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Abandoned structures hold
the secrets of America's past.
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00:00:06,620 --> 00:00:08,517
Lost in a sea of machinery,
3
00:00:08,517 --> 00:00:11,517
an aircraft
that helped America
reach new heights.
4
00:00:13,310 --> 00:00:16,344
It has such a unique,
special role in history
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00:00:16,344 --> 00:00:18,551
that no other aircraft
can lay claim to.
6
00:00:20,551 --> 00:00:25,344
A sporting arena
built in a county that
didn't play by the rules.
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00:00:26,758 --> 00:00:28,896
We didn't have anything,
you know, much around here.
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00:00:28,896 --> 00:00:31,379
In the early days,
you had to do something
to survive.
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00:00:33,448 --> 00:00:39,034
And defenses near
the capital hide a story
that was nearly lost forever.
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00:00:39,034 --> 00:00:42,172
It was involved
in the protection
of the United States Capitol.
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00:00:42,172 --> 00:00:46,379
But in a bigger sense,
it was here to serve a mission
to protect the world.
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00:00:50,068 --> 00:00:52,517
Scattered across
the United States
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00:00:52,517 --> 00:00:58,551
are abandoned structures,
forgotten ruins of the past,
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00:00:58,551 --> 00:01:02,827
monuments to a bygone era.
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00:01:02,827 --> 00:01:08,931
Each shines a light
on the story of this land
and its people.
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00:01:08,931 --> 00:01:12,931
These are the secrets
of hidden America.
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00:01:21,206 --> 00:01:27,000
In the hot, dry lands
near the border with Mexico
is a sight to behold,
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00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,758
and it hides a creation
that helped America
reach for the stars.
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We're on the edge
of the city
of Tucson, Arizona.
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00:01:41,413 --> 00:01:45,965
And right here is a pretty
unbelievable scene.
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We're looking
into a vast spectacle
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00:01:51,413 --> 00:01:56,758
of decommissioned airplanes
on a monumental scale.
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00:01:56,758 --> 00:02:01,310
This is the largest
airplane boneyard
on the whole planet.
24
00:02:01,310 --> 00:02:03,586
And nearby
is a site holding
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00:02:03,586 --> 00:02:08,275
the select few
that really made a difference.
26
00:02:08,275 --> 00:02:11,862
This is like
a greatest hits
of aviation history.
27
00:02:11,862 --> 00:02:18,034
I mean, all the weird
and most effective vessels
kind of all in one place.
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00:02:18,034 --> 00:02:21,620
They won war,
shattered records
and broke barriers.
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00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:24,931
But out here is stored
one of the most unique looking
30
00:02:24,931 --> 00:02:26,965
and interesting aircraft
you'll ever see.
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00:02:28,551 --> 00:02:29,827
It looks
like a bloated,
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00:02:29,827 --> 00:02:32,586
monstrous whale
and staring at it,
33
00:02:32,586 --> 00:02:35,862
it biggest belief
that this thing could ever
course through the sky.
34
00:02:39,241 --> 00:02:41,758
But looks
can be deceiving.
35
00:02:43,551 --> 00:02:45,793
This airplane
is one of the most unsung
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00:02:45,793 --> 00:02:47,862
but important aircraft
of the 20th century.
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00:02:47,862 --> 00:02:51,344
It made America's
single greatest achievement
of the 20th century possible.
38
00:03:00,827 --> 00:03:03,620
The sheer size
tells us that
this was designed
39
00:03:03,620 --> 00:03:06,551
to carry some
truly heavy cargo.
40
00:03:06,551 --> 00:03:08,551
But the real clue
as to what this was for
41
00:03:08,551 --> 00:03:11,793
lies in the little bumps
to the edge of the fuselage.
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00:03:15,655 --> 00:03:17,965
In simple terms,
they're just basically hinges.
43
00:03:17,965 --> 00:03:20,275
The whole front
of the aircraft
would swing open
44
00:03:20,275 --> 00:03:23,172
just like a regular
front entrance door
to your house.
45
00:03:23,172 --> 00:03:27,000
And that enable
the... the crews
to load the cargoes.
46
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,827
Regular cargo planes
are loaded from the rear.
47
00:03:31,068 --> 00:03:34,344
This approach
was a design headache.
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00:03:34,344 --> 00:03:39,586
However, it helps identify
what the plane was for.
49
00:03:39,586 --> 00:03:43,137
So the reason
is because the huge diameter
the components are putting in,
50
00:03:43,137 --> 00:03:47,206
they weren't able to get them
into existing cargo airplanes
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00:03:47,206 --> 00:03:49,275
through the traditional
rear entry points.
52
00:03:50,793 --> 00:03:53,137
What it carried
in that big belly?
53
00:03:53,137 --> 00:03:56,551
Well, you know, it had
a huge impact on America.
54
00:03:56,551 --> 00:04:02,275
And what they were trying
to achieve with this plane
was unchartered territory.
55
00:04:05,724 --> 00:04:10,034
I believe that this nation
should commit itself
to achieving the goal
56
00:04:10,034 --> 00:04:13,344
before this decade
is out of landing a man
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00:04:13,344 --> 00:04:15,896
on the moon and returning him
safely to the Earth.
58
00:04:17,344 --> 00:04:21,172
When President
Kennedy addressed
Congress in 1961,
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00:04:21,172 --> 00:04:25,000
it was clear the Cold War
had boiled over into space.
60
00:04:26,586 --> 00:04:29,034
So, the space race
was an expression
61
00:04:29,034 --> 00:04:32,034
of rivalry
between the United States,
62
00:04:32,034 --> 00:04:36,655
between capitalism
and Soviet societies
under communism.
63
00:04:36,655 --> 00:04:41,137
And this was fought out
in many ways,
the propaganda, sports,
64
00:04:41,137 --> 00:04:45,172
but most strikingly,
perhaps who could get
into space first?
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00:04:45,172 --> 00:04:46,793
Who could put a man
on the moon?
66
00:04:48,586 --> 00:04:51,344
America, however,
was on the back foot.
67
00:04:53,379 --> 00:04:55,000
The Soviets
were worryingly ahead.
68
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,206
They've put
the first satellites
into space.
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00:04:57,206 --> 00:04:59,931
They put the first man
into space.
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00:04:59,931 --> 00:05:02,241
This was
a huge challenge.
71
00:05:02,241 --> 00:05:03,931
Frankly, when he said it,
72
00:05:03,931 --> 00:05:09,000
the US was still pretty far
from being able to achieve
anything like that.
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00:05:13,517 --> 00:05:20,310
It was against
this high stakes backdrop
that the Super Guppy was born.
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00:05:20,310 --> 00:05:26,344
Everyone's heard
of the B-52s, the Spitfires,
the Stealth Bombers,
75
00:05:26,344 --> 00:05:29,000
all the things that are
kind of powerful and feared.
