A view of what appeared to me at the time to be Sid Marshall's "outdoor" collection on a smallish block of land next to Bankstown Airport. You don't find this sort of treasure trove these days. It's circa 1974 I guess, give or take.
My parents and I knew Sydney we'll in fact they sold him the dc2 which was used for joy flights at the banks town corner.always remember crawling all over his collection and flying with him as a kid as my parents owned an aircraft business at banks ton at the time and I virtually grew up there.whatever happened to the gypsy baby which he said was mine as akid.fond memories.
Thanks for that interesting post, Phil! I hung around Syd (Syd or Sid, never sure which is right) Marshall's hangar at Bankstown as a kid in the late 60's as often as I could drag my father there... I remember a few "Moths" but not a "Gypsy baby". I know the Puss Moth VH-UQB ended up in Scotland, still in Marshall colours!
He also had a DH-84 Dragon which I think ended up also somewhere in the UK. One DC2 stopped flying in '57 and was dragged around a bit after that (travelling by road between Camden and Banstown) and is possibly hiding "somewhere in Sydney" in unfinished 'restoration'! If anyone knows where.... please post!
Hi gtveloce. I was al bit loose with the gypsy baby.what I meant was thel little aircraft slyd and jack built with I think a motor bike engine.he used it as advertising for joy flights at banks town corner as we referred to it.it was a non flyer but that didn't stop me from pretending.i forgot to mention earlier but my name used to be Greg Murray, son of Alan and Phyllis who operated Murray aviation until it was torched in the mid fifths.have lots of fond memories of syd and jack.the dc2 you refer to was probably once ours.
Hi again Phil, my name's Rob Russell by the way, and thanks for the extra info. I'm too young (I'm "only" 56) to remember Murray Aviation as it was but I have stumbled over your dad's name when researching Bankstown Airport history. I also remember a tiny single seater "Penguin" that Syd had... it was so small it must be the "baby" you mean - and after passing through Joe Drage's collection and a few other hands it's now in NZ - here's a video of it from about 3 years ago.
Rob.great to hear from you and you are spot on with the penguin.i was only about seven at that time so the memory banks are a bit hazy. Thanks for the video other than a change in colour that's the one.i have a photo somewhere and I will try ti find it and get it to you somehow..... On reflection I think my parents business may have been sky craft aviation but not sure.i have memories of sitting on my fathers knee as we flew over Sydney harbour and hanging on to the rear of SIDS pilots seat on flights in the dragon.hope we can catch up one day and swap stories.regs...Phil.
thanks again Phil - ooops, my fault. I was looking the other way for a bit! I use a manual system to approve new posts. It helps avoid spamming; downside is if I don't look at my email often enough then nothing gets approved! Anyway, all fixed now :)
Not sure my stories are as good as yours! I've never flown in a DH Dragon for example! Would love to see any pics from back then - my email is gtveloce116@gmail.com by the way. Cheers, Rob.
Hi, hopefully you can help with the whereabouts of the DC2 that was moved fron Narellan in the very late 70s. I, my brothers and mum & dad lived in the house that was owned by Harold Thomas on the same plot of land as the DC2. My mum is in that area now and it would be good to get her on a mission to see it again.
To my knowledge there are just 3 DC-2s remaining in Australia, but the one you knew has left the country I'm afraid. You'll have to get your mum over to the Aviodrome in the Netherlands!
It was at Narellan as you say, but was later moved to The Oaks airfield in the early '80s. It was previously owned (I think!) by Syd Marshall and was probably in his backyard at Bankstown for a few years. It was sold to Harold Thomas at some point and was moved around when the museum was kicked off Camden AP, as you probably know. It was s/n 1288, or A30-14 in RAAF service. I think Harold sold it on to Ralph Cusack (famous for his warbird restorations) who sold it to a museum group in the Netherlands in maybe late 1980's for preservation.
