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Exclusive: Inside Area 51, the Secret Birthplace of the U2 Spy Plane

In her new book " AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base ," which goes on sale May 17, Annie Jacobsen offers for the first time an inside look at the history of America's top secret military base. It is the first book based on interviews with the scientist, pilots, and engineers -- 74 in total -- who for the first time reveal what really went on in the Nevada desert, from testing nuclear reactions to building super-secret supersonic jets to pursuing the war on terror.

Jacobsen, a contributing editor and investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times Magazine, interviewed the former Area 51 employees in 2008 and 2009, shortly after the CIA declassified much of the work they had done, including countless pages of redacted memos and declassified reports. Area 51 is still officially a military secret, unmentioned by name, Jacobsen notes. 

In this exclusive excerpt, Jacobsen reveals some of the wild research that went on in the 1970s at Area 51 -- where the military built the U-2 spy plane, rather than harboring crashed UFOs.

Chapter 20: From Camera Bays to Weapons Bays

By 1974, the Central Intelligence Agency had ceded control of Area 51. Some insiders say the transition occurred in 1979, but since Area 51 does not officially exist, the Air Force won’t officially say when this handover occurred.

Certainly this had to have happened by the time the stealth bomber program was up and running; the F-117 program was the holy grail of Pentagon black projects — and, during that time period, the Air Force dominated Area 51.

Having no business in bombs, the CIA maintained a much smaller presence there than historically it had before. During the 1970s, the Agency’s work concentrated largely on pilotless aircraft, or drones. Hank Meierdierck, the man who wrote the manual for the U‑2 at Area 51, was in charge of one such CIA drone project, which began in late 1969.

Code-named Aquiline, the six-foot-long pilotless aircraft was disguised to look like an eagle or buzzard in flight. It carried a small television camera in its nose and photo equipment and air-sampling sensors under its wings. Some insiders say it had been designed to test for radiation in the air as well as to gather electronic intelligence, or ELINT. But Gene Poteat, the first CIA officer ever assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office, offers a different version of events.

Elvis' Marriage ceremony in Las Vegas - joshu's FotoPage ...

Elvis and Priscilla ended up married Might one, 1967, virtually 8 decades following their courtship started. The marriage ceremony was private, and it was held at the Alladin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.Priscilla wore a beaded white gown and a veil. The veil was attached to her hair, which was styled in the well-known "bee-hive" style. The veil was three ft extended. Her hair was dyed black. On top of her hair sat a rhinestone crown. Elvis wore a black dinner match that suit him very well. Elvis had two finest males, Marty Lacker and Joe Esposito. Priscilla's maid of honor was her sister Michelle. Elvis was thirty-two years aged and Priscilla was twenty-1 a long time outdated.The ceremony was in the morning and lasted close to eight. minutes. At the ceremony there was a little amount of guests. The ceremony was followed by a press conference. At the conclusion of the press conference, a breakfast reception was held. There ended up one hundred visitors in attendance for the reception. The cake was six-tiered. Their first dance as husband and wife was to the tune "Enjoy Me Tender."Right after the wedding ceremony, the two left to honeymoon in Palm Springs, California to getaway for a few days. They stayed at 1350 Ladera Circle in a grand home. The area is now obtainable for tours. You can even use it for your personal honeymoon or wedding. Upon their arrival Elvis showed his romantic side by choosing up Priscilla and carrying her more than the threshold. Even though doing so, he sang "The Hawaiian Wedding Song."The property that Elvis honeymooned at was leased by him for a 12 months. Elvis' supervisor Tom Parker lived in the area and manufactured the suggestion for Elvis to honeymoon here, since he believed it would be the ideal place for him to relax and get pleasure from the corporation of buddies.Well-known Hollywood gossip columnist Rona Barrett lived nearby and became suspicious of a wedding ceremony when a lot of family members members arrived in Palm Springs onApril 29, 1967. Rona made make contact with with the residence maid and she was able to get confirmation that the two had been set to be married Might one, 1967. She produced an announcement on her nightly tv exhibit that the two ended up ready to be married.The two planned on getting their marriage ceremony at the estate in Palm Springs. Even so, the media onslaught compelled them to transform their plans.

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