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By: - 31st October 2017 at 21:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Its not the first time hes been hit either :( This community really upsets me sometimes.
By: - 31st October 2017 at 22:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hope for a speedy recovery! (if not punishment)
TO be clear/details, while Bill Martin was visiting someone else, someone broke into his home and stole the items?
Nothing else taken?
If so, that would be an inside job. A common thief would ignore the "junk"
By: - 1st November 2017 at 00:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Beaufighter noses arent exactly plentiful in the world...
From what I know he was in town during the day when items were stolen.
By: - 1st November 2017 at 09:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Has he recently featured in any publications at all?
By: - 1st November 2017 at 10:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No publications recently, there have been visitors over the last few weeks but they are known people
By: - 1st November 2017 at 14:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I hope it is soon returned and hope even more that it isn't going to be treated as scrap metal :(
By: - 1st November 2017 at 22:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Only one word describes them - mongrels. I hope he gets his stuff back.
By: - 2nd November 2017 at 13:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's pretty clear why a few museums have a "no photo' policy.
Airfields are remote and many collections can't afford a high tech security or alarm system.
Still, stealing such rare and esoteric items is a puzzle. It's not like someone needs a nose piece to build a flyer, and if they were after scrap there are easier ways to get it.
By: - 3rd November 2017 at 01:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Bill is a pretty well known guy in circles here in Australia so hopefully if they do show up someone will nail them.
By: - 7th November 2017 at 02:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
******UPDATE*****
The aircraft parts have been returned! Thanks to the power of the internet :) Read below
A good news story to start the day. My post from a week ago regarding items that had been stolen from Bill Martin has had a positive outcome. With all the pilfered items being returned ie. dumped in the driveway overnight. Now whether social media played a hand no one knows. But these items had become infamous and toxic to any collector. So a great outcome. They are now back where they belong. Many thanks to all of those who shared the post and spread the word.
Cheers,
Ash.
By: - 7th November 2017 at 05:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
great new's
By: - 7th November 2017 at 11:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
:applause:
By: - 7th November 2017 at 11:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great news.
By: - 7th November 2017 at 11:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Phew at least they were returned and not melted down or buried to be lost.
By: - 7th November 2017 at 18:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
By: - 8th November 2017 at 08:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's good news indeed
Posts: 405
By: Bellarine - 31st October 2017 at 21:43
Hi everyone
A friend of ours in Queensland was robbed while in town. Message below from Ash Briggs, Chairman of the Australian National Aviation Museum
To my aviation collecting friends. If you could please keep your eyes and ears open as my good friend Bill Martin from Toowoomba has had some piece of low life scum enter his property while Bill was in town and steal several items including a Beaufighter nose cone, Boomerang wing ammo access cover as well as P40 ammunition chutes destined for Bill's P40 restoration. Some of these items have deep personal connections for Bill. So as we are a relatively small community and these items are rather unique. If you could please share this around so we can get these items back to Bill it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ash.
The beau nosecone would be an unusual item for someone, it may be black market stuff, it may be scrap metal thieves. We are contacting everyone local, but in case this stuff pops up on other sites including eBay (UK, US etc, rather than the dot com dot au version) please let me know.
No joy on Spitfire parts yet as per my last post, thanks to everyone for advice thus far
Cheers
Ewan