Henryk Kazimierz (Milicer) Millicer AM MSc (1915 - 1996)

Born 11 Jun 1915 in Warszawskie, Polska

Husband of Krystyna (Paciorkowska) Millicer — married 1941 (to before 1977) in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died 28 Aug 1996 at age 81 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Henry (Milicer) Millicer AM MSc is Notable.

Doctor Henry Millicer AM DSc DipMechEng was a Polish-Australian aircraft designer and pilot who co-developed one of Australia’s most successful civilian aircraft designs – the Airtourer. The legacy of his design can still be seen today at airports across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Formative years, in Poland

Henryk 'Henry' Kazimierz Milicer was born on 11th June 1915 in Warszawskie, Polska (Warsaw, Poland). He was the the son of Kazimierz Milicer (1869-1956), ^[1] a university professor of engineering whose family was descended from Baron Karl von Militzer, and Helena née Lewandowska (1876-1939). ^[2] He developed a keen interest in aviation at an early age, winning an aero-modelling competition at nine years of age, with the prize being a flight over his home city of Warsaw. At fourteen, he built a full-size glider and at seventeen qualified as a glider pilot.

Henryk studied at the Faculty of Mechanics at Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) 1933-36, graduating with a diploma in aeronautical engineering (DipMechEng). In 1936-37, he worked in the construction office in the National Aircraft Establishment, PZL (Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze), participating in the design of the PZL.37 Łoś bomber and the PZL.46 Sum reconnaissance aircraft and bomber. He was also a member of the Polish Air Force Reserves from 1935. In 1937 he gained his commercial pilot’s licence and enrolled in the master of aeronautics course at WUT. Henryk came third in the 1938 National Gliding Championship, securing a place in the Polish team for the planned 1940 Helsinki Olympic Games (subsequently cancelled due to the Second World War). In 1939 he joined the DWL (Experimental Aeronautical Workshops) in Warsaw, where he was involved in work on the RWD-21 sports aircraft, the RWD-22 seaplane, and the RWD-25 fighter.

Second World War, and England

On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Henryk flew reconnaissance missions over invading Germans, receiving the Polish Air Force Cross for his gallantry. When Poland fell to the NAZI invasion he escaped via Romania and Yugoslavia to France and then to England. Hearing of the death of his mother and brother he returned to France to fight the Germans, enlisting in the French Air Force, but with the fall of France caught the last boat to England in May 1940. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and posted to a Polish bomber squadron as a Flight Sergeant with whom he completed seventeen missions before being seriously wounded in a training exercise. He was awarded the Polish Military Medal for his service and became an interpreter between Polish, French and British pilots. ^[3]

In 1941, Henryk married Krystyna 'Christine' Paciorkowska in the Registry Office, Blackpool, Lancashire, ^[4] having met when they were at university in Warsaw in 1938. Christine’s parents had been major contributors to the political development of the restored nation of Poland – her father being the Polish politician Jerzy Paciorkowski – and fled following the German invasion. Christine was studying languages at the Sorbonne when France fell in 1940 and she too escaped to England.

Henry was invalided out of the RAF in 1942 due to stomach ulcers and was granted a scholarship to the Imperial College, London, where he obtained a Master of Science (MSc) in aeronautical engineering. Upon his graduation, he joined Airspeed and then Hunting Percival. The Percival Provost design is attributed to Henry.

Australia

Henry (Milicer) Millicer AM MSc migrated from England to Victoria.

In 1950, Henry and his family migrated to Victoria, Australia as he took up an appointment as chief aerodynamicist at the Government Aircraft Factory in Melbourne. There he worked on the Canberra, Sabre and Jindivik pilotless target aircraft and the Malkara anti-tank missile. Henry and others formed the Ultra-Light Aircraft Association of Australia in 1955.