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00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,448
And this is like putting like
a trailer truck in the sky
to haul things,
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00:05:33,448 --> 00:05:35,344
which sounds less exciting,
78
00:05:35,344 --> 00:05:37,034
but when you really dig
into the story,
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00:05:37,034 --> 00:05:39,448
you realize that
this changed history.
80
00:05:42,448 --> 00:05:44,482
And here we are.
This is what it's all about.
81
00:05:44,482 --> 00:05:47,068
It's its unique insight
as it is from the outside.
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00:05:47,068 --> 00:05:48,517
It's... it's enormous.
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00:05:48,517 --> 00:05:51,241
It's... it's a...
it's a structure
unlike any other aircraft
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00:05:51,241 --> 00:05:53,137
you're going
to ever come inside of.
85
00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,620
It wasn't designed
to carry just any cargo.
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00:05:57,620 --> 00:05:59,206
Its mission was very specific.
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00:05:59,206 --> 00:06:03,379
The Super Guppy
was purpose built
to carry rocket modules
88
00:06:03,379 --> 00:06:05,689
for the Apollo program
to get us to the moon.
89
00:06:08,482 --> 00:06:13,896
The deadline
for reaching the moon was set,
the end of the decade.
90
00:06:13,896 --> 00:06:15,896
Time was the new enemy.
91
00:06:17,517 --> 00:06:19,827
One of the biggest hurdles
was logistics,
92
00:06:19,827 --> 00:06:21,689
especially transporting
the components
93
00:06:21,689 --> 00:06:24,137
from the West Coast manufacturers
to the East Coast,
94
00:06:24,137 --> 00:06:27,068
where the launch sites
were actually to be found.
95
00:06:27,068 --> 00:06:29,931
They were far too big
to transport by road and rail,
96
00:06:29,931 --> 00:06:32,620
and if you went by ship,
it would take 18 days.
97
00:06:34,379 --> 00:06:37,413
Jack Conroy,
a former air force pilot,
98
00:06:37,413 --> 00:06:40,413
teamed up with businessman
Lee Mansdorf.
99
00:06:40,413 --> 00:06:43,206
Their vision was to build
a plane large enough
100
00:06:43,206 --> 00:06:44,896
to carry
some of these components.
101
00:06:47,482 --> 00:06:49,793
He realized that
if you could transport them,
102
00:06:49,793 --> 00:06:51,551
you could cut
that waiting time
103
00:06:51,551 --> 00:06:54,068
from about two weeks
to 24 hours,
104
00:06:54,068 --> 00:06:57,482
and that would give America
the crucial upper hand.
105
00:06:57,482 --> 00:07:00,862
So, of course, anything
that's being done in a hurry
for the first time,
106
00:07:00,862 --> 00:07:03,137
it comes with risks
and it comes with challenges.
107
00:07:03,137 --> 00:07:06,586
We were modifying things
that hadn't been
designed to be modified,
108
00:07:06,586 --> 00:07:09,655
and it could have ended
very badly at any point
in the program.
109
00:07:12,655 --> 00:07:17,206
We choose to go to the moon
in this decade
and do the other thing.
110
00:07:17,206 --> 00:07:21,034
Not because they are easy,
but because they are hard.
111
00:07:21,034 --> 00:07:27,586
You'll be sure we are behind
and will be behind
for some time in man flight,
112
00:07:27,586 --> 00:07:31,551
but we do not intend
to stay behind
and in this decade
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00:07:31,551 --> 00:07:33,689
we shall make up
and move ahead.
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00:07:34,965 --> 00:07:39,000
By the time Kennedy
made that speech in 1962,
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00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,862
Conroy had been working
on his prototype design
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00:07:41,862 --> 00:07:45,586
of an oversize cargo plane
for around a year.
117
00:07:45,586 --> 00:07:48,862
Conroy basically
gambled it all, I mean,
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00:07:48,862 --> 00:07:52,172
remortgaging his house,
taking out multiple loans.
119
00:07:52,172 --> 00:07:55,172
And there were no guarantees
from NASA
120
00:07:55,172 --> 00:07:58,482
that even if this worked,
they were going to use it.
121
00:08:01,206 --> 00:08:03,655
Now,
Conroy's first version,
122
00:08:03,655 --> 00:08:07,344
known as the Pregnant Guppy,
was ready to test.
123
00:08:10,034 --> 00:08:15,275
September 19th, 1962,
first test flight,
124
00:08:15,275 --> 00:08:17,931
confidence was the opposite
of high.
125
00:08:17,931 --> 00:08:20,379
They called
the police department,
fire department,
126
00:08:20,379 --> 00:08:22,068
told everyone to stand by.
127
00:08:23,137 --> 00:08:26,034
But to everyone's surprise,
it was a success.
128
00:08:26,034 --> 00:08:28,862
And before he knew it,
he was flying to NASA.
129
00:08:31,517 --> 00:08:33,034
A year later,
130
00:08:33,034 --> 00:08:36,517
the Pregnant Guppy
flew the second stage
of NASA's prototype rocket
131
00:08:36,517 --> 00:08:40,551
to Cape Canaveral
as part of the Apollo program.
132
00:08:40,551 --> 00:08:43,206
However, to get a man
on the moon
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00:08:43,206 --> 00:08:46,965
before the end of the decade,
they needed to go bigger.
134
00:08:46,965 --> 00:08:50,551
And that came
with added risks.
135
00:08:50,551 --> 00:08:54,344
The problem
with the aerodynamics
nearly ended it all.
136
00:08:54,344 --> 00:08:58,689
It very nearly
came crashing down
in a ball of flame.
137
00:09:13,137 --> 00:09:18,206
In 1965,
against the tense backdrop
of the Cold War,
138
00:09:18,206 --> 00:09:21,275
construction of the Super Guppy
was underway.
139
00:09:22,793 --> 00:09:26,379
The Super Guppys
had their airframe genesis
140
00:09:26,379 --> 00:09:28,586
from these two airplanes
behind us.
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00:09:28,586 --> 00:09:29,862
Basically,
these are derivatives
142
00:09:29,862 --> 00:09:34,413
of a civilian
B-377 Stratocruiser,
which was an airliner.
143
00:09:34,413 --> 00:09:36,068
And it was really well built.
144
00:09:36,068 --> 00:09:41,862
And it was just
the right of rugged basis
for the Guppy's creation.
145
00:09:41,862 --> 00:09:46,172
Designed to transport the third stage
of the Saturn V rockets.
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00:09:46,172 --> 00:09:49,896
It needed to be
both longer and wider
than the original Guppy.
147
00:09:53,310 --> 00:09:58,379
Built from three B 377
and one military variant,
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00:09:58,379 --> 00:10:03,655
the fuselage
of the original airliner
was extended by 31 feet.
