Thomas P. McIninch

UNCLASSIFIED

The following (S), (C), and (U) marks indicate Secret, 
Confidential, and Unclassified security ratings that are for 
historical interest only. This page and the document it comes 
from, entitled OXCART History (DON:SC-86-010115), has been 
UNCLASSIFIED according to Senior Crown Security Class Guide 
dated 11/01/89, approved and dated 25 Feb.91.

(U) One thing to be decided in the earliest stages of the 
program was where to base and test the aircraft. Lockheed 
clearly could not do the business at Burbank, where the 
aircraft were being built, if for no other reason that its 
runway was too short. The ideal location ought to be remote 
from metropolitan areas; well away from civil and military 
airways to preclude observation; easily accessible by air; 
blessed with good weather the year round; capable of 
accommodating large numbers of personnel; equipped with fuel 
storage facilities; fairly close to an Air Force 
installation; and, possessing at least an 8,000 foot runway. 
There was no such place to be found. 

(S) Ten Air Force bases programmed for closure were 
considered, but none provided the necessary security, and 
annual operating costs at most of them would be unacceptable.  
Edwards Air Force Base in California seemed a more likely 
candidate, but in the end it also was passed over. Instead a 
secluded site in Nevada was finally picked. It was deficient 
in personnel accomodations and POL storage, and its long-
unused runway was inadequate, but security was good, or could 
be made so, and a moderate construction program could provide 
sufficient facilities. Lockheed estimated what would be 
needed in such respects as monthly fuel consumption, hangars 
and shop space, housing for personnel, and runway 
specifications.  Armed with the list of major requirements, 
Headquarters came up with a construction and engineering 
plan. And in case anyone became curious about what was going 
on at this remote spot, a cover story stated that the 
facilities were being prepared for certain radar studies, to 
be conducted by an engineering firm with support from the Air 
Force.  The remote location was explained as necessary to 
reduce the effect of electronic interference from outside 
sources. 

(S) Excellent as it may have been from the point of view of 
security, the site at first afforded few of the necessities 
and none of the amenities of life. It was far from any 
metropolitan center. Lockheed provided a C-47 shuttle service 
to its plant at Burbank, and a chartered D-18 (Lodestar) 
furnished transportation to Las Vegas. Daily commuting was 
out of the question, however, and the construction workers 
arriving during 1960 were billeted in surplus trailers. A new 
water well was dug, and a few recreational facilities 
provided, but it was some time before accomodations became 
agreeable. 

(S) Among the lesser snags, one existed because the laws of 
Nevada required the names of all contractor personnel staying 
in the state for more than 48 hours to be reported to state 
authorities. It was generally felt that to list all these 
names and identify the companies involved would be likely to 
give the whole show away.  The Agency's General Counsel, 
however, discovered that Government employees were exempted 
from these requirements. Thenceforth all contractor personnel 
going to the site received appointments as Government 
consultants, and if questions were asked the reply could be 
that no one but government employees were at this site. 

(C)Construction began in earnest in September 1960, and 
continued on a double-shift schedule until mid-1964.  One of 
the most urgent tasks was to build the runway, which 
according to initial estimates of A-12 requirements must be 
8,500 feet long. The existing asphalt runway was 5,000 feet 
long and incapable of supporting the weight of the A-12.  The 
new one was built between 7 September and 15 November and 
involved pouring over 25,000 yards of concrete. 

Another major problem was to provide some 500,000 gallons of 
PF-1 aircraft fuel per month. Neither storage facilities nor 
means of transporting fuel existed. After considering 
airlift, pipeline, and truck transport, it was decided that 
the last-named was the most economical, and could be made 
feasible by resurfacing no more than eighteen miles of 
highway leading into the base. 

(C) Three surplus Navy hangars were obtained, dismantled, and 
erected on the north side of the base. Over 100 surplus Navy 
housing buildings were transported to the base and made ready 
for occupancy.  By early 1962 a fuel tank farm was ready, 
with a capacity of 1,320,000 gallons. Warehousing and shop 
space was begun and repairs made to older buildings. All 
this, together with the many other facilities that had to be 
provided, took a long time to complete.  Meanwhile, however, 
the really essential facilities were ready in time for the 
forecast delivery date of Aircraft No. 1 in August 1961.
 
(S) The facilities were ready, but the aircraft were not. 
Originally promised for delivery at the end of May 1961, the 
date first slipped to August, largely because of Lockheed's 
difficulties in procuring and fabricating titanium. ....


[Provided by wbusse@jcccnet.johnco.cc.ks.us  Thu Oct 19 
12:10:49 1995]