🔎 The b17Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Hangar Saboteur

The historical airfield is in a panic! Someone has stolen the supercharger blueprints for the famous B-17 Flying Fortress, 'The Lucky Lass', just hours before the big airshow. Follow the clues, solve the math, and identify the sneaky crew member who took them!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Flight Role	Flight Gear	Writing Hand	Cap Emblem	Ration Snack
Eddie Rickenbacker	Bombardier	Flight Goggles	Right Handed	Silver Star	Peanut Butter Bar
James Doolittle	Co Pilot	Aviator Shades	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Salted Pretzels
Chuck Yeager	Crew Chief	Leather Jacket	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
Richard Bong	Crew Chief	Leather Jacket	Right Handed	Gold Propeller	Salted Pretzels
Harriet Quimby	Command Pilot	Sheepskin Vest	Left Handed	Silver Star	Peanut Butter Bar
Paul Tibbets	Bombardier	Aviator Shades	Right Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
Charles Lindbergh	Bombardier	Sheepskin Vest	Left Handed	Silver Star	Cherry Licorice
Benjamin Davis	Lead Navigator	Aviator Shades	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
John Glenn	Co Pilot	Flight Goggles	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
Alan Shepard	Lead Navigator	Khaki Cap	Right Handed	Silver Star	Salted Pretzels
Billy Mitchell	Crew Chief	Khaki Cap	Right Handed	Bronze Wings	Peanut Butter Bar
Gabby Gabreski	Co Pilot	Leather Jacket	Right Handed	Gold Propeller	Cherry Licorice
Neil Armstrong	Crew Chief	Khaki Cap	Right Handed	Bronze Wings	Salted Pretzels
Joe Foss	Bombardier	Khaki Cap	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Cherry Licorice
Amelia Earhart	Crew Chief	Flight Goggles	Left Handed	Bronze Wings	Cherry Licorice
Bessie Coleman	Crew Chief	Khaki Cap	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
Daniel James	Lead Navigator	Leather Jacket	Left Handed	Silver Star	Cherry Licorice
David McCampbell	Crew Chief	Flight Goggles	Right Handed	Bronze Wings	Cherry Licorice
Robert Morgan	Co Pilot	Aviator Shades	Left Handed	Bronze Wings	Peanut Butter Bar
Jacqueline Cochran	Bombardier	Aviator Shades	Left Handed	Gold Propeller	Peanut Butter Bar
Tex Hill	Bombardier	Sheepskin Vest	Right Handed	Bronze Wings	Salted Pretzels

Clue 1

Addition

The hangar crew is counting the total number of spare metal rivets delivered this morning. Add up the shipments to find the first clue about the runaway B17 saboteur.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

8429

6088

7115

7213

8712

6668

5374

8712

5820

9899

9292

7115

3261

5820

9292

8429

4001

7115

5374

4345

4325

6668

8712

7939

6088

8429

7939

9292

7939

6668

7115

3261

2805 + 5624 =T

3430 + 1944 =A

1078 + 2183 =S

2955 + 3133 =H

1811 + 4009 =N

2435 + 1566 =W

4509 + 5390 =D

4501 + 2167 =L

4830 + 2285 =E

5673 + 3619 =O

2186 + 2159 =R

4890 + 3049 =G

2814 + 1511 =F

4369 + 2844 =V

5210 + 3502 =I

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Fractions of a number

The flight engineer must calculate how many gallons of aviation fuel remain in the backup tanks. Find this fraction of the total fuel supply to reveal the next 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.

5/6 of 6 =T

1/8 of 152 =U

4/8 of 6 =D

9/10 of 10 =W

1/3 of 72 =A

3/6 of 76 =R

3/8 of 72 =H

4/10 of 90 =E

1/4 of 88 =N

8/10 of 10 =S

5/10 of 28 =F

6/10 of 20 =C

1/4 of 148 =L

1/8 of 128 =I

1/2 of 36 =P

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The navigator is calibrating the heavy bomber's altitude instruments using a multi-step flight equation. Solve the steps in the correct order to uncover a new detail.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

9 × 11 - 19 =P

55 + 3 × 5 =E

6 × 9 - 27 =L

16 + 8 × 7 =I

7 × 8 - 14 =H

11 × 3 - 2 =D

6 × 6 - 26 =N

7 × 4 - 20 =B

4 + 5 × 2 =T

10 + 7 × 7 =U

25 + 2 × 7 =R

4 × 2 - 2 =F

31 + 3 × 4 =S

1 + 3 × 2 =A

4 + 2 × 4 =W

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The maintenance team is checking rows of spare oxygen masks packed into the wooden storage crates. Multiply the rows by the masks per row to unlock another 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.