149
00:10:03,655 --> 00:10:08,172
At the same time,
the 25-foot diameter
upper section was built above.
150
00:10:12,068 --> 00:10:15,206
They framed up
a construction gantry,
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00:10:15,206 --> 00:10:20,103
a grid and built the airframe
from that waterline up
152
00:10:20,103 --> 00:10:22,448
and a great big arc
to the crown
153
00:10:22,448 --> 00:10:24,793
and then skinned it
and built it forward.
154
00:10:26,379 --> 00:10:29,137
This was really
a custom bespoke job.
155
00:10:29,137 --> 00:10:31,689
It is absolutely
not the normal way
of building a plane.
156
00:10:33,862 --> 00:10:35,793
Before the Super Guppy
could be thrown
157
00:10:35,793 --> 00:10:39,310
into service, though,
it had to pass
a series of tests.
158
00:10:39,310 --> 00:10:42,482
Here, an obvious issue
that also impacts
159
00:10:42,482 --> 00:10:44,413
later versions
reared its head.
160
00:10:46,896 --> 00:10:49,103
The most notable feature
of the Guppy
161
00:10:49,103 --> 00:10:52,103
is its massive size,
its huge diameter.
162
00:10:52,103 --> 00:10:54,551
Well, that doesn't make it
very aerodynamic.
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00:10:54,551 --> 00:10:58,206
So, you're really pushing
a brick through the air,
and that's a real challenge.
164
00:11:00,517 --> 00:11:02,931
In flight, it made
some terrifying noises.
165
00:11:02,931 --> 00:11:05,827
There were real fears
that it might just
break up mid-flight.
166
00:11:06,931 --> 00:11:08,620
One of the test engineers
167
00:11:08,620 --> 00:11:12,586
reported that he had walked
into the fuselage
during the test flights
168
00:11:12,586 --> 00:11:16,896
and he said it was like
staring into a willow basket
in a windstorm.
169
00:11:16,896 --> 00:11:20,068
Nevertheless,
with no failure so far,
170
00:11:20,068 --> 00:11:26,206
on a clear September morning
in 1965, she took
to the sky once more.
171
00:11:26,206 --> 00:11:30,689
And this time the fears
turned into reality.
172
00:11:30,689 --> 00:11:33,172
Now it's time
for the final test flights
173
00:11:33,172 --> 00:11:36,896
and you know, you get
the easier ones
out of the way first.
174
00:11:36,896 --> 00:11:39,310
So this was
one of the hardest ones,
175
00:11:39,310 --> 00:11:43,931
a dive from 10,000 feet
at high speed.
176
00:11:45,896 --> 00:11:49,758
Suddenly there was this
loud explosion.
177
00:11:49,758 --> 00:11:52,551
Someone said it was
like a bomb going off.
178
00:11:52,551 --> 00:11:57,241
And then the whole plane
started to shake violently.
179
00:11:57,241 --> 00:12:01,103
As they passed
the 275 miles per hour mark,
180
00:12:01,103 --> 00:12:06,931
the pressure on the fuselage
became too great
and it suddenly imploded.
181
00:12:06,931 --> 00:12:11,034
Above the cockpit,
there was now
a 23-foot wide hole.
182
00:12:11,034 --> 00:12:14,241
The plane was now
speeding towards the earth.
183
00:12:14,241 --> 00:12:17,793
The crew had no option
but to try to regain control.
184
00:12:19,482 --> 00:12:23,275
They are wrestling
to keep this thing in the air.
185
00:12:23,275 --> 00:12:27,344
And, you know,
this is them
fighting for their lives.
186
00:12:30,482 --> 00:12:32,827
Eventually the Guppy
was steadied and the crew
187
00:12:32,827 --> 00:12:34,758
were able to land it
on a dry lake bed.
188
00:12:34,758 --> 00:12:37,241
Disaster was averted,
but it was close.
189
00:12:38,482 --> 00:12:41,793
The Super Guppy
went in for repairs.
190
00:12:41,793 --> 00:12:44,172
Reinforcements were added.
191
00:12:44,172 --> 00:12:49,172
And soon enough she repeated
the test and passed
with flying colors.
192
00:12:50,275 --> 00:12:52,448
So once the Guppy
had cleared its, uh,
193
00:12:52,448 --> 00:12:55,551
flight trials and got
its acceptance from the FAA,
194
00:12:55,551 --> 00:12:57,000
it went into service immediately
195
00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,827
in support
of the Apollo mission program,
196
00:12:59,827 --> 00:13:02,103
moving Saturn rocket components
197
00:13:02,103 --> 00:13:04,034
across the country
to Cape Canaveral.
198
00:13:07,965 --> 00:13:13,862
On July 16, 1969,
Apollo 11 was launched.
199
00:13:13,862 --> 00:13:17,862
Four days later,
the astronauts
entered lunar orbit.
200
00:13:20,724 --> 00:13:24,586
In addition to flying
the major rocket
sections for...
201
00:13:24,586 --> 00:13:28,620
for the Saturn rockets,
this particular airplane
also carried,
202
00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:33,448
uh, the Eagle Moon Lander
and the Columbia
Command Module.
203
00:13:33,448 --> 00:13:40,103
That's one
small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind.
204
00:13:40,103 --> 00:13:42,137
This was
a huge propaganda coup.
205
00:13:42,137 --> 00:13:43,896
It communicated
to the world that America
206
00:13:43,896 --> 00:13:46,275
was more resilient,
more powerful,
207
00:13:46,275 --> 00:13:50,517
more innovative
than its Soviet rivals.
208
00:13:50,517 --> 00:13:55,000
It's really safe
to say that without
this particular airplane,
209
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:56,655
the United States
would not have achieved
210
00:13:56,655 --> 00:13:59,793
its objective of putting
a man on the moon
before the end of the 1960s.
211
00:14:07,379 --> 00:14:11,068
Four upgraded
Super Guppys were later built,
212
00:14:11,068 --> 00:14:15,620
but the original remained
in service until 1991,
213
00:14:15,620 --> 00:14:18,586
when it joined
the Tucson Boneyard fleet.
214
00:14:20,344 --> 00:14:23,034
Some planes
are stored here temporarily.
215
00:14:23,034 --> 00:14:25,551
Others are used for parts.
216
00:14:25,551 --> 00:14:29,482
NASA felt this one
deserved something special.
217
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,275
NASA
was very conscious
218
00:14:33,275 --> 00:14:36,137
of the historical significance
of the Guppy at this point,
219
00:14:36,137 --> 00:14:40,379
and they approached us here
hoping that
we could preserve it
220
00:14:40,379 --> 00:14:45,310
in public display storage
versus being in secure storage
at a military facility.
221
00:14:45,310 --> 00:14:48,241
And we were,
you know, very eager
to help them out with that.
