Tonopah Test Range
The Tonopah Test Range (TTR) occupies 625 square miles in the remote northwest corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range. Established as an airfield in the early 1950s, the TTR has provided a high-security location for testing classified, cutting-edge Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft and evaluating captured Soviet aircraft.
Tonopah Test Range
The Tonopah Test Range (TTR) occupies 625 square miles in the remote northwest corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range. Established as an airfield in the early 1950s, the TTR has provided a high-security location for testing classified, cutting-edge Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft and evaluating captured Soviet aircraft.
Small, Secret, Stealthy
In the 1970s, the TTR served as the primary development site and initial airbase for the Air Force’s ultra-secret F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighters. At the time, America’s stealth program was the largest Black Operation in Air Force history.
The TTR has also played a significant role in the development and testing of advanced conventional, chemical and nuclear weapons. In the 1950s and 60s, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DoD conducted five known nuclear detonations on the TTR.
These tests released highly toxic radioactive and chemical materials into the air, soil and water supply. They also contaminated the TTR’s airbase, research facilities and “Mancamp,” home to the military and civilian support personnel who worked on the range.
A 1957 “Thunderwell” test, which used a 300-kiloton atom bomb 20 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb to evaluate the feasibility of using controlled nuclear explosions to propel spacecraft.
Operation Roller Coaster, a series of four tests conducted in 1963 to study the impact of exploding “dirty” bombs – conventional warheads laced with plutonium – and the effects of plutonium fallout on the area surrounding the test sites.
Over the years, thousands of TTR workers and visitors have been exposed to this contamination, including:
- DOE personnel involved in nuclear research and testing
- Civilian defense contractor employees
- Civilian TTR support personnel
- DoD personnel involved in:
- Observing weapons tests
- Flying, maintaining and securing classified USAF aircraft
Small, Secret, Stealthy
In the 1970s, the TTR served as the primary development site and initial airbase for the Air Force’s ultra-secret F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighters. At the time, America’s stealth program was the largest Black Operation in Air Force history.
The TTR has also played a significant role in the development and testing of advanced conventional, chemical and nuclear weapons. In the 1950s and 60s, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DoD conducted five known nuclear detonations on the TTR.
These tests released highly toxic radioactive and chemical materials into the air, soil and water supply. They also contaminated the TTR’s airbase, research facilities and “Mancamp,” home to the military and civilian support personnel who worked on the range.
A 1957 “Thunderwell” test, which used a 300-kiloton atom bomb 20 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb to evaluate the feasibility of using controlled nuclear explosions to propel spacecraft.
Operation Roller Coaster, a series of four tests conducted in 1963 to study the impact of exploding “dirty” bombs – conventional warheads laced with plutonium – and the effects of plutonium fallout on the area surrounding the test sites.
Over the years, thousands of TTR workers and visitors have been exposed to this contamination, including:
- DOE personnel involved in nuclear research and testing
- Civilian defense contractor employees
- Civilian TTR support personnel
- DoD personnel involved in:
- Observing weapons tests
- Flying, maintaining and securing classified USAF aircraft
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Make your tax-deductible donation, today. You can choose to donate each month or make a one-time donation. And you can choose the amount that works best for you.
Your donation will help hold our government accountable for endangering thousands of military personnel who served on the NTTS and their families.
Your donation provides the ammo we need to secure the objective and win equal treatment and just compensation for all who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting the invisible enemy.
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We Need Your Help
Telling the story of the invisible enemy, gaining support and writing new legislation takes time, dedication and money.
Make your tax-deductible donation, today. You can choose to donate each month or make a one-time donation. And you can choose the amount that works best for you.
Your donation will help hold our government accountable for endangering thousands of military personnel who served on the NTTS and their families.
Your donation provides the ammo we need to secure the objective and win equal treatment and just compensation for all who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting the invisible enemy.
Please give what you can.
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