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USAAF Station AAF-168 Hanger Cache Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Red Duster: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.

Andy
Red Duster
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Information & Resources website [url=http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk] www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk[/url]
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Hidden : 12/12/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A well stocked cache in a very historic location...

Rivenhall Airfield is an important part of our history and our way of life today.

Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force. During the war it was used primarily as a combat airfield with various fighter and bomber units. After the war it was closed in 1946 and kept in reserve until 1956.

Rivenhall was known as USAAF Station AAF-168 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. It's USAAF Station Code was "RL"

The airfield was built to the Class A airfield standard consisting of three runways of 6,000 ft (10/28), 4,200 ft (04/22), and 4,200 ft (16/34). 51 "Loop" type hardstands were constructed connecting to an enclosing perimeter track, of a standard width of 50 feet.

The ground support station was constructed largely of Nissen huts of various sizes mostly on the south side of the airfield. The support station was where the group and ground station commanders and squadron headquarters and orderly rooms were located. Also on the ground station were where the mess facilities; chapel; hospital; mission briefing and debriefing; armory and bombsite storage; life support; parachute rigging; supply warehouses; station and airfield security; motor pool and the other ground support functions necessary to support the air operations of the group. These facilities were all connected by a network of single path support roads.

The technical site, also on the south side of the airfield, was connected to the ground station and airfield consisted of at least two T-2 type hangars and various organizational, component and field maintenance shops along with the crew chiefs and other personnel necessary to keep the aircraft airworthy and to quickly repair light and moderate battle damage. Aircraft severely damaged in combat were sent to repair depots for major structural repair. The Ammunition dump was located on the north side of the airfield, outside of the perimeter track surrounded by large dirt mounds and concrete storage pens for storing the aerial bombs and the other munitions required by the combat aircraft.

Various domestic accommodation sites were constructed dispersed away from the airfield on the south side, but within a mile or so of the technical support site, also using clusters of Maycrete or Nissen huts. The Huts were either connected, set up end-to-end or built singly and made of prefabricated corrugated iron with a door and two small windows at the front and back. They provided accommodation for 2,594 personnel, including communal and a sick quarters.

The cache is a very bright box hidden a little way off the concrete.

**Please do not enter the hanger as it is very dangerous and unstable**.

The track from the parking to the hanger is wheelchair friendly but help will be needed to retrieve the cache.

PLEASE NOTE: I noticed whilst placing the LONGER landda loop that there is a gate just before the GZ stating the way is restricted. However, the cache is not located anywhere near the quarry, and walkers use this route all the time.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

N ubevmbagny oenapu, va gur jbhaq gung vg yrsg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)