Small traditional cache in a south Denver neighborhood, commemorating the 7 lost lives of a 1942 B-24 Liberator crash very close to GZ.
Congratulations to Edwards654 for FTF!
Little known Denver history: On September 26, 1943, a B-24 Liberator bomber took off on a routine training mission from Lowry Field and had to make an emergency crash landing in a vacant lot in the 2200 block of S. Downing St, across the street from Porter Hospital (then called Porter Sanitarium Hospital) (Where the cache is located). All seven crewmembers died in the crash. The pilot, 2nd Lt. John K. Desmond, managed to avoid crashing the enormous 4-engine warbird into the hospital and the homes, sparing all civilian lives. The impact of the crash sent flaming debris flying in all directions, catching several homes on fire, but that was the extent of the damage.
The crew:
2nd Lt. and Pilot John K. Desmond, of Everett, MA
Flight Officer Raymond W. Hansen of Bethel, CN
Flight Officer Kenneth C. Kerkeles of Nashville, TN
Sgt. Lawrence E. Gaddie of Seattle, WA
Sgt. George J. Grabowski of Westfield, IL
Sgt. Albert J. Leyland of Woodbury Road, RI
Sgt. Harold L. Steward of Elkhart, IN
Ever since I learned about this little known incident, I have felt that there needed to be a memorial plaque placed in this area to honor these men, but didn’t know how to go about getting that done. This cache serves as both a memorial and a bit of WWII Denver history.
Just big enough to stash some small swag, a travel bug, please BYOP Please be sure the lid snaps shut. It’s next to a very nice little park, along the E. Harvard Gulch Trail that weaves through several south Denver neighborhoods. GZ is accessible via a very short walk from either Downing or Marion, no need to hop over any fences.
B-24 Crash Landing
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