Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Annie Jacobsen |
| Products | Nonfiction book |
Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base is a nonfiction work published in 2011 by American journalist Annie Jacobsen, which delves into the clandestine U.S. military installation known as Area 51.
Content
Drawing from interviews with scientists and engineers formerly employed at Area 51, the book investigates the Roswell UFO incident and disputes the popular extraterrestrial explanation. Instead, it suggests that Josef Mengele was enlisted by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to engineer "grotesque, child-sized aviators" intended to be remotely controlled into American airspace to provoke widespread alarm, reminiscent of the reaction caused by Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast War of the Worlds. Jacobsen asserts that these craft crashed and that U.S. officials concealed the event. The remains discovered at the crash site were reportedly deformed children approximately 12 years old, under five feet tall, with disproportionately large heads and eyes—described more as "human guinea pigs" than extraterrestrials or pilots.
Additionally, Jacobsen recounts an incident involving Richard Mingus, who described an armed assault on Area 6 during nuclear test preparations.
Reviews
Critical response to the book was varied. The Los Angeles Times praised it as "highly readable" and "thoroughly researched," deeming it ideal for enthusiasts of aviation and military history. Time acknowledged a weakness in its portrayal of the Roswell object as a Soviet deception. The Daily Beast called it an "explosive new book." Meanwhile, The New York Times recognized the author's "relentless commitment to research" but regarded the UFO theory as a somewhat rushed addition that could shape how the work is perceived.
Some reviewers were more critical. Space historian Dwayne A. Day described it as a "poorly documented, error-laden publication" relying heavily on a single anonymous informant. Senior fellows Jeffrey T. Richelson and Robert S. Norris from the Federation of American Scientists and National Security Archive pointed out numerous inaccuracies, labeling it a prime example of inadequate scholarship. Historian Richard Rhodes, writing for The Washington Post, criticized its sensational tone and "factually flawed" reporting, noting that many assertions were repurposed from existing UFO literature without sufficient corroboration.
Interviews
In a 2024 discussion with Lex Fridman, Jacobsen identified Alfred O'Donnell, who worked for EG&G at Area 51 in the early 1950s, as the individual responsible for the Roswell UFO story, characterizing it as a Soviet fabrication.