Aviation History: Caleb Haynes Traditional Cache
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Aviation History: Caleb Haynes
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Aviation History: Caleb Haynes
Calab Haynes doesn't have a road or monument or airfield named after him like some other early Spokane aviators. So, this cache is placed a few blocks from Fancher Road, since Haynes took over command of the 116th National Guard Air Squadron after Major Jack Fancher's untimely death.
This is a quick park and grab if that is all you want. But, the story below is quite interesting. You have to read the whole thing! Bring your own pencil.
Aviation History: Caleb Haynes
Two months after receiving his law degree from Wake Forest College, in North Carolina, Caleb V. Haynes (1895-1966) entered the United States Army as a flying cadet on August 15, 1917. After he returned from flying duty during World War I Haynes was eventually transferred to Parkwater Airstrip, later known as Felts Field on the east side of Spokane, WA. In March 1927, under the command of Major Jack Fancher, Haynes became an instructor of the 116th Observation Squadron, the aerial component of the 41st Division of the Washington National Guard. Haynes was one of the directors of the 1927 Spokane National Air Derby and Air Races, September 21-25, with finish lines established at Felts for air races starting from New York and also from San Francisco.
Major Fancher tragically died in April 1928 and Haynes succeeded him in command of the 116th. Haynes married and became a father during his time in Spokane, and improved Felts Field, adding a photography laboratory. In the late 1930s, the unit, at the request of the federal government performed an aerial survey of the Columbia River, provided valuable information to geologists and engineers for the site selection and construction of Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at that time.
Caleb Haynes left Felts Field in 1932 as he continued his distinguished USAF career. Haynes, a highly rated command pilot, led experimental long-range over-water interception flights that were key to the development of U.S. air defense doctrine. Haynes helped promote air power by flying long range missions to various countries in South America. During much of 1941 and 1942 Haynes commanded flights in China, an interesting situation for him since he had a partial Chinese heritage due to his grandfather. After serving in the Air Force for 36 years Haynes retired as a Major General in 1953.
A most interesting thing about Caleb Haynes is that his Chinese grandfather was Chang Bunker, one of the famous Siamese Twins. Chang Bunker was a conjoined twin with his brother Eng Bunker. They were joined at the sternum by a small piece of cartilage and their livers were fused but operated independently. In 1829 British merchant Robert Hunter discovered them in Siam (now Thailand) and paid their family to have the 17 year old boys exhibited as a curiosity during a world tour. When they turned 21 they were released from the contract and the brothers went into business for themselves. In 1839 the twins were attracted to the quiet rural life and they purchased land in North Carolina and they became naturalized U.S. citizens. Determined to start living a normal life as much as possible the brothers settled on a plantation, bought slaves, and adopted the name “Bunker”. In 1843 they married sisters; Chang married Adelaide Yates and Eng married Sally Yates. Between them (no pun intended) they had 21 children; Chang and his wife had 10 and Eng and his wife had 11. In time the wives squabbled and eventually Eng and Sally purchased another farm and built another house. From then on the twins would alternate spending three days at each home. In 1874 Chang contracted pneumonia and died rather suddenly. Upon awakening in the morning Eng had his family send for medical help but before the doctor arrived Eng died about three hours after Chang’s death.
Caleb was born 21 years after the death of his grandfather, Chang Bunker.
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Congratulations to Dragons&Dreams for being FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebpxfb orgjrra fuehof
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