222
00:14:49,586 --> 00:14:53,137
Soon moved here
to the Pima Air
Space Museum
223
00:14:53,137 --> 00:14:56,724
alongside other aircraft
of historical significance,
224
00:14:56,724 --> 00:15:03,034
ownership was handed over
in 2015 and the Super Guppy
is now a permanent fixture.
225
00:15:04,551 --> 00:15:08,689
Every one of these airplanes
is animated
by someone's memory,
226
00:15:08,689 --> 00:15:12,448
by someone's connection,
by someone's
personal involvement with it.
227
00:15:12,448 --> 00:15:14,689
And the Guppy
is unique amongst them
228
00:15:14,689 --> 00:15:17,000
in its role and significance
to history.
229
00:15:25,172 --> 00:15:28,724
In the Tar Heel State
is a town
230
00:15:28,724 --> 00:15:32,000
where a farming community
made their own luck.
231
00:15:41,620 --> 00:15:43,310
Tar Heel
is a derogatory term,
232
00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:46,517
saying that people have
dirty manual labor jobs,
233
00:15:46,517 --> 00:15:50,689
but it's one that
the people of North Carolina
have owned for themselves.
234
00:15:50,689 --> 00:15:53,482
As the saying goes,
"If God isn't a Tar Heel,
235
00:15:53,482 --> 00:15:55,724
why did he make the sky
of Carolina blue?"
236
00:15:57,965 --> 00:16:00,827
In the county
of North Wilkesboro,
237
00:16:00,827 --> 00:16:04,206
history pivots on
a battered circuit of asphalt.
238
00:16:07,241 --> 00:16:10,758
Clearly, the stands
have weathered over the years,
239
00:16:10,758 --> 00:16:12,655
but the concrete
is still sound.
240
00:16:12,655 --> 00:16:16,034
However, there are boxes
that are falling over.
241
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,241
The track itself
is littered with weeds
242
00:16:20,241 --> 00:16:23,448
and grasses that are growing
through the asphalt,
243
00:16:23,448 --> 00:16:26,965
but it still isn't hard
to imagine cars
244
00:16:26,965 --> 00:16:31,724
whipping around this
five-eighth of a mile track
and making your head spin.
245
00:16:31,724 --> 00:16:36,965
To many residents
of Wilkes County,
however, this track is home.
246
00:16:36,965 --> 00:16:38,931
Just about most
of the people, I mean,
247
00:16:38,931 --> 00:16:41,758
are here involved
in the Speedway
in one way or the other.
248
00:16:43,827 --> 00:16:49,034
And the downfall
of this place would lead
some to take drastic measures.
249
00:16:49,034 --> 00:16:50,655
That's all you could do
to survive.
250
00:16:50,655 --> 00:16:52,793
You just couldn't get ahead
without something else.
251
00:17:07,413 --> 00:17:10,206
Dean Combs,
his family moved
to Wilkes County
252
00:17:10,206 --> 00:17:15,137
in the 1940s in the aftermath
of the Great Depression.
253
00:17:15,137 --> 00:17:17,206
My mama,
she was a green bean raiser
254
00:17:17,206 --> 00:17:18,620
and an uncle,
he'd grow the pigs.
255
00:17:18,620 --> 00:17:20,206
And then my mama
made better milk.
256
00:17:20,206 --> 00:17:22,310
She made milk.
She had three milk cows.
257
00:17:22,310 --> 00:17:25,000
I don't think people
got government help
back in those days.
258
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:26,896
It was just manual work
is basically what it was.
259
00:17:26,896 --> 00:17:28,827
Manual work.
260
00:17:28,827 --> 00:17:33,034
Farming communities
like Wilkes County
were slow to recover.
261
00:17:33,034 --> 00:17:37,517
Some families supplemented
their income by making
and selling moonshine.
262
00:17:40,689 --> 00:17:44,000
It was those that did it
and those that lied about it.
263
00:17:45,344 --> 00:17:48,896
Most people did it
to feed families, you know,
264
00:17:48,896 --> 00:17:53,724
this was a farming community
and there wasn't
a lot of money
265
00:17:53,724 --> 00:17:57,482
to go around and moonshine
was a way of life.
266
00:17:59,034 --> 00:18:02,517
But then
I really didn't know
that much about his operation,
267
00:18:02,517 --> 00:18:04,137
but the understanding
that I got,
268
00:18:04,137 --> 00:18:07,310
he mostly headed
the stilts built
269
00:18:07,310 --> 00:18:08,896
and had other people
working for him,
270
00:18:08,896 --> 00:18:11,137
and that's when they got
their extra cash,
they'd get extra cash,
271
00:18:11,137 --> 00:18:14,310
they knew they can go out and
sell a little moonshine or...
272
00:18:14,310 --> 00:18:15,758
or a whiskey here or there,
and they could...
273
00:18:15,758 --> 00:18:18,655
they could get
a little more money
to build up.
274
00:18:18,655 --> 00:18:22,000
And like
in so many places
across the US
275
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,000
where there's moonshine,
there's stock car racing.
276
00:18:27,275 --> 00:18:30,655
In 1946,
they laid ground on a track
277
00:18:30,655 --> 00:18:33,965
that would one day
become legendary.
278
00:18:33,965 --> 00:18:36,620
The North Wilkesboro Speedway.
279
00:18:49,896 --> 00:18:55,034
The first Speedway
was a dirt track
with four banked turns,
280
00:18:55,034 --> 00:18:59,344
and back then stock car racing
was something else.
281
00:18:59,344 --> 00:19:04,413
In the early 1940,
stock car racing
was a little haphazard.
282
00:19:04,413 --> 00:19:07,137
You had different competitions
all around the country.
283
00:19:07,137 --> 00:19:08,310
You had different tracks.
284
00:19:08,310 --> 00:19:10,310
There really
was no regulation.
285
00:19:11,931 --> 00:19:14,482
Stock car racing
was still something
that was done
286
00:19:14,482 --> 00:19:17,827
on the weekends
by local moonshiners
and people
287
00:19:17,827 --> 00:19:21,344
who were just enjoying
modifying their cars
288
00:19:21,344 --> 00:19:23,379
to make them
as fast as possible.
289
00:19:27,344 --> 00:19:29,310
But the new
speedway would have
290
00:19:29,310 --> 00:19:33,172
a profound impact
on the future of the sport.
291
00:19:33,172 --> 00:19:39,413
In 1947, its opening event
was promoted by a businessman
from Washington D.C.
292
00:19:39,413 --> 00:19:40,965
a former racer.
293
00:19:40,965 --> 00:19:43,379
A man called Bill France.
294
00:19:46,344 --> 00:19:49,103
Bill France came along
and realized the potential
295
00:19:49,103 --> 00:19:52,862
of this hobby and he thought
he could make it into a sport.
