McIntyre Field - The Longest Runway Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Bunjil: I cannot see any information that suggests to me that steps have been taken to resolve the issue/s associated with this placement - one or more of the following applies:

             - Cache Owner unable to maintain cache 
             - No response from the cache owner.
             - No cache to find or log to sign.
             - It has been more than 28 days since the last owner note.
             - Cache has been abandoned by cache owner/cache in disrepair

As a result I am archiving this cache to keep from continually showing up in search lists and to also prevent it from blocking other cache placements.

If you wish to repair/replace/make available the cache sometime in the next 28 days, just contact a reviewer (by email and include GC number in cache name) and, assuming it still meets the current guidelines, the reviewer will be happy to unarchive it.

If there are components or remnants of the cache and you haven't already done so, please return to the GZ and collect the cache (or remnants). We don't want to litter our environment with Geotrash.

Should you wish to replace the cache after 28 days has passed please create a new cache listing so it can be reviewed as a new cache.

More
Hidden : 4/1/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


McIntyre Field - The Longest Runway

Welcome to another Blacklegend cache hide... My 108th




Yet another installment in the every growing "McIntyre Field" series around the Tocumwal Airfield. The main reason for bringing you to this location is to highlight the North-eastern end of what was one of the main "bomber" runways used during WW2. In fact this is the longest of all 4 runways made at the time, and has now been covered over by soil. In satellite images of the area, you can still make out the different colour / texture of the runway area.

So where is it, I hear you ask. Well, check out the pic above. Have a look at that and you will see. If you don't have the pic handy, as you walk towards the cache from the road it is on that side. You will see the rise of the land in the paddock.

On the SW end of ther runway, which is about 400m west of the McIntyre Field - Gate 9 cache, you will see white markers in the field, which are along each side of the runway. From the end that this cache is on, you are looking up at a rise at the end of the runway, where it starts (or finishes) depending on which way the wind was blowing.

And, of course, 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 brought 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.

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. These caches will be listed with the title "McIntyre Field"

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.





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.

The cache is a 10ml lip balm container, log only. Short on cash, short on containers. So I have used what I have, that's the explanation before anyone says "Why would you put a micro out here.....?" Now you know.


Once again, have fun and be careful with the kiddies near the road. It does not get a lot of traffic, but you never know. Also, anywhere in Australia, BE CAREFUL AND ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SNAKES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIDS. Good luck and importantly, have fun.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Urnq uvtu. Hfr fcbvyre cvp vs arrqrq.

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)


Advertising with Us