Leon reaches for the sky in surprise Mustang flight

May 22, 2006

While Professor Leon Kane-Maguire’s world of chemistry routinely consists of such academic pursuits as polymers and nanotechnology few around campus would be aware of his other passion as an aviation war historian buff.

So what better surprise gift could his University of Wollongong colleagues give him to celebrate his recent 64th birthday than a flight in a rare World War 11 P51 Mustang.

The joy flight, in a plane that many aviation buffs consider the best single engine aircraft of World War 11, took place from Albion Park aerodrome. Only four such planes still exist in Australia today.

Following a 30-minute preflight safety briefing, Professor Kane-Maguire was soon ensconced in the passenger’s seat for the flight of his life.

Professor Kane-Maguire has a strong association with war-time aviation as a result of his father serving in 464 Squadron (RAAF) during World War 11.

The squadron had a short, but eventful life, in the 1940s with air and ground crew from Australia, Britain, Canada and other parts of the then Empire. Specialising in low level intruder and precision bombing attacks, 464 Squadron (RAAF) went on to fame as the Gestapo Hunters, destroying a number of Gestapo headquarters in Occupied Europe.

But tragedy struck and pilot Noel Kane-Maguire was shot down and killed leaving behind one-year-old twin boys, Leon and Noel.

A book published in 1999 by Banner Books entitled The Gestapo Hunters, is Professor Kane-Maguire’s first venture into writing about military history. The book is co-authored by Professor Kane-Maguire and Group Captain Mark Lax. It is a thorough and accurate history of 464 Squadron (RAAF), and fleshes out the human side of its elite members.

UOW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the first female professor of chemistry in Australia, Professor Margaret Sheil, offered her best wishes to Professor Kane-Maguire on his “birthday treat”.

“Leon has made a huge impact on the careers of many at the University – including myself,” she said.

Aviation buffs wanting to know more about the P51 Mustang can contact the plane’s owners on 0403 945519 or 0411 336156.