296
00:19:52,862 --> 00:19:56,000
So he held a race
at North Wilkesboro Stadium
297
00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,896
to prove that
this could not only be
a viable sport,
298
00:19:58,896 --> 00:20:01,068
but one that will bring out
thousands of people.
299
00:20:02,655 --> 00:20:05,655
The bleachers
were standing room only.
300
00:20:05,655 --> 00:20:09,379
The race was won
by future legend Fonty Flock.
301
00:20:11,689 --> 00:20:14,344
And it was
a smashing success
from the get go.
302
00:20:14,344 --> 00:20:18,655
They expected
3000 attendees instead,
they got 10,000.
303
00:20:21,448 --> 00:20:25,068
Following the success of North
Wilkesboro's first race,
304
00:20:25,068 --> 00:20:31,034
Bill France established
the National Association
of Stock Car Auto Racing.
305
00:20:32,689 --> 00:20:34,517
Most of the NASCAR fans
are blue-collar.
306
00:20:36,310 --> 00:20:39,758
Hard working everyday
people or farmers
307
00:20:39,758 --> 00:20:42,379
or whatever,
that's the one
that filled that stands.
308
00:20:44,103 --> 00:20:48,517
Any NASCAR event
is going to bring
a big spectacle.
309
00:20:48,517 --> 00:20:50,758
It is the place
where people go to connect
310
00:20:50,758 --> 00:20:52,862
with their neighbors
and their friends
311
00:20:52,862 --> 00:20:54,586
and watch something
that is important
312
00:20:54,586 --> 00:20:57,068
to their culture,
their heritage,
and their history.
313
00:21:00,413 --> 00:21:02,275
The start
of the engines,
you know, the engines,
314
00:21:02,275 --> 00:21:04,344
you know, the old loud cars,
you're hearing them
315
00:21:04,344 --> 00:21:07,586
and the speed and the...
and the competition
that was there.
316
00:21:07,586 --> 00:21:10,448
It was just...
just so exciting.
317
00:21:10,448 --> 00:21:15,793
At 23 years old,
Dean Combs made his debut
on the starting line.
318
00:21:32,551 --> 00:21:36,620
NASCAR transformed
how the North Wilkesboro
Speedway operated.
319
00:21:36,620 --> 00:21:40,896
Now tracks across the country
all followed the same rules.
320
00:21:42,344 --> 00:21:44,965
Play becomes sport
when rules are established
321
00:21:44,965 --> 00:21:47,413
to level the playing field
for all competitors.
322
00:21:47,413 --> 00:21:51,655
NASCAR established rules
for stock cars and how far
you could modify them
323
00:21:51,655 --> 00:21:53,275
and establish
the first rule book.
324
00:21:53,275 --> 00:21:57,241
But for a lot
of race car drivers,
rules are just suggestions.
325
00:22:00,379 --> 00:22:03,482
This was scales
where they weighed
the race car with.
326
00:22:03,482 --> 00:22:09,000
In other words, they had
a rule that you had to weigh
no less than 3700 pounds.
327
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,344
Why? Why is because
you can think about weight.
328
00:22:13,344 --> 00:22:15,275
Weight
is basically horsepower.
329
00:22:15,275 --> 00:22:16,793
The louder you're running,
the faster
330
00:22:16,793 --> 00:22:19,103
the car is going to run
versus the same horsepower.
331
00:22:20,482 --> 00:22:23,000
But at the North
Wilkesboro Speedway,
332
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,551
the tricks of the bootlegger
were brought to the racetrack.
333
00:22:28,275 --> 00:22:32,620
Stock car racing
has its roots in prohibition
334
00:22:32,620 --> 00:22:35,655
and people trying
to escape police.
335
00:22:35,655 --> 00:22:38,655
If horse racing
is the sport of kings,
336
00:22:38,655 --> 00:22:42,068
NASCAR is the sport of outlaws.
337
00:22:42,068 --> 00:22:44,551
Everybody worked
to try to get lighter.
338
00:22:44,551 --> 00:22:46,517
So your race teams
are doing everything
339
00:22:46,517 --> 00:22:49,103
they can to modify
their cars, to...
340
00:22:49,103 --> 00:22:52,206
...bend the rules
and sometimes break them
just a little bit
341
00:22:52,206 --> 00:22:56,517
to be able to give their car
and their driver an advantage.
342
00:22:56,517 --> 00:22:58,413
Everybody cheat.
343
00:22:58,413 --> 00:22:59,931
But you didn't cheat
till you got caught.
344
00:23:01,103 --> 00:23:02,827
That's the way...
that was our theory.
345
00:23:02,827 --> 00:23:05,068
You don't cheat
till you get caught.
346
00:23:05,068 --> 00:23:07,000
If you don't cheat,
you're not gonna win.
347
00:23:08,586 --> 00:23:12,310
But even
a strict rule book
can't completely eliminate
348
00:23:12,310 --> 00:23:14,758
the risks that go
with stock car racing.
349
00:23:16,379 --> 00:23:20,000
In 1957,
at the Wilkes 160 Race,
350
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:24,000
the axle of one of the cars snapped.
351
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:29,896
A wheel came careening off,
bounced over the fence
and crashed into the audience,
352
00:23:29,896 --> 00:23:31,586
killing one spectator.
353
00:23:44,896 --> 00:23:48,068
In the 1950s,
NASCAR turned
354
00:23:48,068 --> 00:23:52,068
a farming community
into a racing mecca.
355
00:23:52,068 --> 00:23:56,965
But in 1957, a freak accident
saw one fan killed.
356
00:24:22,586 --> 00:24:24,724
Fortunately,
such incidents are rare
357
00:24:24,724 --> 00:24:27,517
and increasing regulation
of the sport
has made it safer.
358
00:24:27,517 --> 00:24:29,275
The accident
at North Wilkesboro
359
00:24:29,275 --> 00:24:31,620
was an important prompter
of those regulations.
360
00:24:32,827 --> 00:24:36,000
But after
the incident at Wilkes 160,
361
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,586
the Speedway went
from strength to strength.
362
00:24:56,379 --> 00:24:59,068
By the 1980s,
the Speedway
363
00:24:59,068 --> 00:25:02,241
was hosting events
to sell-out crowds.
364
00:25:02,241 --> 00:25:05,586
Wilkes County
had never had it so good.
365
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,482
The economy
that brought in,
366
00:25:08,482 --> 00:25:10,862
the people
that came in from towns,
367
00:25:10,862 --> 00:25:14,275
you know, that was probably
three or four
368
00:25:14,275 --> 00:25:19,413
just little old
backyard stores where people
stop to buy their drinks,
369
00:25:19,413 --> 00:25:22,448
buy this and buy that
and really helped
the economy for 'em.
370
00:25:22,448 --> 00:25:24,758
And a lot of times
they didn't have enough
to sell 'em.
