A hike into history.

Eight cadets and three senior members from Dungeness Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol on July 2 completed the Tull Canyon hike in the Buckhorn Wilderness to visit the crash site of a B-17.

Flight SB-17 44-85746 was an aircraft returning from a search-and-rescue mission in Canada when it crashed into the Olympic mountains. Now, 70 years later, most of the B-17 wreckage remains, though it barely resembles an aircraft anymore — a measure the park service took to decrease emergency calls from planes flying overhead, Civil Air Patrol members note.

“The crash is an important part of the Air Force and Emergency Services history on the Olympic Peninsula,” wrote squadron Commander Madeline Patterson.

Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force, places emphasis on three missions: emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education.

Cadets on the hike were able to increase physical fitness, one of the four pillars of the cadet program, as well as develop camaraderie and leadership, Patterson said.

The cadets each took a turn carrying the unit guidon, a small flag bearing the unit number and CAP logo, to the crash site. The guidon, Patterson noted, serves as a representation of the spirit of the unit and each cadet — no matter their rank —took an equal part.

In 1952, flight 746 was carrying eight crew members. Dungeness had eight cadets on the hike and upon reaching the crash site Patterson read a timeline of the accident. Then, each cadet was given the story and account (if available) of the crash. They read them aloud to the rest of the group and everyone was able to learn about the flight crew, causes of the accident and chain of events, and were able to take a moment to honor those who lost their lives during the crash.

Afterward, the unit members were free to explore what remains of the wreckage to see if they could identify different parts of the airplane.

Civil Air Patrol cadets are youths of ages 12-18 who are interested in aviation and leadership. Senior members are volunteers 18 years old or older. Dungeness Squadron has members from Sequim, Port Angeles, Joyce and Port Townsend.

For more about the squadron, visit wa091.cap.gov.

Submitted photo Dungeness Composite Squadron poses with the unit guidon amidst the B-17 wreckage at Tull Canyon in early July, Pictured are, from left, Commander Madeline Patterson, Commander, Cadet Paige Biss, Deputy Commander/Captain Nick Sue, Cadet Connor Avrett, Cadet Jackson Imholt, Cadet Reilly Sue, Cadet Jackson Girard, Cadet Hannah Colwlill, Cadet Trenton Downs and (in front) Cadet Alexander Creery.

Submitted photo / Dungeness Composite Squadron cadets hike the Tubal Cain Trail to Tull Canyon

Submitted photo Danielle Patterson, a Dungeness Composite Squadron senior member, and Captain Nick Sue examine the weathering on different pieces of the Tull Canyon B-17 crash aircraft.

Submitted photo / Dungeness Composite Squadron Captain Nick Sue explains to squadron cadets how a piece of the wreckage was originally part of the aircraft.