The other DC-2 I remember at Bankstown was VH-CDZ, s/n 1376. It also was ex-Syd Marshal, as per several other Bankstown machines. It was previously KNILM, then war service and ANA. Syd bought a few DC-2s after the war but airlines policy meant he couldn't fly them on RPT routes. So he parked them at Bankstown AP, or in his nearby backyard.
But VH-CDZ flew on charter and joy flights so was in good nick. AFAIK it's still at Bankstown and possibly fully restored. or close. Owned by Steve Ferris I think. Other non-Marshall DC-2s include one that may still be at Morrabbin museum s/n 1292, and one at Albury s/n 1286 (really old, corroded machine).
Thank you for the informative reply, I heard a rumour a few years ago that it was in Europe somewhere. It may have even been the Netherlands that i heard of. I think my brother mentioned it. But with my mum seing her brother in Australia I thought it would have been nice for her to see it. Never mind. She is back in the UK now anyway. Regards Andy
Thank you for the informative reply, I heard a rumour a few years ago that it was in Europe somewhere. It may have even been the Netherlands that i heard of. I think my brother mentioned it. But with my mum seing her brother in Australia I thought it would have been nice for her to see it. Never mind. She is back in the UK now anyway. Regards Andyr
I've read with interest some of the comments reference Sid's collection. I too, spent a lot of time in his hanger back in the 60's. Members of my family worked with Victa, Beech and De Hav's. I spent a lot of time crawling over the Spitfire, which sat on the ground with its wings resting against the wall. (Now in Temora) When they produced the Battle of Britain movie, the story goes that they offered to restore his Spitfire to flying condition and return it, plus one of the mock ups. The ME109 used to hang from the ceiling, so you had to climb up to it. (if you paid) There are photos of this aircraft on its legs outside the hanger. After somebody tried to export it on the sly, (discovered by Customs, no names)it sat at Lidcombe Airforce (?) storage facility until it went to Canberra to the War Memorial. Still remember the sad sight of it, sitting on the floor out at one of the storage facilities. It now hangs inside the WM. Can't remember the aircraft type of the Japanese aircraft which hung beside the ME109. That small homebuilt on the back of the truck was parked every weekend down on the corner of HLD and Milperra Rd. I don't know how many young kids sat in that thing and dreamed of flying. I was lucky enough to fly in the Dragon and Auster each time I saved enough money, and eventually went on to learn to fly at the Aero Club in later years. That hanger was the best playground.
My name is Garry Marshall, and Sid was my grand father's brother, our family lived on Nuwarra road Moorebank, my father is Neil Marshall how is still alive now 86 years young, Iam very proud of my heritage as a Marshall and know that a lot of Sid's warbirds are located in museums around Australia, what bovors me is that Sid has never been inducted or recognized as one of Australia's biggest warbird collectors here in Australia yet his plane's are on display, he was an iconic part of our history in aviation, and lots of people don't even know who he is,or planes on display in places like Canberra war museum even belonged to him,I Garry Marshall now 57 years young would like to see him recognized before my father comes to pass, that the Marshall family has a lot to offer in Australian history and the people who were around him just to name one emilia Earhart just before she went missing, a movie in the making?
Great to hear from you, Garry, some amazing background info there - thanks for sharing. Totally agree about Sid's place in our aviation history. He is well recognised in the historical aviation group AHSA and by anyone who has looked into the history of the many aircraft that passed through his hands, but outside that circle it's sadly true that he is "forgotten". I'm not sure what can be done, short of writing and promoting his story. Maybe that's been done, at least in part? An aviation historian somewhere must have documented something... hopefully whatever is out there gets brought together and promoted. I hope so.
I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome near Camden where Syd had an involvement. I'm trying to piece together some history and track down some photos from that era. Could you please email me stephenbennett34@gmail.com
I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome near Camden, where Syd had an involvement. I'm piecing together the history and hope you can help. Could you contact me on stephenbennett34@gmail.com
Don't forget his toy train set up, My dad worked at the "big hangar" owned by JT Brown. I spent many hundreds of hours roaming around Bankstown "drome" as a youngster, including Mr. Marshall's hangar, a lovely man.