371
00:25:33,172 --> 00:25:36,206
But by the middle
of the 1990s,
372
00:25:36,206 --> 00:25:39,172
the county's golden age
had ended.
373
00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:42,344
You've gotta bring
the spectacle.
374
00:25:42,344 --> 00:25:45,931
As NASCAR grew older tracks
like North Wilkesboro
375
00:25:45,931 --> 00:25:47,965
just couldn't keep up
with the capacity
376
00:25:47,965 --> 00:25:50,103
and the facilities
of the newer tracks.
377
00:25:50,103 --> 00:25:53,793
So unfortunately,
by the 1990s,
it wasn't used as much,
378
00:25:53,793 --> 00:25:55,724
and even local teams
were looking
379
00:25:55,724 --> 00:25:58,034
for other race tracks
to race their cars.
380
00:25:59,724 --> 00:26:04,103
At the end of 1996,
NASCAR stopped coming
381
00:26:04,103 --> 00:26:09,862
to North Wilkesboro Speedway,
taking with it an economy
that fueled Wilkes County.
382
00:26:40,758 --> 00:26:42,517
The North
Wilkesboro Speedway
383
00:26:42,517 --> 00:26:45,965
has been silent
for over 25 years,
384
00:26:45,965 --> 00:26:47,965
but some residents
of Wilkes County
385
00:26:47,965 --> 00:26:52,586
have returned
to an old occupation
and even gone legit.
386
00:26:54,103 --> 00:26:58,448
I've always set out
to make a mile strong whiskey
387
00:26:58,448 --> 00:27:03,000
that everybody would like
and that wouldn't burn you.
388
00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:08,793
I've probably not changed
the way I do it
in the last 40 years,
389
00:27:08,793 --> 00:27:11,965
but I started when I was about
nine-years-old
390
00:27:11,965 --> 00:27:16,103
and I'll be 76 next month.
391
00:27:16,103 --> 00:27:17,862
So, do the math.
392
00:27:19,551 --> 00:27:22,586
The moonshine culture
is kind of having a revival,
393
00:27:22,586 --> 00:27:24,137
especially in this part
of the country,
394
00:27:24,137 --> 00:27:27,068
and people have gone back
to making it again.
395
00:27:27,068 --> 00:27:30,379
Some people collect stamps,
some people make moonshine.
396
00:27:36,310 --> 00:27:39,931
Near the nation's capital
is a complex designed
397
00:27:39,931 --> 00:27:42,275
to defend America,
398
00:27:42,275 --> 00:27:47,241
but a classified operation
there had consequences
on a global scale.
399
00:27:52,413 --> 00:27:55,551
This is one
of the most important places
in American history.
400
00:27:55,551 --> 00:27:57,655
It's the last turn
in the Potomac River
401
00:27:57,655 --> 00:28:00,758
before you reach
the nation's capital.
402
00:28:00,758 --> 00:28:05,310
You have thick walls,
places where there would have
been gun emplacements.
403
00:28:05,310 --> 00:28:09,655
It's clear that the whole site
was built with one purpose
in mind.
404
00:28:09,655 --> 00:28:11,724
War.
405
00:28:11,724 --> 00:28:14,689
However,
this structure is not alone.
406
00:28:15,896 --> 00:28:18,344
There's not one fort here,
but two.
407
00:28:19,620 --> 00:28:23,793
Directly across the river
is another fort.
408
00:28:23,793 --> 00:28:28,379
The defenses
tell a story stretching
across two centuries.
409
00:28:28,379 --> 00:28:30,551
But while designed for battle,
410
00:28:30,551 --> 00:28:35,000
their greatest contribution
came from something
entirely different.
411
00:28:38,103 --> 00:28:41,310
And it's not
the exterior defenses
that would matter.
412
00:28:41,310 --> 00:28:43,655
It's what went on inside
that was important.
413
00:28:45,275 --> 00:28:48,862
Stationed here
was a top secret organization
414
00:28:48,862 --> 00:28:51,793
that the public
wouldn't even find out
about until this century.
415
00:28:53,413 --> 00:28:55,275
Much of the classified story
416
00:28:55,275 --> 00:28:57,275
was revealed
after an investigation
417
00:28:57,275 --> 00:29:03,000
began asking questions
about a code name,
P.O. Box 1142.
418
00:29:04,310 --> 00:29:07,827
We were able to get
a phone number for a gentleman
419
00:29:07,827 --> 00:29:09,758
who worked here
during World War II.
420
00:29:09,758 --> 00:29:13,724
And when we called up,
we mentioned
the name P.O. Box 1142.
421
00:29:13,724 --> 00:29:17,310
It resulted in some silence
on the other end of the phone.
422
00:29:17,310 --> 00:29:22,689
Finally, his question was,
"How do you know about
P.O. Box 1142?"
423
00:29:22,689 --> 00:29:26,551
The US was able
to obtain
vital more information.
424
00:29:26,551 --> 00:29:30,827
The work that was done here
was hugely important
to the allies victory.
425
00:29:44,034 --> 00:29:46,310
Straddling the Potomac River.
426
00:29:46,310 --> 00:29:49,068
The two forts
and additional batteries here
427
00:29:49,068 --> 00:29:52,965
were built
with one goal in mind.
428
00:29:52,965 --> 00:29:57,551
Vincent Santucci has worked
with the Park Service
for around two decades.
429
00:29:59,068 --> 00:30:01,482
We are south
of Washington, D.C.
430
00:30:01,482 --> 00:30:04,620
and Washington, D.C.
is in the distance.
431
00:30:04,620 --> 00:30:07,551
And this fort was constructed
specifically as a way
432
00:30:07,551 --> 00:30:10,344
to protect
the American capital.
433
00:30:13,413 --> 00:30:20,000
Completed in 1824,
the oldest remaining structure
is Fort Washington,
434
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,482
but it's only here
because an earlier fort
435
00:30:23,482 --> 00:30:26,689
failed to protect the capital
a decade before.
436
00:30:29,862 --> 00:30:34,448
With tensions arising
in Europe, America feared war,
437
00:30:34,448 --> 00:30:38,068
so it began to fortify
almost every key seaport
438
00:30:38,068 --> 00:30:41,310
with new batteries
and new defenses.
439
00:30:41,310 --> 00:30:45,758
No seaport was of as big
an importance as this one.
440
00:30:47,310 --> 00:30:49,172
The concern
would be that the British
441
00:30:49,172 --> 00:30:52,655
had a tremendously
well recognized
and respected Navy,
442
00:30:52,655 --> 00:30:57,379
and the Potomac
would afford a route
right up to the doorstep
443
00:30:57,379 --> 00:30:59,241
of the American capital.
444
00:31:03,275 --> 00:31:08,275
Completed in 1809,
the original fort
was far smaller
445
00:31:08,275 --> 00:31:12,275
than the one standing today
with tall earthen walls
446
00:31:12,275 --> 00:31:14,724
and a stone tower
to house cannons.
