Pilot Len Waters - Life On The Job

Leonard Victor Waters - 20 June 1924 - 24 August 1993 - PILOT

Leonard Waters is the only known Aboriginal fighter pilot to serve in World War Two.

Len Waters in his Kittyhawk - "Black Magic"

Summary of Len's Life:

Born: 20 June 1924 at Euraba Aboriginal Mission near the northern central NSW border

Died: 24 August 1993, Cunnamulla, Queensland

Father: Donald Waters, fencing and shearing contractor and, shearer's cook.

Mother: Grace Waters (nee Bennett)

Language: Gamilaraay; English

(Source: Leonard Waters Aboriginal Fighter Pilot)

Education

Len attended Toomelah Public School and Nindigully where he studied until three months short of completing Year 8. Len grew up in an era when it was not compulsory for Aboriginal children to go to school beyond Grade 4 because the Government of the day believed that Aboriginal people would not aspire to an occupation that required higher education.

Employment

Len was a shearer like his dad.

Experiences

"Len was an 18-year-old shearer from Nindigully, Queensland, when he joined the RAAF on August 24, 1942 as a flight mechanic, (despite the formal barriers to non European enlistment in other services the Royal Australian Air Force was willing to take people of non-European descent).

When the RAAF called for aircrew trainees he applied and was accepted for pilot training. He undertook his initial training at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School (1EFTS), Narrandera, NSW, before graduating as a Sergeant pilot from No. 5 Service Flying Training School (5SFTS), Uranquinty, NSW. His training continued at No. 2 Operational Training Unit (2OTU), Mildura, Vic, from where he was posted to No. 78 Squadron on 14 November 1944.

As a member of 78 Squadron based at Noemfoor in the Netherlands New Guinea, Morotai and Tarakan, he conducted 95 ground attack and fighter sweeps over Japanese held positions and islands in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) during late 1944 and 1945.

By the end of the war he had completed 95 missions in his Kittyhawk fighter which was called "Black Magic". The name "Black Magic" was not his idea, it was the previous mount of John Blackmore. It was perhaps fate that decided Leonard getting this aircraft!"

(Source: Web Archive AIATSIS)

Black Magic - Len Waters' Kittyhawk Fighter

The P40 N-15 Kittyhawk aircraft, 'Black Magic', (HU-E), so named by 411271 Flight Lieutenant Denis Russell Baker, DFC, 78 Squadron, RAAF, who initially flew this aircraft. Whilst flying 'Black Magic', Baker, was credited with shooting down the last Japanese aircraft over New Guinea.

'Black Magic' was later flown by 78144 Sergeant (Sgt) (later Warrant Officer) Leonard Victor (Len) Waters, 78 Squadron. Sgt Waters was the only known Aboriginal pilot of the Second World War. He joined the RAAF on 24 August 1942 and was trained as a flight mechanic. When the RAAF called for aircrew trainees he applied and was accepted for pilot training. He undertook his initial training at 1 Elementary Flying Training School (1EFTS), Narrandera, NSW, before graduating as a Sgt pilot from 5 Service Flying Training School (5SFTS), Uranquinty, NSW. His training continued at 2 Operational Training Unit (2OTU), Mildura, Vic, from where he was posted to 78 Squadron on 14 November 1944.

He flew 95 operational sorties with 78 Squadron, operating from Noemfoor, Morotai and Tarakan. Sgt Waters was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 1 January 1945 and to Warrant Officer on 1 January 1946. He was discharged from the RAAF on 18 January 1946.

Leonard Waters died on 25 August 1993.

(Source: WebArchive Australian War Memoria l)

"As it was in the later stages of the war, when most of the Japanese aircraft were either destroyed, air to air combat in this 'backwater' of the Pacific War were very rare, Leonard did not shoot down any enemy aircraft.

He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on January 1 1945, and Warrant Officer on January 1, 1946, and was discharged on January 18, 1946. After the war Leonard tried to start his own air service in Western Queensland, but lack of financial backing forced his idea to fold. He went back to shearing for a while and was a prominent member of the Aboriginal community in Queensland.

Leonard tragically died in an accident on August 25, 1993. His family donated to the Australian War Memorial several artefacts of Leonards unique war service, such as his flying helmet, several photographs, his medals and flying log."
(Source: Web Archive AIATSIS)

"Black Magic" was eventually written off in November 1946 and struck off charge November 1948. Its original United States Army Air Force serial number was 42-104830, it was delivered in July 1943. (source: "Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service", by Stewart Wilson. Aerospace Publications, 1993).