In 1960, Henry took up the position of chief engineer and technical manager at Victa Consolidated Industries at Bankstown, in Sydney's west. He refined his design for the Victa Airtourer 100 and the first all metal version – VH-MVA – was flown on 12th December 1961. The Airtourer 100 along with its sister version, the Airtourer 115, were built from 1962 to 1966 in a series of 168. A four-seater prototype built by Victa, the Aircruiser (VH-MVR), first flew in 1966, received type-certification and remains flying today. However, when Victa closed its aircraft division in 1966, its manufacturing rights were sold to New Zealand's Aero Engine Services Ltd (AESL) where production of 115hp and 150hp Airtourers took place until 1971. The Airtourer remains one of Australia’s most successful civilian aircraft designs. Other inventions include a patent for the vortex flap and a suction grass mower (honoured in the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening).

Henry published Aerodynamics for Soaring Pilots for the Gliding Club of Victoria and My Fifty Years in Aeronautics for Australian Aeronautics. ^[5] In 1983, his wife Katie (Kathleeen Millicer) published Airtourer—The First 30 Years in Aircraft (Sydney), March 1983, pages 24–25.

Henry joined the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in 1967. He became Principal Lecturer in Aeronautical Engineering with a view to establishing the faculty as the leading school in Australia. During this time he was involved in many innovations in industry with Boeing and the sugar cane industry to name a few. He retired in 1980, but remained associated with the faculty. He was a Fellow of both the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Henry and Christine divorced in the mid-1970s. He married a second time, to English-born Kathleen 'Katie' Mary Roles, a nurse, in 1977.

In retirement, Henry designed the Kite, a two seat ab initio trainer and the Swift, a turbocharged high speed aircraft for amateur construction. He also continued to be involved with RMIT students and light aircraft enthusiasts.

Aged 81 years, he passed away on 28th August 1996 in Melbourne, Victoria. His ashes were scattered from an Airtourer over the surf near his home at Anglesea, Victoria. He was survived by his second wife Katie, son Richard Maciej Millicer (1942 Blackpool ^[6] -) and daughters Joanna Maria Hempel (1943 Edinburgh ^[7] -), an author and playwright, and Helen Millicer (c1945-), children-in-law, and eight grandchildren.

Honours and awards

• In 1953, together with two workmates, Henry won a Royal Aero Club Award for a light aircraft design. ^[8]
• In 1963 Henry was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal by the Federation of Australian Aero Clubs. ^[9]
• In 1984 his work was recognised with the award of an Honorary Doctorate in Aeronautical Engineering from RMIT University.
• In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1992, Henry was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his 'contribution to the aviation industry, particularly in the field of aeronautical engineering'. ^[10]
• Millicer Place, Dunlop, Australian Capital Territory was named in Henry's honour in 2002.
• In 2015 Henryk was inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ unsubstantiated family records
2. ↑ unsubstantiated family records
3. ↑ Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947; accessed 21 Oct 2022
4. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Mar qtr 1941, vol 8e, page 1461
5. ↑ Australian Aeronautics, 1983/1984, pages 7-9
6. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Mar qtr 1942, vol 8e, page 1039; listed as Maciej Milicer and registered at Blackpool
7. ↑ Scotland'sPeople Birth Index #685/2 1203 1943; registered at St Andrew Edinburgh
8. ↑ Trove. 'Three Australians win plane contest'. The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.: 1861 - 1954) Sat 21 Mar 1953 Page 3; accessed 21 Oct 2022
9. ↑ Trove. 'FIRST TIME IN 45 YEARS'. Good Neighbour (ACT: 1950 - 1969) Wed 1 May 1963 Page 3; accessed 21 Oct 2022
10. ↑ Australian Honours; accessed 21 Oct 2022
11. ↑ Australian Aviation Hall of Fame; accessed 21 Oct 2022

See also

• Australian Aviation Hall of Fame; accessed 21 Oct 2022.
• Crotty, David. 'Millicer, Henry Kasimierz (1915–1996)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published online 2020; accessed online 21 Oct 2022.
• Scott, Murray. 'A Tribute to Dr Henry Kazimierz Millicer'. Australian Aeronautics, 1996/1997, page 38.
• Wikipedia: Henry Millicer; accessed 21 Oct 2022.