Launceston Historical Society: Steve Radford

Next date: Sunday, 21 September 2025 | 02:00 PM

Steve Radford presents

Reginald Munro: Aviator Extraordinaire

Reg Munro was born in Launceston in 1914 and was educated at the Technical College. His father had a grocery and bakery shop in Invermay.

Reg had an early desire for speed and became Tasmanian motorcycle champion three times in a row in the 1930s. At the same time, he gained his pilot’s licence and was involved in the running of the Tasmanian Aero Club at Western Junction.

Upon war breaking out, he was rejected by the RAAF and paid his own way to the UK where he joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (part of the RAF). After the war, Reg returned to Launceston and was the Manager/Chief Flying Instructor for the Aero Club until 1961 when he established his own charter business.

This adventurer and highly skilled aviator, who rescued sick people from the islands (sometimes in the dark and bad weather), was responsible in the main for the establishment of the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Tasmania.

The tenacity and heroics, which he would never boast about, makes for the story of a remarkable man.

Details

Admission: FREE for Launceston Historical Society members, $5 for the general public.

www.launcestonhistory.org.au

When

Location

Meeting Room, Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk, 2 Invermay Road, Launceston, 7250, View Map