Kittyhawk Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache is for the more adventurous cachers. It is located in a remote part of the Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve. To reach the cache the use of a 4WD is required. The cache is located about 3.7 km from Gunn Point Rd, as the crow flys, however the 4WD track into the site is about 7.8 km long. The track will take you directly to the site. I would not recommend walking into the site unless you are an experienced bush walker/hiker. Difficulties with access may be experienced during the wet season.
On the 13th of June 1942, at about 12:00 pm, the RAAF RDF station at Dripstone detected a large Japanese airborne formation of 27 bombers and 45 Zero fighter escorts. The formation was approaching Melville Island from the northwest.
A USAAF standing patrol consisting of 8 P40E Kittyhawks reached the Japanese formation as it was overhead RAAF Darwin. The Zeros, who outnumbered the Kittyhawks, engaged the patol.
As a result of the encounter one of the Kittyhawks, piloted by 2nd LT Pierre Alford, was shot down by a Zero over Gunn Point. Alford succesfully bailed out and landed near Gunn Point while his aircraft crashed at the cache location.
The wreckage of the Kittyhawk aircraft still remains today at this virtually unknown and unmarked location.
The cache itself is an ammo tin (Many thanks to ShellcaseNT for the replacement) located near the wreckage. It contains a coffee jar with log book and goodies.
Good luck and enjoy this very historical WWII site. Please treat it with the utmost respect that it deserves.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vs lbh svaq gur jerpxntr lbh jvyy ab qbhog svaq gur pnpur. V qb unir n Tnezva genpx ybt ninvynoyr juvpu sbyybjf gur genpx va sebz Thaa Cbvag Eq. Vs lbh jbhyq yvxr n pbcl cyrnfr rznvy zr.
Treasures
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