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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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A Cache in a remote part of the Pine Ridge Reservation that was once part of the Badland Bombing Range (BBR). Container is a small magnetic key holder with a water resident log. Pencils write best on this type of paper. Gel ink pins will not work!
In 1942 the U.S. Army Air Force acquired 341,725.61 acres of land on the Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala Sioux people, for use as a WWII bombing range and aerial gunnery range. Included in this range was 337 acres from then Badlands National Monument. Firing took place within most of the present day Stronghold District. This land was used extensively from 1942 through 1945 as air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery ranges. Precision and demolition bombing exercises were also quite common.
For safety, 125 families were relocated from their farms and ranches in the 1940s. Those that remained nearby recall times when they had to dive under tractors while out cutting hay to avoid shells dropped by planes miles outside of the boundary. In the town of Interior, both a church and the building housing the current post office received six inch shells through the roof. Pilots in practice, operating out of Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, found it a challenge to determine the exact boundaries of the range. Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties. However, at least a dozen members of flight crews lost their lives in plane crashes.
Dozens of large circular targets some as large as 250 feet across each marked with a cross were plowed into the ground to be easily visible from the air. Ironically, the design duplicated the Medicine Wheel, a sacred American Indian symbol. These targets were for the bombardier to spot while on training bombing missions. Practice bombs weighing more than 45 kilograms were dropped these targets scattered all over the Badlands. Small automatic aircraft called “drones” and 60 foot by 8 foot screens dragged behind planes were also used as mobile targets.
Over the next 34 years (until the mid 1970’s) the range was used intermittently by the Air Force for various activities including aerial gunnery and bombing practice/proficiency and by the South Dakota National Guard as an artillery impact range. 100-500 lb. sand-filled practice bombs, 100 lb. magnesium-filled photoflash bombs, 3.5 inch anti-tank rockets, 2.75 inch FEAR/practice rockets, 20-75 mm artillery projectiles, 50 caliber projectiles, 105 mm howitzer rounds, 8 inch howitzer rounds, and 155 mm high explosive and illumination projectiles were believed to have been dropped or fired at the site.
In 1966/1967 the South Dakota National Guard placed about 100 car bodies on a 2,486 acre area for use as artillery targets during training exercises conducted through 1973. This area became known as the Impact Area and later as the Air Force Retained Area.
Between 1960 and 1978 the original BBR land, except for 2,486 acre Air Force Retained Area, was returned to the original landowners, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, or was set aside to form the South Unit of the Badlands National Park., Although no longer active the Air Force Retained Area remains off limits as UXO (Unexploded ordnance) removal efforts continue.
*Note* The cache is NOT located in the Air Force Retained Area. The cars in that area have apparently been removed.
Five unexploded ordnance clearance/decontamination projects have been completed on all or parts of the Badlands Bombing Range. These projects were conducted in 1963, 1964, 1974, 1975, and 1997. Unexploded ordnance clearance/decontamination efforts and environmental monitoring at the site are ongoing at the present time.
The Following is information provided by the original cache hider, rezervation_cacher:
The name of the cache “Reflector City” (RC) is one of three sites that looks like a target-with-cross hairs (or "medicine wheel") from the air. The other two are about half the diameter and are several miles away.
The official name for them, I believe, are "target radar locator's"
Reflector City was fairly heavily bombed, and some of the cars clearly bear the markings of this bombing (more than just light vandalism) on close inspection. Case in point: a few are upside-down or knocked on their side.
I imagine this would have been one of the very first sites the BBRP cleaned up when it was first started, since it is an obvious site and is relatively easily accessible (compared to some areas deep in the Badlands).
The actual reflectors, were probably salvaged decades ago. From what I understand, they were large mirrors mounted on top of telephone pole-type structures that made the RC much easier to find from the air. This was important because most of the Cold War-era pilots on practice bombing runs out of Ellsworth AFB would not have had any idea how to navigate the trackless country in which RC is located.
I find Reflector City to be a place of fascinating history, but barely anyone even knows that it exists. So I kind of set the cache to create some awareness for it
Travel Information:
Part of Difficulty/Terrain rating for this cache comes from figuring out how to reach GZ. Be sure to do your homework before attempting to find the cache. The easiest approach would be from the south starting on a dirt road to the East of Kyle. It is possible to approach from the North/Northeast, but I have not tried this route and it could prove to be more difficult.
*INPORTANT* There is a blue trailer about 1/2 mile west of Reflector City that is inhabited by a family. I would advise that seekers, even if they are having some trouble finding the site, NOT go knock on the door and ask directions. People that live way out in the country like that (and as you will see if you go out there, these people are WAY off the grid) can be pretty paranoid about strangers showing up, and can react in unpredictable ways. Rest assured, though, that the cache is not on their land, and the site is far enough away from the trailer that your presence at Reflector City will not bother them.
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) WARNING:
Throughout the Stronghold District are spent 50 caliber machine gun shells and 20 mm cannon
shells. Larger explosive shells are occasionally found eroding out of the Badlands buttes.
What Should You Do If You Find an Unexploded Ordnance:
Do not continue to move toward a suspected UXO. Some UXO are sensitive to
motion and could explode if you come too near.
Do not move or disturb UXO nor should you move any object near or on UXO. It
may have become unstable over time.
Note the location, including directions, any landmarks, or other features that would
aid in locating the UXO.
Leave the hazard area immediately. Other UXO could be present.
Report any UXO to either the Badlands Bombing Range Project staff at
(605) 867 - 1271 or to the White River Visitor Center at (605) 455 – 2878.
The National Park Service, working with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the U.S.Air Force, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are undertaking a clean up effort for this sacred ground. Do your part. Leave all objects you find in the park in place.
*Note* Team kizb adopted this cache from rezervation_cacher on Augest 9th. 2010. If maintenance is required, please post a maintenance request to the listing so that it can be addressed.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g eha bhg bs tnf!