WW2 Ruth-Less Liberator Memorial (Butts Brow) Multi-Cache
Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache, I'm archiving it.
Andy
Long Man
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WW2 Ruth-Less Liberator Memorial (Butts Brow)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is a 1lr clip-lock box placed at ground level. Sorry, I believe that the start point location, and certainly the final location, is not accessible for wheelchair cachers.
Parking:
N 50° 47.587 E 000° 14.444
Warning, unfortunately, this is a pay parking area and it is regularly patrolled by Eastbourne Borough Council's Parking Enforcement Officers.
Luckily for Eastbourne residents, however, this is one of the very few places where they can place their Eastbourne Leisure Card (obtainable free from the Tourist Information Centre) on the dashboard and park for free.
RUTH-LESS details (visit link) :
'Ruth-Less' was an early specification B-24D Liberator bomber, full serial number B-24D-25-CO4124282.
The Consolidated Aircraft Company constructed 'Ruth-Less' during November 1942, at their factory in San Diego, California.
The bomber had taken off at 11.05 on a bombing mission. On its second run over Watten, it was hit by enemy fire. The number 3 inboard engine was hit but she continued her run; the number 4 engine was then hit and began leaking fuel. 1st. Lt. J.O. Bolin realised that they would not make it back to Shipdham and so turned into the coast over Beachy Head towards the airfield at Friston.
At rooftop height, people in their gardens could see the crew through the windows of the bomber. Unable to gain any more height, the bomber slammed nose first into the cloud covered Downs, flipping over onto her back and exploding into a fire-ball.
All but two of the crew died instantly. Sgts. Wilson and Bales were taken to the Princess Alice Hospital but died shortly afterwards.
RUTH-LESS Memorial details:
Polished and raised lettering underneath a carved relief image of the bomber:
In memory of the crew of a B-24D Liberator Bomber
No. 41-24282 BAR Y ''RUTH-LESS''
of
506 Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, 8th. U.S.A.A.F.
Who all lost their lives, when,
badly damaged by enemy action and in very low cloud,
the aircraft crashed here on february 2nd. 1944.
This inscription is followed by the carved names and home towns and states of the ten crew members who lost their lives.
[I intend to add these names soon.]
Underneath the names, in large letters:
OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES
FAR FROM HOME
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Cache location:
To find the cache you need to establish:
N 50° 47.ABC E 000° 14.DEF
Where the following can be seen on the memorial:
A = number of wings minus 1
B = number of stars
C = number of letters on the aeroplane divided by 2
D = number of gun barrels minus 1
E = number of ailerons
F = number of engines
GEOCHECKER:
You can check your results via this link to Geochecker: (visit link)
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WW2 Unknown Liberator Bomber (Eastbourne):
Unknown Liberator details (visit link) :
The wreck of an American Second World War B-24 Liberator bomber aircraft, which crashed between 1942-1945, situated off Eastbourne Lifeboat Station. The fuselage remains intact although flattened; the aircraft is lying upside down supported by its wings and engines.
(Please note that military aircraft wrecks are protected under the 1986 Protection of Military Remains Act, and as such a licence must be obtained from the Ministry of Defence prior to any investigation work.)
I am not aware of there being a permanent memorial to the crew of this unknown Liberator so I thought it would be suitable to associate their memory with the memorial of the Liberator RUTH-LESS and her crew.
WW2 Slit Trenches:
There are two WW2 slit trenches located a little north of the cache, here:
N 50° 47.425 E 000° 14.440
These were dug in 1942 by the Canadian Army.
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LEST WE FORGET
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Memorial items: ybbx irel pnershyyl, naq rireljurer.
Cache: PNHGVBA! Fgvpxl!
Treasures
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