Sid Beck passes.............

[Guest Maj Millard]

Heard the other day that Sid Beck of the Mareeba Military warbird museum has passed away. Sid had amassed an impressive collection over the years which included many recovered WW2 aircraft which were left scattered throughout the north after the war. This collection included at least one Bell Aero cobra recovered from the cape, and an engine and other parts from a B-24 Liberator that crashed in the lower gulf region at night, after most of the crew had bailed because of low fuel in bad weather.

 

The main museum building on the highway opposite the Mareeba airport, was a WW 2 hangar originally erected and used by the USAAF 4th air Depot in Townsville. They were a busy heavy maintenance unit tasked with the maintenance of all the 5th US Army Airforce bombers in the western Pacific.

 

After the war Sid and his crew completed dismantled one of the hangars, and rearected it in Mareeba, bit by bit. This was no mean feat, and that hangar is still standing as a memorial to those who served in it, and to Sids determination to see one preserved. RIP Sid,and thanks for the memories.................Maj.....