108

120

132

11 × 1 =A

7 × 7 =P

5 × 10 =G

4 × 11 =U

4 × 5 =E

7 × 11 =L

1 × 10 =T

9 × 3 =O

9 × 6 =F

10 × 12 =S

4 × 7 =I

11 × 12 =H

9 × 12 =R

1 × 2 =N

9 × 2 =D

6 × 12 =W

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The ground crew needs to divide the emergency rations evenly among the active bomber squadrons. Split the ration boxes up to discover the final clue about our suspect.

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!

Step 1 — solve these

42 ÷ 7 = ?

72 ÷ 9 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

24 ÷ 6 = ?

1 ÷ 1 = ?

81 ÷ 9 = ?

50 ÷ 10 = ?

63 ÷ 9 = ?

120 ÷ 10 = ?

66 ÷ 6 = ?

60 ÷ 6 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain tampers with the supercharger dials, then climbs down the landing gear struts.

2.The villain pockets the vintage radio knobs, then sneaks past the nose cone exit.

3.The villain pockets the vintage radio knobs, then flees through the bomb bay doors.

4.The villain hides the navigator's flight maps, then sneaks past the nose cone exit.

5.The villain pockets the vintage radio knobs, then climbs down the landing gear struts.

6.The villain messes with the rudder cables, then climbs down the landing gear struts.

7.The villain swaps out the spark plugs on engine three, then scrambles out of the waist gunner window.

8.The villain hides the navigator's flight maps, then climbs down the landing gear struts.

9.The villain swaps out the spark plugs on engine three, then sneaks past the nose cone exit.

10.The villain pockets the vintage radio knobs, then slips down the tail gunner hatch.

11.The villain hides the navigator's flight maps, then slips down the tail gunner hatch.

12.The villain pockets the vintage radio knobs, then scrambles out of the waist gunner window.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Hangar Saboteur

Culprit: Chuck Yeager (Crew Chief · Leather Jacket · Left Handed · Gold Propeller · Peanut Butter Bar)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR FLIGHT GOGGLES"
2805 + 5624 = 8429 (T) · 3430 + 1944 = 5374 (A) · 1078 + 2183 = 3261 (S) · 2955 + 3133 = 6088 (H) · 1811 + 4009 = 5820 (N) · 2435 + 1566 = 4001 (W) · 4509 + 5390 = 9899 (D) · 4501 + 2167 = 6668 (L) · 4830 + 2285 = 7115 (E) · 5673 + 3619 = 9292 (O) · 2186 + 2159 = 4345 (R) · 4890 + 3049 = 7939 (G) · 2814 + 1511 = 4325 (F) · 4369 + 2844 = 7213 (V) · 5210 + 3502 = 8712 (I)
Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT WRITES WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"
5/6 of 6 = 5 (T) · 1/8 of 152 = 19 (U) · 4/8 of 6 = 3 (D) · 9/10 of 10 = 9 (W) · 1/3 of 72 = 24 (A) · 3/6 of 76 = 38 (R) · 3/8 of 72 = 27 (H) · 4/10 of 90 = 36 (E) · 1/4 of 88 = 22 (N) · 8/10 of 10 = 8 (S) · 5/10 of 28 = 14 (F) · 6/10 of 20 = 12 (C) · 1/4 of 148 = 37 (L) · 1/8 of 128 = 16 (I) · 1/2 of 36 = 18 (P)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "PEANUT BUTTER BAR WRAPPERS WERE LEFT BEHIND"
9 × 11 - 19 = 80 (P) · 55 + 3 × 5 = 70 (E) · 6 × 9 - 27 = 27 (L) · 16 + 8 × 7 = 72 (I) · 7 × 8 - 14 = 42 (H) · 11 × 3 - 2 = 31 (D) · 6 × 6 - 26 = 10 (N) · 7 × 4 - 20 = 8 (B) · 4 + 5 × 2 = 14 (T) · 10 + 7 × 7 = 59 (U) · 25 + 2 × 7 = 39 (R) · 4 × 2 - 2 = 6 (F) · 31 + 3 × 4 = 43 (S) · 1 + 3 × 2 = 7 (A) · 4 + 2 × 4 = 12 (W)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A GOLD PROPELLER PIN WAS FOUND ON THE WING"
11 × 1 = 11 (A) · 7 × 7 = 49 (P) · 5 × 10 = 50 (G) · 4 × 11 = 44 (U) · 4 × 5 = 20 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (L) · 1 × 10 = 10 (T) · 9 × 3 = 27 (O) · 9 × 6 = 54 (F) · 10 × 12 = 120 (S) · 4 × 7 = 28 (I) · 11 × 12 = 132 (H) · 9 × 12 = 108 (R) · 1 × 2 = 2 (N) · 9 × 2 = 18 (D) · 6 × 12 = 72 (W)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Chuck Yeager
42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Addition, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Hangar Saboteur — set in The Airfield Museum Hangar
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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