My name is Stephen Bennett and I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome. We are planning to build a Museum/Education/Training Centre and incorporate a Aviation Hall of Fame of which Jack Davidson and Syd Marshall will be honored. I would like to hear from all of you who may have stories and images/photos to share. In particular gtvoloce and Garry Marshall could you please make contact. Email stephen@theoaks.aero
My name is Tony Zammit, back in late 60's My friend I visited Sid Marshall aircraft museum at Bankstown Airport. We enjoyed looking at the aircraft, Spitfire, Japanese Oscar and a BF109G, plus many other aircraft. We asked Sid if we could get a ladder to have a look inside the cockpit of the BF109G6. I remember he said to have a look but not to climb on the wing area. The temptation was too great and we climbed onto the wing, it was very dusty. We lifted the hood to have a good look inside. We also had a good look at the Spitfire.
We visited the museum again a few weeks later. Again asking if we could have a closer look at the BF109G6. This time when we climbed onto the wing area and notice no one was around, we opened the hood and climbed into the cockpit and closing the hood down. It was a great feeling imaging we were in control flying the BF109G, taking a few photos of us inside the cockpit. But it all ended swiftly when we hear a voice for us to get out of the aircraft,. leave and never come back. I followed with interest what happen to the BF109G, and heard about it was sold and was camouflaged as a Mustang and was intercepted at Customs. I eventually tracked it at its shortage place at Regents Park. Years later I found it was at the Treloar in Canberra, where I got permission to visit where it was in storage, and they told me it will be displayed at AWM in the future. I was very happy to see it on display in its full glory, Though I would have preferred if it was on static display on the ground. It is now displayed behind the Lancaster G for George. It looks good though one think I dont like is having an aerial battle were the BF109G6 is firing from the forward guns, to me it doesnt look right, as if it's a toy aeroplane. But it's always nice to visit and relive my happy memories. Tony Zammit (tonyzam@bigpond.net.au)
21 comments:
My parents and I knew Sydney we'll in fact they sold him the dc2 which was used for joy flights at the banks town corner.always remember crawling all over his collection and flying with him as a kid as my parents owned an aircraft business at banks ton at the time and I virtually grew up there.whatever happened to the gypsy baby which he said was mine as akid.fond memories.
Thanks for that interesting post, Phil! I hung around Syd (Syd or Sid, never sure which is right) Marshall's hangar at Bankstown as a kid in the late 60's as often as I could drag my father there... I remember a few "Moths" but not a "Gypsy baby". I know the Puss Moth VH-UQB ended up in Scotland, still in Marshall colours!
He also had a DH-84 Dragon which I think ended up also somewhere in the UK. One DC2 stopped flying in '57 and was dragged around a bit after that (travelling by road between Camden and Banstown) and is possibly hiding "somewhere in Sydney" in unfinished 'restoration'! If anyone knows where.... please post!
Hi gtveloce. I was al bit loose with the gypsy baby.what I meant was thel little aircraft slyd and jack built with I think a motor bike engine.he used it as advertising for joy flights at banks town corner as we referred to it.it was a non flyer but that didn't stop me from pretending.i forgot to mention earlier but my name used to be Greg Murray, son of Alan and Phyllis who operated Murray aviation until it was torched in the mid fifths.have lots of fond memories of syd and jack.the dc2 you refer to was probably once ours.
Hi again Phil, my name's Rob Russell by the way, and thanks for the extra info. I'm too young (I'm "only" 56) to remember Murray Aviation as it was but I have stumbled over your dad's name when researching Bankstown Airport history. I also remember a tiny single seater "Penguin" that Syd had... it was so small it must be the "baby" you mean - and after passing through Joe Drage's collection and a few other hands it's now in NZ - here's a video of it from about 3 years ago.
Rob.great to hear from you and you are spot on with the penguin.i was only about seven at that time so the memory banks are a bit hazy. Thanks for the video other than a change in colour that's the one.i have a photo somewhere and I will try ti find it and get it to you somehow.....
