Clifford Beeks was born and raised in Washburn, ND. His aviation career began when he joined the US Army Air Corps during WWII. In the Air Corps he received his instrument and instructor certificates, along with training as an aircraft mechanic. Following his discharge from the service, he returned to Washburn and started Central Flying Service. Initially services included flight instruction, air taxi and predator control.
In 1949 Clifford traveled to California and earned his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics (A & P) rating. He moved his growing business to the Washburn Municipal Airport in 1950, and in 1954 he added aerial application to his company's services.
He was appointed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAA) as an Aviation Safety Representative and was a Designated Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. These responsibilities were transferred and continued with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when it was created in 1958.
Clifford was a statewide leader in the fledgling industry of small town aviation services and aerial application. As a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA), he held various offices in the organization. For many years he served as the voice of the NDAA as an advocate and lobbyist during state legislative sessions. He worked closely with the state legislative body and the Aeronautics Commission in developing rules and regulations for the rapidly growing agricultural aerial application industry. These rules and regulations became a nationwide benchmark for the aerial application industry.
Clifford was an active member of the Washburn community, serving as the Commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post #12 and as a member of the Civic Club and the Masonic Lodge. Clifford remained active in aviation until his death in 1980.
In 2005 he was named to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
Information from The State Museum,
The North Dakota Heritage Center
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two pioneer North Dakota aviators will be honored in March at the Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium in Fargo.
The late Clifford Beeks of Washburn and Phillip "Flip" Miller of Valley City, N.D., will be inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in ceremonies on March 8 at the Fargo Holiday Inn….
Beeks started his aviation career in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After leaving the military, he started Central Flying Service in Washburn.
From then on, Beeks was a leader in small-town aviation and aerial application for the farm community.
Beeks was a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association and served as the organization's lobbyist for many years during sessions of the North Dakota Legislature.
He worked closely with the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to create rules and regulations for agricultural aerial application operations.
He was an FAA-designated aviation safety representative and a designated aircraft maintenance inspector.
He was also active in the Washburn community, serving as commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post No. 12…..
Posted by INFORUM on December 28, 2004
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My grandfather, Clifford "Cliff" H. Beeks, was a pilot in North Dakota just before World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, received formal training and returned to North Dakota in 1944 where he began working as an Air Lift pilot, which led to his own business that he operated until his death in 1980. He was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1952, Cliff began providing aerial spraying services and moved his airplanes to what is now the Washburn Municipal Airport. The airfield was originally constructed as an emergency landing field in 1940. The airport is where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers landed its DC-3 airplane on the grass runway during the Garrison Dam's construction.
Washburn's airport had the longest runway between Bismarck and Minot Air Force Base. So, in June 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Riverdale to dedicate the Garrison Dam, Cliff thought several airplanes would be landing there because the runway was long enough to handle large aircraft that might be coming for the dedication. He had his sons set up coffee, rolls, and pop for the people he anticipated would be flying in. He had made arrangements with a local car dealer to provide cars for people to rent to drive to the dam.
On the morning of the dedication, Washburn was socked in with fog and no planes could land. My dad and his brothers sat at the beacon tower with members of the National Guard drinking pop and watching for people to fly in. Only one person landed at the Washburn Airport. President Eisenhower and his group landed at Bismarck and the boys watched the motorcade speed past the airport on its way to the dam.…"
Extracted from "Connecting with Missouri River, USACE, Family" by Eileen Williamson, Public Affairs Specialist, published on the US Army Corp of Engineers/Omaha District website on Dec. 17, 2014.
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
In 1949 Clifford traveled to California and earned his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics (A & P) rating. He moved his growing business to the Washburn Municipal Airport in 1950, and in 1954 he added aerial application to his company's services.
He was appointed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAA) as an Aviation Safety Representative and was a Designated Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. These responsibilities were transferred and continued with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when it was created in 1958.
Clifford was a statewide leader in the fledgling industry of small town aviation services and aerial application. As a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA), he held various offices in the organization. For many years he served as the voice of the NDAA as an advocate and lobbyist during state legislative sessions. He worked closely with the state legislative body and the Aeronautics Commission in developing rules and regulations for the rapidly growing agricultural aerial application industry. These rules and regulations became a nationwide benchmark for the aerial application industry.
Clifford was an active member of the Washburn community, serving as the Commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post #12 and as a member of the Civic Club and the Masonic Lodge. Clifford remained active in aviation until his death in 1980.
In 2005 he was named to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
Information from The State Museum,
The North Dakota Heritage Center
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two pioneer North Dakota aviators will be honored in March at the Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium in Fargo.