447
00:31:19,482 --> 00:31:26,655
But during the war of 1812,
the fort failed in its duty.
448
00:31:26,655 --> 00:31:32,034
The view
from this point
on August 24th, 1814,
449
00:31:32,034 --> 00:31:34,793
would be looking to the north
and seeing the glow
450
00:31:34,793 --> 00:31:37,000
of the fire
in Washington, D.C.
451
00:31:39,965 --> 00:31:43,206
Instead of sailing
up the river to the capital,
452
00:31:43,206 --> 00:31:46,758
the British had chosen
to land further to the east.
453
00:31:48,517 --> 00:31:52,034
They marched
to the city
and they set it on fire.
454
00:31:52,034 --> 00:31:56,793
This was a huge blow
to Americans strategically,
but also to their morale.
455
00:31:58,344 --> 00:32:01,517
Next, the British
were heading here.
456
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,034
The fort
was undermanned, underarmed.
457
00:32:06,034 --> 00:32:08,965
They used the last
of their remaining gunpowder
458
00:32:08,965 --> 00:32:13,689
to blow up the fort,
making it essentially
unusable to the British.
459
00:32:13,689 --> 00:32:16,551
The British
occupation soon faltered,
460
00:32:16,551 --> 00:32:19,551
but it was painfully clear
that strong defenses
461
00:32:19,551 --> 00:32:22,379
would be vital
to safeguard America's future.
462
00:32:23,724 --> 00:32:25,758
It was such an important
strategic location
463
00:32:25,758 --> 00:32:28,379
they decided to rebuild
on the same site again.
464
00:32:29,896 --> 00:32:32,241
Fort Washington
was just the beginning.
465
00:32:33,655 --> 00:32:37,793
The upgrades around this area
continued over decades.
466
00:32:39,379 --> 00:32:44,206
Not only were the defenses
of Fort Washington rebuilt
and strengthened,
467
00:32:44,206 --> 00:32:45,931
but many years later
they decided to build
468
00:32:45,931 --> 00:32:48,344
a second fort directly
across the river.
469
00:32:50,896 --> 00:32:54,655
The new structures,
however, never saw conflict.
470
00:32:54,655 --> 00:32:57,655
But in the 20th century
they'd be called upon
471
00:32:57,655 --> 00:33:01,206
to defend America
in an altogether
different way.
472
00:33:04,275 --> 00:33:06,965
The protection
that was done here
during World War II
473
00:33:06,965 --> 00:33:09,000
was not just to protect
the capital,
474
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,137
but it was a more
global outreach
to protect the world.
475
00:33:15,206 --> 00:33:18,655
While both forts
had been decommissioned
by this time,
476
00:33:18,655 --> 00:33:23,655
in 1942, they were brought
back into the fold.
477
00:33:23,655 --> 00:33:27,896
Fort Washington housed
the Women's Army
Auxiliary Corps.
478
00:33:27,896 --> 00:33:33,137
Fort Hunt was requisitioned
for a clandestine operation.
479
00:33:33,137 --> 00:33:35,344
The guns
had long been removed,
480
00:33:35,344 --> 00:33:37,620
but it became important
for something else.
481
00:33:37,620 --> 00:33:40,793
The top secret organization
known only by
482
00:33:40,793 --> 00:33:44,206
its mailing address,
P.O. Box 1142.
483
00:33:45,724 --> 00:33:47,620
In the early 2000s,
484
00:33:47,620 --> 00:33:51,827
the National Park Service
began to research the use
of this site
485
00:33:51,827 --> 00:33:53,517
during the Second World War.
486
00:33:57,344 --> 00:34:00,172
There actually were quite
a few buildings
487
00:34:00,172 --> 00:34:04,931
throughout Fort Hunt Park
that were part
of the US Army's
488
00:34:04,931 --> 00:34:09,068
installation here,
but most of that is gone,
489
00:34:09,068 --> 00:34:11,517
torn down
directly after the war.
490
00:34:13,482 --> 00:34:15,931
Few structures remained.
491
00:34:15,931 --> 00:34:18,931
There was little
surviving documentation.
492
00:34:18,931 --> 00:34:22,862
The team needed to find
a new source of information.
493
00:34:22,862 --> 00:34:25,689
It wasn't until we had
one of our park rangers out
494
00:34:25,689 --> 00:34:30,000
providing an interpretive
walk and talk for visitors,
495
00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,758
and somebody in the audience
raised their hand and said,
496
00:34:32,758 --> 00:34:34,896
"Hey, I know somebody
that used to work here.
497
00:34:34,896 --> 00:34:36,482
Would you like
to talk with him?"
498
00:34:36,482 --> 00:34:39,206
What followed
was a five year project
499
00:34:39,206 --> 00:34:44,172
involving extensive interviews
with around 75 veterans
that worked here.
500
00:34:44,172 --> 00:34:47,931
We began to uncover
a much broader story
501
00:34:47,931 --> 00:34:49,827
of activities
that were going on here.
502
00:34:49,827 --> 00:34:52,034
But the primary program
has to do
503
00:34:52,034 --> 00:34:55,310
with the military intelligence
interrogation program.
504
00:34:56,517 --> 00:35:00,034
Largely, it was trying
to obtain information
505
00:35:00,034 --> 00:35:02,586
and intelligence
from German prisoners.
506
00:35:17,034 --> 00:35:19,137
Standing near
the nation's capital,
507
00:35:19,137 --> 00:35:23,448
the top secret facility known
as P.O. Box 1142
508
00:35:23,448 --> 00:35:26,034
was bulldozed
after the Second World War.
509
00:35:27,448 --> 00:35:30,931
Using interviews
and the few surviving photos
510
00:35:30,931 --> 00:35:35,965
Vincent Santucci has formed
an idea of what it might have
looked like back then.
511
00:35:38,896 --> 00:35:42,379
One of the most interesting
aspects of Fort Hunt, uh,
512
00:35:42,379 --> 00:35:45,793
which is no longer
here any longer,
are two prisoner compounds.
513
00:35:47,344 --> 00:35:51,241
So the center of the compound
would be the prisoner cells,
514
00:35:51,241 --> 00:35:55,206
and it would be surrounded
by a gated area
515
00:35:55,206 --> 00:35:58,862
where they can get out
and exercise outdoors.
516
00:35:58,862 --> 00:36:02,931
These two large
prisoner compounds
would be completely fenced.
517
00:36:02,931 --> 00:36:05,896
There would be guard towers.
518
00:36:05,896 --> 00:36:10,413
There were
more than 500 prisoner
of war camps across the US.
519
00:36:10,413 --> 00:36:14,862
But this site on the edge
of the Potomac
was something different.
520
00:36:16,689 --> 00:36:18,344
Being close
to Washington, D.C.
