GC746VY Aviation Cache: B-17F 42-30535 (Unknown Cache) in Iowa, United States created by captainj

This cache has been archived.

captainj: The cache was hit and I won't be able to get to Dubuque very soon so I'm going to archive. Thanks for playing!

GC746VY ▼

A cache by captainj Message this owner

Hidden : 4/28/2017

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Lieutenant Robert Breitbach

On February 8, 1944 Lt. Robert Breitbach, a Dubuque Native, lead a training mission in a B-17F Flying Fortress bomber from Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, IL. On board the aircraft were Breitbach, three Air Force Flight School students, and a flight engineer. The flight headed to Breitbach's hometown of Dubuque. Breitbach had been attached to the 12th Army Air Force in North Africa in 1943, and completed 50 bombing missions over targets in Sicily and Italy.

The Boeing B-17F pictured here was a famous bomber during World War II. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

The B-17 was a famous World War II bomber and was an odd site to the residents of Dubuque since there were no B-17 bases near Dubuque. The residents were surprised to see the B-17 roar over their town at low altitude that day. The B-17 made two low passes past Heller's Tavern off old Highway 20.

"It seemed to be headed right at us, and we ducked," Dorothy Heller, 13, told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald in 1944.

Soon after the low pass, the right wing of the bomber clipped a tree, and the pilot corrected, sending the engine into a stall. The plane crashed and burst into flames, killing all five men on board, including the 23 year old Breitbach.

It was not clear who was piloting the plane at the time, Breitbach or a student, but the Army Air Corps accident report said pilot carelessness was the cause and added a warning that flying at low altitude breaks flying regulations and is cause for court-martial. It was speculated that Breitbach was flying low over the tavern to get the attention of a girl that worked there at the time.

The posted coordinates are where Heller's Tavern was located on old Highway 20. The building there now is different than the homes around it. Please look at the front of the building to help solve the puzzle to find the final. Here is what you need to look for:

On the front between the two garage doors is the address. These numbers are ABCB.
On the north side of the house there are how many garage doors. The number of these is D.
On the north side of the house there are how many windows on each garage door. The number of these is E.
N 42 29.C(A-D)C
W 90 43.(A+E)A(B+D)