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Horrie Miller (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was a pioneer Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n aviator and co-founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines
MacRobertson Miller Airlines
MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. , callsign "Miller", IATA code "MV", was established in Australia in late 1927, by pilot Horrie Miller with the backing of chocolate millionaire Sir Macpherson Robertson....
(MMA).
Miller was born in Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
.
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
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in 1914, Miller reportedly attempted to join the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, but was rejected.
Miller returned to Australia and in 1916 joined the Australian Flying Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(AFC, the basis of the later Royal Australian Air Force or RAAF), as a member of the ground staff
Groundcrew
In aviation, the groundcrew is the support crew supplying the aircraft with fuel and maintenance, as opposed to the aircrew.In airlines, ground crew members include:*Airframe and powerplant technicians*Avionics technicians*Baggage handlers*Rampers...
. With the rank of Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, he was posted to England with No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
. Miller was sent for training as a pilot and graduated on 14 May 1917, with the rank of Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
.
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 circus
Flying Circus
Flying Circus may mean:In aviation:*Jagdgeschwader 1 , a German World War I fighter wing commanded by Manfred von Richthofen at one point*The American World War II air corps led by Joe Foss...
es, the Defence Department
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
, Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and his own air charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
businesses in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Miller briefly re-joined the RAAF as am aircraft maintenance officer, but left in 1928 to form MMA, with confectionery tycoon MacPherson Robertson
Macpherson Robertson
Sir Macpherson Robertson KBE was an Australian philanthropist, entrepreneur and founder of confectionery company MacRobertson's.-Early life:...
. The airline was based initially in the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
suburb of Albert Park
Albert Park, South Australia
Albert Park is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:Named for Prince Albert, Albert Park was laid out in 1877 by a W.R. Cave. The suburb was advertised as:...
.
He flew in the 1929 Western Australian Centenary Air Race
Western Australian Centenary Air Race
The Western Australian Centenary Air Race was a air race held in 1929 from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the Western Australia Centenary....
, winning handicap honours.
MMA's operations gradually became concentrated in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, where Miller later resided.
On 2 December 1938 he married Mary Durack
Mary Durack
Dame Mary Durack AC DBE was an Australian author and historian. She wrote Kings in Grass Castles and Keep Him My Country.-Childhood:...
. 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.
See also
- West Australian AirwaysWest Australian AirwaysWest Australian Airways was an Australian airline based out of Geraldton, Western Australia. Established on 5 December 1921 as Western Australian Airways by World War I pilot Norman Brearley it was the first airline in Australian history to establish a scheduled air service. The first service left...
- MMAMMAMMA may refer to:* Mixed martial arts, a full contact combat sport* Metropolitan Museum of Art, a museum in New York City-Business and commerce:* MacRobertson Miller Airlines, a Western Australian airline that operated from 1934 into the 1980s...
- MacRobertson Miller AirlinesMacRobertson Miller AirlinesMacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. , callsign "Miller", IATA code "MV", was established in Australia in late 1927, by pilot Horrie Miller with the backing of chocolate millionaire Sir Macpherson Robertson....