Message posted by TD Barnes on January 07, 2011 at 9:55:30 PST:
Peter is correct, the National Geographic documentary is about the real thing. Several of us involved in the CIA Project OXCART were interviewed, including Colonel Slater, the commander at Groom Lake and over Operation BLACKSHIELD when we deployed to Kadena. While we didn't use the Area 51 name back then as we do now, it was never classified. Back then we were so well hidden and compartmentalized we really didn't have need or occasion to talk about where we worked. Even among ourselves, we didn't talk about our work except when there was a need to know. We talked about our boats and cabins on Mt. Charleston, which was something we all had in common. Our wives didn't know where we worked or what we did until our names were declassified during the dedication of the A-12 on campus at CIA on 19 September 2007 during the 60th anniversary of the CIA events. Even today, though we flew to the Area as a group and played together on weekends, we don't ask specific questions of each other regarding projects that are still classified. We were all specialists in a particular field and at times worked on projects that the others on the team had no participation or need to know. To avoid wild speculation of what we did, I will say everything related to developing stealth technology, exploitation of our enemy's aircraft, radar, etc., and supporting RCS and flight activities. No weird stuff. Besides the National Geographic documentary airing around May at the same time as the release of Annie Jacobsen's book, video will be released by CIA, DIA, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the International Spy Museum showing the panel discussions we conducted at each of these venues. These video were made to record all aspects of the Oxcart program for the sake of history. Dr. Robarge, Chief Historian at CIA moderated the panels very professionally. We covered the evaluations of Soviet radar and ECM by Dr. Poteat and myself that concluded it would never be safe to fly the Blackbirds over the Soviet Union, the design and building of the planes, flying the missions, and film analysis. I will ensure Joerg has access to these video for all to see. I think Joerg has posted a link to our account of the Oxcart Legacy Tour, but in case he hasn't you can get an idea of what transpired at: http://nvahof.org/?page_id=5 I commend Joerg and Pete for their part in getting the real story told.
Attached link: OXCART Legacy TourIn Reply to: Re: UFOs invade TCA: Documentary producer promises Area 51 revelations posted by Peter Merlin on January 06, 2011 at 11:09:32 PST:
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