Horrie Miller (aviator)
| Horrie Miller | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 30 April, 1893 Ballarat, Victoria |
| Died | 1980 |
| Children | Robin Miller |
Horace Clive "Horrie" Miller OBE was a pioneer Australian aviator and co-founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA).
Miller was born in Ballarat, Victoria.
In 1913, he traveled to England to pursue a career in aviation, obtained a job with aircraft manufacturer Sopwith and commenced flying lessons.
Following the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, Miller reportedly attempted to join the Royal Flying Corps, but was rejected.
Miller returned to Australia and in 1916 joined the Australian Flying Corps (AFC, the basis of the later Royal Australian Air Force or RAAF), as a member of the ground staff. With the rank of Corporal, he was posted to England with No. 3 Squadron. Miller was sent for training as a pilot and graduated on 14 May 1917, with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
In late 1918, Miller caught Spanish Influenza, was repatriated to Australia and was discharged from the AFC in 1919.
During 1919–25, he worked as a pilot and mechanic with flying circuses, the Defence Department, Qantas and his own air charter businesses in South Australia.
Miller briefly re-joined the RAAF as am aircraft maintenance officer, but left in 1928 to form MMA, with confectionery tycoon MacPherson Robertson. The airline was based initially in the Adelaide suburb of Albert Park.
He flew in the 1929 Western Australian Centenary Air Race, winning handicap honours.[1][2]
MMA's operations gradually became concentrated in Western Australia, where Miller later resided.
On 2 December 1938 he married Mary Durack. They had six children, including one daughter Robin Miller, an aviatrix and nurse known as "The Sugarbird Lady" after her work fighting polio.
In 1963, the Miller and the MacRobertson family sold their stakes in MMA, which became a subsidiary of Ansett; Miller continued to work for the company.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ H.C. Miller - Horrie Miller and the centenary air race of 1929. Sunday Independent (23 hours 31 minutes 58 seconds), 16 Dec. 1984, p. 18
- ^ Western Australian Aviators Hall of Fame
[edit] References
- Access road to new International Airport to be named "Horrie Miller Drive" in honour of WA pioneer aviator The West Australian, 1 Dec. 1984, p.40
- Dunn, Frank, (1984) Speck in the sky : a history of Airlines of Western Australia Perth, W.A: Airlines of W.A ISBN 0959082301
- Lewis, Julie (1987) Interview with Dunbar Hooper, and Horrie Miller (reference to Woods, Jimmy, 1893-1975 and WA Airways ) Battye Library Oral History transcript
- Miller, Horace Clive (Horrie) (1968 or 1976) Early birds : magnificent men of Australian aviation between the wars Adelaide : Rigby, Series Seal books ISBN 0727001353
- Court, Charles, Sir, (1995) Horace Clive Miller ("Horrie Miller"), 1893-1980 : from barnstorming joyrides to boardrooms / an address by Sir Charles Court in presenting the 1995 Sir Norman Brearley oration at W.A. Club, Perth, W.A. on 23 August 1995. Perth, W.A.: Civil Aviation Historical Society (W.A. Division), 1995.
- National Archives of Australia World War I service records search, accessed 7 July 2007.
- Mervyn W. Prime, 2011, "Horrie Miller", Aviation Australia, accessed 16 June 2011.
[edit] See also
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