521
00:36:18,344 --> 00:36:19,931
in the Pentagon
was very handy.
522
00:36:19,931 --> 00:36:23,758
The prisoners
that were interrogated
at P.O. Box 1142
523
00:36:23,758 --> 00:36:27,344
were high ranking officers
so that they had
the propensity of...
524
00:36:27,344 --> 00:36:30,000
of having more
important intelligence
525
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,379
that could help
the United States effort.
526
00:36:34,758 --> 00:36:36,310
Intelligence gathering
527
00:36:36,310 --> 00:36:41,482
from the various types
of camps proved vital
to the allied war effort.
528
00:36:41,482 --> 00:36:44,275
Listening devices
were installed,
529
00:36:44,275 --> 00:36:46,482
undercover agents
were planted.
530
00:36:46,482 --> 00:36:51,137
And here it's possible
that a key German site
was first identified.
531
00:37:04,965 --> 00:37:07,103
Headed by Wernher von Braun,
532
00:37:07,103 --> 00:37:11,379
Peenemunde was a key part
of the Nazis missile
and rocket program
533
00:37:11,379 --> 00:37:14,896
that ultimately brought
devastation on London
and beyond.
534
00:37:37,620 --> 00:37:40,620
To extract
all they could
from the eavesdropping
535
00:37:40,620 --> 00:37:45,724
and interrogations,
the military had recruited
some unlikely candidates.
536
00:37:47,241 --> 00:37:49,275
Many were German
born Jews.
537
00:37:49,275 --> 00:37:51,034
They lived
and grew up in Germany.
538
00:37:51,034 --> 00:37:53,448
They were impacted
by the Holocaust.
539
00:37:53,448 --> 00:37:56,275
They fled Europe,
came to the United States
and said, "Give me a gun.
540
00:37:56,275 --> 00:37:58,068
I wanna go back
and fight the Nazis."
541
00:38:00,241 --> 00:38:02,379
Where they ended up, however,
542
00:38:02,379 --> 00:38:04,689
was a long way
from the front line.
543
00:38:21,793 --> 00:38:25,172
The interviews
suggest a wealth
of valuable intel
544
00:38:25,172 --> 00:38:26,724
was discovered here.
545
00:38:26,724 --> 00:38:30,379
There are no reports
of violence or torture
being used,
546
00:38:30,379 --> 00:38:35,000
but occasionally the prisoners
did require some persuasion.
547
00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:38,344
Here, the older structures
had a unique role to play.
548
00:38:39,482 --> 00:38:43,172
With the most resistant
German prisoner, uh,
549
00:38:43,172 --> 00:38:45,103
when they finally realized
that they weren't gonna get
550
00:38:45,103 --> 00:38:49,620
any information from them,
they would blindfold them,
handcuff them,
551
00:38:49,620 --> 00:38:51,965
they would take them
and they would put them
in the back of a truck.
552
00:38:53,965 --> 00:38:56,655
After hours
of driving around,
553
00:38:56,655 --> 00:39:00,793
it was hoped they believed
they had been
transferred far away.
554
00:39:02,206 --> 00:39:05,758
So the vehicle
with the prisoner on
would drive down
555
00:39:05,758 --> 00:39:09,689
to one of these doors
and they would back it in
556
00:39:09,689 --> 00:39:13,724
and then bring the prisoner in
and take them into a room
557
00:39:13,724 --> 00:39:16,620
where they take
the blindfold off
and the handcuffs.
558
00:39:16,620 --> 00:39:18,551
And at that point,
out of the darkness,
559
00:39:18,551 --> 00:39:21,586
walk somebody
with a Russian uniform.
560
00:39:21,586 --> 00:39:26,310
Even the most resistant
pro-Nazi prisoners
561
00:39:26,310 --> 00:39:29,896
usually cooperated better
after thinking
562
00:39:29,896 --> 00:39:32,206
that they were gonna go
with the Russians.
563
00:39:34,379 --> 00:39:36,758
Following Allied victory in Europe
564
00:39:36,758 --> 00:39:39,137
as part
of Operation Paperclip,
565
00:39:39,137 --> 00:39:43,586
a number of leading
Nazi scientists and engineers
were brought to the US,
566
00:39:43,586 --> 00:39:46,689
including Wernher von Braun.
567
00:39:46,689 --> 00:39:49,275
Reports suggest
he was held here.
568
00:39:49,275 --> 00:39:53,724
And by now,
the approach to internment
had evolved somewhat.
569
00:39:55,103 --> 00:39:58,206
There was one position,
it's called a morale officer.
570
00:39:58,206 --> 00:40:00,517
And the morale officer
is the person
571
00:40:00,517 --> 00:40:03,896
who actually provides rewards
to them.
572
00:40:03,896 --> 00:40:07,068
And so there's
some great stories
about taking people
573
00:40:07,068 --> 00:40:12,413
that cooperated into D.C.
and buying items
to send back to their family.
574
00:40:42,655 --> 00:40:48,000
Wernher von Braun
went on to play a vital role
in NASA's space program.
575
00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,793
Alongside him,
hundreds of other scientists
and engineers
576
00:40:51,793 --> 00:40:53,068
had come through here.
577
00:40:54,379 --> 00:40:57,793
In total, almost
three and a half thousand prisoners
578
00:40:57,793 --> 00:41:01,413
were questioned
at P.O. Box 1142.
579
00:41:01,413 --> 00:41:06,689
But by the end of 1946,
the camp had completed
its work.
580
00:41:06,689 --> 00:41:11,344
The structures were bulldozed
and documents mentioning
its name were burned.
581
00:41:17,482 --> 00:41:24,000
Sworn to secrecy,
the sacrifices of those
who served at P.O. Box 1142
582
00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:26,620
came close
to being lost forever.
583
00:41:28,517 --> 00:41:30,206
Given my background,
584
00:41:30,206 --> 00:41:33,586
it wasn't that easy to be
in the presence
of a German officer
585
00:41:33,586 --> 00:41:39,034
and quite frankly,
it was unpleasant,
to put it mildly.
586
00:41:39,034 --> 00:41:41,896
I'd almost feel like vomiting
for the very simple reason
587
00:41:41,896 --> 00:41:43,689
I had to be nice
to these guys.
588
00:41:45,344 --> 00:41:48,344
But having gone
unrecognized for decades,
589
00:41:48,344 --> 00:41:50,655
the work
of all those stationed here
590
00:41:50,655 --> 00:41:53,586
was finally commemorated
in 2007.
591
00:41:55,275 --> 00:41:59,551
We dedicated
this memorial to the veterans
of P.O. Box 1142.
592
00:41:59,551 --> 00:42:03,724
These men said that
the way that they felt
honored and recognized,
593
00:42:03,724 --> 00:42:07,103
made up for the 65 years
of being forgotten.
52331
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