McIntyre Field - The 3rd Hanger Traditional Cache
Blacklegend: This one has been consistently muggled since I installed it. I am going to archive it.
McIntyre Field - The 3rd Hanger
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Note: As of 28/03/2012 cache replaced for the 4th time. Now a 10ml lip balm container with log only. New location, so anyone wanting to re-log as a new find is welcome to do so. Hint updated as well.
The Third Hanger
Welcome to another Blacklegend cache... My 84th Hide...
Another cache in what is now becoming a series around the Tocumwal Airfield. Firstly, a little bit of history on the Tocumwal Airfield, or as it used to be called in WW2, McIntyre Field.
The History...
The Tocumwal Airfield began operation in the second world war in response to the Japanese moving south in the Pacific Ocean. There was a real threat that they were going to invade Australia, and Tocumwal was a major airfield which was going to be used in that defense.
When occupied by the USAF (US Air Force) it was called McIntyre Field. In 1942, the RAAF took over operation of the airfield and called it "Tocumwal".
During its operation the airfiled was 25 square miles in size and was home to many different types of planes. including 54 B-24 Liberator bombers, 11 Vultee Vengeance, 5 Kittyhawks and an Airspeed Oxford.
After the war it was also used as a vast storage and repair depot with aircraft such as Avro Anson, Airacobra, Beaufort, Boeing, Boomerang, Dakota, Hudson, Lancaster, Lincoln, Meteor, Mosquito, Mustang, Spitfire, Beaufighter, Vampire, Winjeel and Wirraway.
After the RAAF left Tocumwal in 1960, over 700 aircraft were scrapped through until 1963. Many aircraft were smelted on site into aluminum ingots, pots and pans. The Holden Motor Company bought much of the aluminium.
Similarly, almost all of the 608 buildings on the airbase and at the hospital, were sold and removed. With post war building supplies almost impossible to get, this was popular at the time, but there was little foresight as to the historical value of this. There are a few buildings left, and many foundations which are subject of some caches in this series.
Abot 200 of the houses were moved to developing suburbs in Canberra. The suburbs which received the houses were Anislie and O'Connor. You can view the whole story at this link
The Tocumwal Archive
There were originally six large hangars built on site, there are three remaining today. One is used by the gliding club onsite to store aircraft. This is the hanger featured in this cache.
The runway nearest to this cache was originally longer. It was shortened after 1960 as was the North-South runway. There was another runway, the longest of all four that were made, which has been covered by soil, and if you drive about 400 meters west of the cache named "Gate 9 - Tocumwal Airfield" along the road the cache is on, you can see some white markers in the field, inside the airport fence line. This marks where that runway is. This location will be subject of another cache soon.
Our house is on land that used to be part of the airbase. When I have been working on our block, I have found old aircraft tools, red bricks from buildings and old bullet casings.
There are other caches around the area which have information about the airfield. If you search for McIntyre Field all the caches in the series will come up.
The are well worth visiting, as the locations are very historical. Another image is shown below, it is an aerial shot of the airfield facing south. The hanger which this cache is the subject of, is shown around middle right.
Visit this link Tocumwal Airfield During WW2 or Visit this link A Brief History of Tocumwal Aerodrome For more information if you like. It's not a bad read, and has some good information and pics.
Once again, have fun and be careful with the kiddies near the road. Also, anywhere in Australia, BE CAREFUL AND ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SNAKES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIDS. This is a high muggle location due to its use as a currently active airfield. Good luck and importantly, have fun.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgrry srapr cbyr EUF bs tngr. Unys jnl hc, ng onpx. Cyrnfr ercynpr rknpgyl nf sbhaq.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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