The Case of the Missing Superfortress Blueprints
A rare set of B-29 flight manuals has vanished from the restoration hangar! The Chief Aviation Historian needs your help to crack the case. A team of mechanics, pilots, and docents are under suspicion. Solve the math puzzles, gather the clues, and find out who took the manual before the Silver Queen takes off!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Flight Duty | Specialized Tool | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Senses Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Hughes | Radio Operator | Hex Wrench | Left-Handed | Sandy Blonde Crop | Aviation Grease |
| Tex Henderson | Flight Engineer | Flight Goggles | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Bright Sunshine |
| Mac McGinnis | Navigator | Hex Wrench | Left-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Eddie Rickenbacker | Radio Operator | Slide Rule | Left-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Loud Static |
| Amelia Earhart | Radio Operator | Morse Key | Right-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Loud Static |
| Ace Higgins | Bombardier | Flight Goggles | Left-Handed | Sandy Blonde Crop | Loud Static |
| Peggy Carter | Navigator | Norden Bombsight | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Jimmy Doolittle | Pilot | Slide Rule | Right-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Bright Sunshine |
| Orville Wright | Bombardier | Morse Key | Left-Handed | Sandy Blonde Crop | Loud Static |
| Betty Cooper | Bombardier | Hex Wrench | Right-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Aviation Grease |
| Skip Jenkins | Bombardier | Slide Rule | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Charles Lindbergh | Flight Engineer | Norden Bombsight | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Snoop Jenkins | Radio Operator | Hex Wrench | Left-Handed | Sandy Blonde Crop | Loud Static |
| Major Vance | Navigator | Flight Goggles | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Aviation Grease |
| Jacqueline Cochran | Navigator | Flight Goggles | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Chuck Yeager | Radio Operator | Norden Bombsight | Left-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Bright Sunshine |
| Paul Tibbets | Navigator | Hex Wrench | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Captain Miller | Pilot | Flight Goggles | Right-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
| Glenn Curtiss | Bombardier | Hex Wrench | Right-Handed | Dark Brown Waves | Loud Static |
| Billy Mitchell | Radio Operator | Morse Key | Left-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Aviation Grease |
| Buzz Aldrin | Navigator | Slide Rule | Left-Handed | Silver Buzzcut | Loud Static |
Addition
Our mechanics are tallying up the spare rivets needed for the B-29's wing panels. Add the quantities together to find the total, and we will unlock the first clue left on the workbench!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
The flight engineer is calculating how much fuel was drained from the fuel tanks during the night. Subtract the remaining fuel from the starting amount to reveal the second clue hidden in the logbook.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We have several crates of vintage spark plugs, arranged in even rows. Multiply the number of rows by the plugs in each row to help us locate the third clue taped to the hangar wall.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number
Only a fraction of the active runway lights are working tonight. Find this fraction of the total light count so we can follow the pathway to the fourth clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The flight crew needs to inspect a fraction of the propeller blades on the B-29 fleet. Solve this fraction to find which hangar bay holds the final clue!
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Superfortress Blueprints
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VISITOR DOES NOT USE THE NORDEN BOMBSIGHT"5500 + 2792 = 8292 (T) · 3675 + 5281 = 8956 (U) · 3215 + 4864 = 8079 (M) · 4004 + 5171 = 9175 (G) · 4742 + 3629 = 8371 (R) · 1336 + 2518 = 3854 (D) · 1823 + 3814 = 5637 (O) · 4569 + 3073 = 7642 (N) · 2010 + 3430 = 5440 (I) · 2864 + 5137 = 8001 (E) · 3510 + 5960 = 9470 (V) · 2931 + 5566 = 8497 (B) · 3746 + 1665 = 5411 (S) · 5762 + 3028 = 8790 (H)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT GRABBED THE LEVER WITH THE RIGHT HAND"2124 - 717 = 1407 (T) · 5845 - 192 = 5653 (V) · 6297 - 1376 = 4921 (G) · 12710 - 4340 = 8370 (E) · 10217 - 4256 = 5961 (D) · 8302 - 1210 = 7092 (W) · 4947 - 2952 = 1995 (I) · 9115 - 1505 = 7610 (C) · 2325 - 710 = 1615 (R) · 9612 - 4076 = 5536 (H) · 11229 - 2425 = 8804 (U) · 4149 - 2491 = 1658 (B) · 8712 - 1264 = 7448 (L) · 5531 - 913 = 4618 (N) · 12519 - 4249 = 8270 (A) · 6425 - 1154 = 5271 (P) · 10160 - 1986 = 8174 (S)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY COVERED THEIR EARS DURING LOUD STATIC"3 × 9 = 27 (T) · 11 × 5 = 55 (L) · 8 × 10 = 80 (V) · 4 × 5 = 20 (E) · 2 × 11 = 22 (C) · 7 × 10 = 70 (O) · 6 × 11 = 66 (D) · 6 × 4 = 24 (R) · 9 × 6 = 54 (N) · 5 × 9 = 45 (U) · 12 × 9 = 108 (S) · 11 × 4 = 44 (A) · 6 × 3 = 18 (Y) · 10 × 6 = 60 (G) · 7 × 5 = 35 (H) · 11 × 3 = 33 (I)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND STIFF STRANDS OF A SILVER BUZZCUT"4/6 of 42 = 28 (W) · 5/10 of 40 = 20 (S) · 2/4 of 32 = 16 (A) · 1/10 of 190 = 19 (N) · 2/6 of 69 = 23 (U) · 1/2 of 16 = 8 (D) · 5/6 of 12 = 10 (F) · 8/10 of 15 = 12 (T) · 1/6 of 90 = 15 (O) · 1/2 of 68 = 34 (L) · 3/4 of 24 = 18 (V) · 5/10 of 62 = 31 (B) · 6/8 of 40 = 30 (E) · 7/10 of 20 = 14 (I) · 1/6 of 66 = 11 (C) · 2/10 of 15 = 3 (R) · 2/10 of 30 = 6 (Z)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 7) → Skip Jenkins4/5 of 5 = 4 · 2/10 of 25 = 5 · 5/10 of 4 = 2 · 2/10 of 15 = 3 · 1/4 of 4 = 1 · 3/4 of 8 = 6 · 3/6 of 24 = 12 · 1/10 of 90 = 9 · 1/2 of 20 = 10 · 1/6 of 66 = 11 · 4/5 of 10 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Superfortress Blueprints — set in The Smithsonian Air Restoration Hangar
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects