|~Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center~|

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. [GC 8/96]