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PLEASE NOTE: As of
19.30 on 9th July, I have updated the equations below because of a
little error I made. This error is due to the fact that the
Sawbo-Pishiobury1 code has changed as I had to replace the cache a
few weeks back - if you therefore found Sawbo-Pishiobury more than
a couple of months ago, please check the code with me as you may
not have the updated one. VERY SORRY ABOUT THIS! Anybody using the
equations below before today’s update will find the last
three digits of the Northing incorrect (old equation read b =
S+U+(VxWxZ) whereas it should now be b =
S+U+(VxWxZ)+110)
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The RAF Hunsdon series of caches take you around the perimeter of
what remains of RAF Hunsdon. The total distance of the series is
about 3.5miles and will take you on footpaths and concrete tracks
(so mud shouldn’t be too much of a problem!). To find all
caches in the RAF Hunsdon series, you will have to start with RAF
Hunsdon. In each cache is a different code that will take you to
the next cache.
You can, of course, just choose to find this cache
alone.
(If you have previously found RAF Hunsdon, and want the code,
please contact me)
On a nice calm
day you are likely to see (or at least hear!) much activity from
Hunsdon Microlight Club who operate from the area adjacent to the
memorial. I am a member of this club and currently learning to fly.
The club offer both 'taster flights' and tuition. If this may be of
any interest to you, don't hesitate to contact me, or pop into the
clubhouse....there is usually somebody there on a nice
day!
Please be aware
of the (signposted) active runways and keep dogs under control in
this area! (stick to the roads and footpaths and you’ll be
fine!)
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Links to the other caches in the series:
RAF Hunsdon 2,
RAF Hunsdon 3 and
RAF Hunsdon 4
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RAF HUNSDON:
The coordinates above are for RAF Hunsdon Memorial. The cache is
within half a mile of this location.
The cache is a 1 litre tuppaware container. Please ensure it is
concealed well when you have finished.
You will first
need to visit both
Sawbo-Pishiobury and
Sawbo-Actons and retrieve the codes within each of these
caches.
Together with information found
at the RAF Hunsdon Memorial, and the codes you have retrieved from
the two caches mentioned above, you will be able to calculate the
final coordinates of the RAF Hunsdon cache:
On the memorial, look at the
list of "Squandrans who operated from Hunsdon"
The list is made up of a total
of 34 lines of text/numbers. For example: line 25 reads "154 (Motor
Industry)".
Make a note of the values in the
following table:
From RAF Hunsdon
Memorial:
P = The number on line 1
=
Q = The number on line 12
=
R = The number on line 16
=
S = The number on line 28
=
T = The number on line 30
=
U = The number on line 34
=
From Sawbo-Pishiobury
cache:
V = Sawbo-Pishiobury
‘A’
=
W = Sawbo-Pishiobury
‘F’
=
From Sawbo-Actons
cache:
X = Sawbo-Actons ‘B’
=
Y = Sawbo-Actons ‘C’
=
Z = Sawbo-Actons ‘E’
=
Now you use the values P to Z
above, to find the values of a, b, c and d!:
The Northing is:
N51°4a.b (‘a’ is a 1 digit number,
‘b’ is a 3 digit number)
a = R-Q
b =
S+U+(VxWxZ)+110
The Easting is: E0°04.cd
(‘c’ is a 1 digit number, ‘d’ is a 2 digit
number)
c = P-(XxY)
d = T-(X+Z)
Happy hunting!
RAF
HUNSDON
A sizeable area of farmland to
the east of Hunsdon was requisitioned by the Air Ministry in 1939
to provide for additional fighter air defence of London.
Construction began in October 1940 and involved removal of
significant areas of woodland and field boundaries, as well as the
Old Turkey Cock pub and a number of cottages in Acorn street.
The base became operational in May 1941.
Sorties from the RAF Hunsdon
provided a major contribution to the Battle of Britain and, once
the threat of attack to London had diminished, the primary role
turned from defence to attack. The De Havilland Mosquito
became the mainstay of its fighter bomber role and contributed to
many significant attacks during the later stages of the war.
Operation Jericho - the precision bombing raid on Amien Prison to
release French Resistance fighters on the eve of their execution -
was flown from Hunsdon on 18th February 1944.
At its height more than 2000
personnel were stationed at RAF Hunsdon, and the lives of the
service personnel and of village residents became wholly entwined.
Operations from Hunsdon ceased within days of VE Day in May 1945,
although it was used to receive personnel and materiel returning
from Europe until June 1946. Post war it was returned to
agriculture, passing through a number of landowners up until its
present owners - Ropemakers Properties Limited, the property
investment arm of the BP Pension Fund. Ropemakers have on
several separate occasions sought approval for widespread housing
development on the land, although there has been strong local
opposition and approval has been withheld on each
occasion.
More info,
including pictures of the few remaining structures can be found
here and
here
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