The late Clifford Beeks of Washburn and Phillip "Flip" Miller of Valley City, N.D., will be inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in ceremonies on March 8 at the Fargo Holiday Inn….
Beeks started his aviation career in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After leaving the military, he started Central Flying Service in Washburn.
From then on, Beeks was a leader in small-town aviation and aerial application for the farm community.
Beeks was a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association and served as the organization's lobbyist for many years during sessions of the North Dakota Legislature.
He worked closely with the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to create rules and regulations for agricultural aerial application operations.
He was an FAA-designated aviation safety representative and a designated aircraft maintenance inspector.
He was also active in the Washburn community, serving as commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post No. 12…..
Posted by INFORUM on December 28, 2004
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My grandfather, Clifford "Cliff" H. Beeks, was a pilot in North Dakota just before World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, received formal training and returned to North Dakota in 1944 where he began working as an Air Lift pilot, which led to his own business that he operated until his death in 1980. He was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1952, Cliff began providing aerial spraying services and moved his airplanes to what is now the Washburn Municipal Airport. The airfield was originally constructed as an emergency landing field in 1940. The airport is where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers landed its DC-3 airplane on the grass runway during the Garrison Dam's construction.
Washburn's airport had the longest runway between Bismarck and Minot Air Force Base. So, in June 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Riverdale to dedicate the Garrison Dam, Cliff thought several airplanes would be landing there because the runway was long enough to handle large aircraft that might be coming for the dedication. He had his sons set up coffee, rolls, and pop for the people he anticipated would be flying in. He had made arrangements with a local car dealer to provide cars for people to rent to drive to the dam.
On the morning of the dedication, Washburn was socked in with fog and no planes could land. My dad and his brothers sat at the beacon tower with members of the National Guard drinking pop and watching for people to fly in. Only one person landed at the Washburn Airport. President Eisenhower and his group landed at Bismarck and the boys watched the motorcade speed past the airport on its way to the dam.…"
Extracted from "Connecting with Missouri River, USACE, Family" by Eileen Williamson, Public Affairs Specialist, published on the US Army Corp of Engineers/Omaha District website on Dec. 17, 2014.
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
Clifford Beeks was born and raised in Washburn, ND. His aviation career began when he joined the US Army Air Corps during WWII. In the Air Corps he received his instrument and instructor certificates, along with training as an aircraft mechanic. Following his discharge from the service, he returned to Washburn and started Central Flying Service. Initially services included flight instruction, air taxi and predator control.
In 1949 Clifford traveled to California and earned his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics (A & P) rating. He moved his growing business to the Washburn Municipal Airport in 1950, and in 1954 he added aerial application to his company's services.
He was appointed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAA) as an Aviation Safety Representative and was a Designated Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. These responsibilities were transferred and continued with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when it was created in 1958.
Clifford was a statewide leader in the fledgling industry of small town aviation services and aerial application. As a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA), he held various offices in the organization. For many years he served as the voice of the NDAA as an advocate and lobbyist during state legislative sessions. He worked closely with the state legislative body and the Aeronautics Commission in developing rules and regulations for the rapidly growing agricultural aerial application industry. These rules and regulations became a nationwide benchmark for the aerial application industry.
Clifford was an active member of the Washburn community, serving as the Commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post #12 and as a member of the Civic Club and the Masonic Lodge. Clifford remained active in aviation until his death in 1980.
In 2005 he was named to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
Information from The State Museum,
The North Dakota Heritage Center
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two pioneer North Dakota aviators will be honored in March at the Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium in Fargo.
The late Clifford Beeks of Washburn and Phillip "Flip" Miller of Valley City, N.D., will be inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in ceremonies on March 8 at the Fargo Holiday Inn….
Beeks started his aviation career in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After leaving the military, he started Central Flying Service in Washburn.
From then on, Beeks was a leader in small-town aviation and aerial application for the farm community.
Beeks was a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association and served as the organization's lobbyist for many years during sessions of the North Dakota Legislature.
He worked closely with the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to create rules and regulations for agricultural aerial application operations.
He was an FAA-designated aviation safety representative and a designated aircraft maintenance inspector.
He was also active in the Washburn community, serving as commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post No. 12…..