On reflection I think my parents business may have been sky craft aviation but not sure.i have memories of sitting on my fathers knee as we flew over Sydney harbour and hanging on to the rear of SIDS pilots seat on flights in the dragon.hope we can catch up one day and swap stories.regs...Phil.
Hi rob.
I did reply to your last post but it doesn't seem to be there.did u rec it or did I bugger up. Phil
thanks again Phil - ooops, my fault. I was looking the other way for a bit! I use a manual system to approve new posts. It helps avoid spamming; downside is if I don't look at my email often enough then nothing gets approved! Anyway, all fixed now :)
Not sure my stories are as good as yours! I've never flown in a DH Dragon for example! Would love to see any pics from back then - my email is gtveloce116@gmail.com by the way. Cheers, Rob.
Hi, hopefully you can help with the whereabouts of the DC2 that was moved fron Narellan in the very late 70s. I, my brothers and mum & dad lived in the house that was owned by Harold Thomas on the same plot of land as the DC2. My mum is in that area now and it would be good to get her on a mission to see it again.
To my knowledge there are just 3 DC-2s remaining in Australia, but the one you knew has left the country I'm afraid. You'll have to get your mum over to the Aviodrome in the Netherlands!
It was at Narellan as you say, but was later moved to The Oaks airfield in the early '80s. It was previously owned (I think!) by Syd Marshall and was probably in his backyard at Bankstown for a few years. It was sold to Harold Thomas at some point and was moved around when the museum was kicked off Camden AP, as you probably know. It was s/n 1288, or A30-14 in RAAF service. I think Harold sold it on to Ralph Cusack (famous for his warbird restorations) who sold it to a museum group in the Netherlands in maybe late 1980's for preservation.
The other DC-2 I remember at Bankstown was VH-CDZ, s/n 1376. It also was ex-Syd Marshal, as per several other Bankstown machines. It was previously KNILM, then war service and ANA. Syd bought a few DC-2s after the war but airlines policy meant he couldn't fly them on RPT routes. So he parked them at Bankstown AP, or in his nearby backyard.
But VH-CDZ flew on charter and joy flights so was in good nick. AFAIK it's still at Bankstown and possibly fully restored. or close. Owned by Steve Ferris I think. Other non-Marshall DC-2s include one that may still be at Morrabbin museum s/n 1292, and one at Albury s/n 1286 (really old, corroded machine).
Thank you for the informative reply, I heard a rumour a few years ago that it was in Europe somewhere. It may have even been the Netherlands that i heard of. I think my brother mentioned it. But with my mum seing her brother in Australia I thought it would have been nice for her to see it. Never mind. She is back in the UK now anyway.
Regards
Andy
Thank you for the informative reply, I heard a rumour a few years ago that it was in Europe somewhere. It may have even been the Netherlands that i heard of. I think my brother mentioned it. But with my mum seing her brother in Australia I thought it would have been nice for her to see it. Never mind. She is back in the UK now anyway.
Regards
Andyr
I've read with interest some of the comments reference Sid's collection. I too, spent a lot of time in his hanger back in the 60's. Members of my family worked with Victa, Beech and De Hav's. I spent a lot of time crawling over the Spitfire, which sat on the ground with its wings resting against the wall. (Now in Temora) When they produced the Battle of Britain movie, the story goes that they offered to restore his Spitfire to flying condition and return it, plus one of the mock ups. The ME109 used to hang from the ceiling, so you had to climb up to it. (if you paid) There are photos of this aircraft on its legs outside the hanger. After somebody tried to export it on the sly, (discovered by Customs, no names)it sat at Lidcombe Airforce (?) storage facility until it went to Canberra to the War Memorial. Still remember the sad sight of it, sitting on the floor out at one of the storage facilities. It now hangs inside the WM. Can't remember the aircraft type of the Japanese aircraft which hung beside the ME109. That small homebuilt on the back of the truck was parked every weekend down on the corner of HLD and Milperra Rd. I don't know how many young kids sat in that thing and dreamed of flying. I was lucky enough to fly in the Dragon and Auster each time I saved enough money, and eventually went on to learn to fly at the Aero Club in later years. That hanger was the best playground.
