applications International Corp, Test &
Evaluation Group.