Posted by INFORUM on December 28, 2004
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My grandfather, Clifford "Cliff" H. Beeks, was a pilot in North Dakota just before World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, received formal training and returned to North Dakota in 1944 where he began working as an Air Lift pilot, which led to his own business that he operated until his death in 1980. He was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1952, Cliff began providing aerial spraying services and moved his airplanes to what is now the Washburn Municipal Airport. The airfield was originally constructed as an emergency landing field in 1940. The airport is where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers landed its DC-3 airplane on the grass runway during the Garrison Dam's construction.
Washburn's airport had the longest runway between Bismarck and Minot Air Force Base. So, in June 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Riverdale to dedicate the Garrison Dam, Cliff thought several airplanes would be landing there because the runway was long enough to handle large aircraft that might be coming for the dedication. He had his sons set up coffee, rolls, and pop for the people he anticipated would be flying in. He had made arrangements with a local car dealer to provide cars for people to rent to drive to the dam.
On the morning of the dedication, Washburn was socked in with fog and no planes could land. My dad and his brothers sat at the beacon tower with members of the National Guard drinking pop and watching for people to fly in. Only one person landed at the Washburn Airport. President Eisenhower and his group landed at Bismarck and the boys watched the motorcade speed past the airport on its way to the dam.…"
Extracted from "Connecting with Missouri River, USACE, Family" by Eileen Williamson, Public Affairs Specialist, published on the US Army Corp of Engineers/Omaha District website on Dec. 17, 2014.
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
In 1949 Clifford traveled to California and earned his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics (A & P) rating. He moved his growing business to the Washburn Municipal Airport in 1950, and in 1954 he added aerial application to his company's services.
He was appointed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAA) as an Aviation Safety Representative and was a Designated Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. These responsibilities were transferred and continued with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when it was created in 1958.
Clifford was a statewide leader in the fledgling industry of small town aviation services and aerial application. As a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA), he held various offices in the organization. For many years he served as the voice of the NDAA as an advocate and lobbyist during state legislative sessions. He worked closely with the state legislative body and the Aeronautics Commission in developing rules and regulations for the rapidly growing agricultural aerial application industry. These rules and regulations became a nationwide benchmark for the aerial application industry.
Clifford was an active member of the Washburn community, serving as the Commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post #12 and as a member of the Civic Club and the Masonic Lodge. Clifford remained active in aviation until his death in 1980.
In 2005 he was named to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
Information from The State Museum,
The North Dakota Heritage Center
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two pioneer North Dakota aviators will be honored in March at the Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium in Fargo.
The late Clifford Beeks of Washburn and Phillip "Flip" Miller of Valley City, N.D., will be inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in ceremonies on March 8 at the Fargo Holiday Inn….
Beeks started his aviation career in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After leaving the military, he started Central Flying Service in Washburn.
From then on, Beeks was a leader in small-town aviation and aerial application for the farm community.
Beeks was a charter member of the North Dakota Aviation Association and served as the organization's lobbyist for many years during sessions of the North Dakota Legislature.
He worked closely with the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to create rules and regulations for agricultural aerial application operations.
He was an FAA-designated aviation safety representative and a designated aircraft maintenance inspector.
He was also active in the Washburn community, serving as commander of the Victor B. Wallin American Legion Post No. 12…..
Posted by INFORUM on December 28, 2004
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My grandfather, Clifford "Cliff" H. Beeks, was a pilot in North Dakota just before World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, received formal training and returned to North Dakota in 1944 where he began working as an Air Lift pilot, which led to his own business that he operated until his death in 1980. He was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1952, Cliff began providing aerial spraying services and moved his airplanes to what is now the Washburn Municipal Airport. The airfield was originally constructed as an emergency landing field in 1940. The airport is where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers landed its DC-3 airplane on the grass runway during the Garrison Dam's construction.
Washburn's airport had the longest runway between Bismarck and Minot Air Force Base. So, in June 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Riverdale to dedicate the Garrison Dam, Cliff thought several airplanes would be landing there because the runway was long enough to handle large aircraft that might be coming for the dedication. He had his sons set up coffee, rolls, and pop for the people he anticipated would be flying in. He had made arrangements with a local car dealer to provide cars for people to rent to drive to the dam.
On the morning of the dedication, Washburn was socked in with fog and no planes could land. My dad and his brothers sat at the beacon tower with members of the National Guard drinking pop and watching for people to fly in. Only one person landed at the Washburn Airport. President Eisenhower and his group landed at Bismarck and the boys watched the motorcade speed past the airport on its way to the dam.…"
Extracted from "Connecting with Missouri River, USACE, Family" by Eileen Williamson, Public Affairs Specialist, published on the US Army Corp of Engineers/Omaha District website on Dec. 17, 2014.
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
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