GC5EMVH Lights out, Lights out in Manston (Traditional Cache) in South East England, United Kingdom created by sidderz

This cache has been archived.

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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GC5EMVH ▼

A cache by sidderz Message this owner

Hidden : 10/11/2014

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

On 6 May 2014 the closure of the airport was announced, which duly occurred on 15 May 2014

Many great planes have flown over these lights.

During the war Spitfires and Lancaster bombers flew out off Manston

RAF MANSTON At the outset of the First World War, the Isle of Thanet was equipped with a small and precarious landing strip for aircraft at St Mildred's Bay, Westgate, on top of the chalk cliffs, at the foot of which was a promenade which had been used for seaplane operations. The landing grounds atop the cliff soon became the scene of several accidents, with at least one plane failing to stop before the end of the cliffs and tumbling into the sea, which, fortunately for the pilot, had been on its inward tide. In the winter of 1915–1916, early aircraft began to use the open farmlands at Manston as a site for emergency landings. The Admiralty Aerodrome at Manston was opened in response. A training school, originally set up to instruct pilots in the use of the new Handley Page Type O bombers, was soon established. By the close of 1916 there were already two units stationed at Manston: the Operational War Flight Command and the Handley Page Training School. Its location near the Kent coast gave Manston some advantages over other aerodromes, and regular additions in men and machinery were soon made, particularly from Detling, in early days. By 1917 the Royal Flying Corps was well established and taking an active part in the defence of England. Battle of Britain and the Second World War In the Second World War, Manston was heavily bombed during the Battle of Britain. Barnes Wallis used the base to test his bouncing bomb on the coast at nearby Reculver prior to the Dambusters raid. Hawker Typhoon and Meteor squadrons were based at Manston during the Second World War. Its position close to the front line and its long and broad runway (built during the war, along with the runways at Woodbridge and Carnaby near Bridlington) meant the airfield was heavily used by badly damaged planes that had suffered from ground fire, collisions, or air attack but retained a degree of airworthiness. The airfield became a "graveyard" for heavy bombers and less-damaged aircraft, offering spare parts for allied aircraft in need of repair. The museums on site display some aerial views dating from this era and the post-war years. Post-war military and civil use During the Cold War of the 1950s, the United States Air Force used Manston as a Strategic Air Command base for its fighter and fighter-bomber units. The USAF withdrew from Manston in 1960, and the airfield became a joint civilian and RAF airport, employed for occasional package tour and cargo flights, alongside its continuing role as an RAF base. The Air Cadets used the northern side of the airfield as a gliding site, and an Air Experience Flight flying De Havilland Chipmunks was based there. Thanks to its broad long runway, Manston was used as a diversionary airfield for emergency military and civilian landings.

Concorde made a few visit's here, as well as the Airbus 380 and also the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. due to the fact it is one of Britain's longest airways.

The airport and runway were used for the making of the James Bond film Die Another Day in 2001, when the airport was transformed into a North Korean airbase.[30]

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

penfu oneevre haqre zntargvp.

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)