January 1, 1955🇺🇸Program
Military Base
Groom Lake Selected as U-2 Test Site
CIA officials and USAF liaisons selected a remote Nevada location near Groom Lake as the secure test facility for Project Aquatone after evaluating 50 potential sites.
Background
Site Selection Process Kelly Johnson, chief engineer at Lockheed's Skunk Works, dispatched Tony LeVier and Dorsey Kammerer on a reconnaissance mission in an unmarked aircraft to identify suitable locations. Richard M. Bissell Jr. from the CIA and Col. Osmond J. Ritland from the USAF reviewed approximately 50 candidate sites.
Location Criteria The facility required exceptional security and isolation to support classified reconnaissance aircraft development. An initial proposal at Mud Lake was rejected due to proximity to civilian populations.
Final Selection A remote "X-shaped" airfield adjacent to Groom Lake, Nevada, situated outside the AEC nuclear proving ground at Yucca Flat, met all stringent requirements. This location provided the necessary secrecy and operational infrastructure for testing the U-2 spy plane.
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