My name is Garry Marshall, and Sid was my grand father's brother, our family lived on Nuwarra road Moorebank, my father is Neil Marshall how is still alive now 86 years young, Iam very proud of my heritage as a Marshall and know that a lot of Sid's warbirds are located in museums around Australia, what bovors me is that Sid has never been inducted or recognized as one of Australia's biggest warbird collectors here in Australia yet his plane's are on display, he was an iconic part of our history in aviation, and lots of people don't even know who he is,or planes on display in places like Canberra war museum even belonged to him,I Garry Marshall now 57 years young would like to see him recognized before my father comes to pass, that the Marshall family has a lot to offer in Australian history and the people who were around him just to name one emilia Earhart just before she went missing, a movie in the making?
Great to hear from you, Garry, some amazing background info there - thanks for sharing. Totally agree about Sid's place in our aviation history. He is well recognised in the historical aviation group AHSA and by anyone who has looked into the history of the many aircraft that passed through his hands, but outside that circle it's sadly true that he is "forgotten". I'm not sure what can be done, short of writing and promoting his story. Maybe that's been done, at least in part? An aviation historian somewhere must have documented something... hopefully whatever is out there gets brought together and promoted. I hope so.
Hi Garry
I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome near Camden where Syd had an involvement. I'm trying to piece together some history and track down some photos from that era. Could you please email me stephenbennett34@gmail.com
Thanks
Stephen
Hi Garry
I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome near Camden, where Syd had an involvement. I'm piecing together the history and hope you can help. Could you contact me on stephenbennett34@gmail.com
Kind regards
Stephen
Don't forget his toy train set up, My dad worked at the "big hangar" owned by JT Brown. I spent many hundreds of hours roaming around Bankstown "drome"
as a youngster, including Mr. Marshall's hangar, a lovely man.
Hi there
My name is Stephen Bennett and I'm Manager at The Oaks Aerodrome. We are planning to build a Museum/Education/Training Centre and incorporate a Aviation Hall of Fame of which Jack Davidson and Syd Marshall will be honored. I would like to hear from all of you who may have stories and images/photos to share. In particular gtvoloce and Garry Marshall could you please make contact. Email stephen@theoaks.aero
My name is Tony Zammit, back in late 60's My friend I visited Sid Marshall aircraft museum at Bankstown Airport. We enjoyed looking at the aircraft, Spitfire, Japanese Oscar and a BF109G, plus many other aircraft. We asked Sid if we could get a ladder to have a look inside the cockpit of the BF109G6. I remember he said to have a look but not to climb on the wing area. The temptation was too great and we climbed onto the wing, it was very dusty. We lifted the hood to have a good look inside. We also had a good look at the Spitfire.
We visited the museum again a few weeks later. Again asking if we could have a closer look at the BF109G6. This time when we climbed onto the wing area and notice no one was around, we opened the hood and climbed into the cockpit and closing the hood down. It was a great feeling imaging we were in control flying the BF109G, taking a few photos of us inside the cockpit. But it all ended swiftly when we hear a voice for us to get out of the aircraft,. leave and never come back. I followed with interest what happen to the BF109G, and heard about it was sold and was camouflaged as a Mustang and was intercepted at Customs. I eventually tracked it at its shortage place at Regents Park. Years later I found it was at the Treloar in Canberra, where I got permission to visit where it was in storage, and they told me it will be displayed at AWM in the future. I was very happy to see it on display in its full glory, Though I would have preferred if it was on static display on the ground. It is now displayed behind the Lancaster G for George. It looks good though one think I dont like is having an aerial battle were the BF109G6 is firing from the forward guns, to me it doesnt look right, as if it's a toy aeroplane. But it's always nice to visit and relive my happy memories. Tony Zammit (tonyzam@bigpond.net.au)
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