As part of the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War Two in 1995, Australia Post released a special print of stamps and aerogrammes depicting some well known, and not so well known servicemen and women. The painting of "Black Magic" as featured on the aerogramme is on display in South Australia.
(Source: Web Archive AIATSIS)

Stamp showing Len Waters

Aerogram
(Courtesy of Australia Post)

Len Waters Memorials

Park in Boggabilla, N.S.W. is named after him

Street in Canberra suburb of Ngunnawal and street in Wacol, Brisbane
Street in Ngunnawal Canberra named after Len Waters

Links

Australia’s First and Only Aboriginal Fighter Pilot Extract from “My Father the Flyer – Was it Black Magic?” Written by Kim Orchard (nee Waters)	Australian Dictionary of Biography - Len Waters
Australian War Memorial	Register of War Memorials in NSW
ABC Away! Gladys Waters 24 April 2021	ABC News 13 July 2018
Australian War Memorial	Wikipedia - Len Waters
ABC News	Dept. of Veterans' Affairs - ANZAC Portal
Web Archive Only:
RAAF Kittyhawk Squadron - Web Archive Only	Leonard V. Waters - his story by Ben Henderson - Web Archive Only Local Copy - PDF
Pilots Memorial - WebArchive Only	Australian War Memorial: Indigenous Australian Servicemen - WebArchive Only
AIATSIS - WebArchive Only

Last photos of Len
(Source: was at: Leonard Waters Aboriginal Fighter Pilot)

(Source: Ozatwar: Len Waters)

The Missing Man by Peter Rees. Published 2018

YouTube: Remembering Australia’s only Indigenous WWII fighter pilot
https://youtu.be/VWv9H4PsaLs?si=DJMaEzx4v49eKpDi

Did You Know?

The Gamilaraay language Dictionary (created by the Australian National University) was based on tapes of Len's grandfather, Charles Dennison.

Online: Create a movie about Len Waters' life

Primary & Middle

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical & Creative Thinking

Australian Curriculum: Cross Curriculum Priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding

1. Read through the resources about Len Waters above. Collect interesting information and images.

2. Create a storyboard a about Len Waters' life so that other Australian students might know of the contribution he made, the hardships he faced back home, and his later life.

How to Create a Storyboard for Your Video Shoot:

https://youtu.be/dnlQN_L5HC0

4. Using Animoto, create your movie about Len Waters' life. Make a personal statement about how Len Waters was treated once he got home to Australia.

Animoto

Online: Create a movie about Len Waters' life

Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical & Creative Thinking

Australian Curriculum: Cross Curriculum Priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Philosophy

Background

Read through the following article:

"In the trenches of the great wars indigenous Australians found respite from the racism and bigotry of mainstream Australia. The service was one of the few places racism wasn't the norm during the first half of the twentieth century. In the trenches, they say "everything is grey". White serviceman next to black serviceman - they were in it together. Mateship trumped race. For many non-indigenous Australians it was the first time they had ever encountered their indigenous countrymen.

At the time, indigenous people could not enter a public bar, nor could they own property or vote. Society was segregated and remained so until 1967 when indigenous Australians were finally recognised as citizens. Despite a ban on non-Europeans enlisting during the two world wars, 1000 indigenous Australians fought the prohibition and enlisted during World War I. The number ballooned during World War II to more than 3000. Many lost their lives.

The service was the only place an indigenous man could make a decent wage. "The ADF (Australian Defence Force) was the first equal-opportunity employer of indigenous Australians" says Gary Oakley, a curator and indigenous liaison with the Australian War Memorial.

Yet a cruel reality set in when indigenous veterans came home. They were seldom allowed into bars to share a beer with fellow returned veterans and restricted from marching in ANZAC day parades. According to Gary, there are only three reports of returning indigenous veterans being granted a soldier settler block, as was common place after World War I. Despite these inequalities, indigenous Australians have participated in nearly every war and peace-keeping mission Australia has been involved in." (Source: Australian Geographic)

1. Listen to Len's nephew talk about Len having to face discrimination at home...

Audio: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/newengland/201407/r1301977_17823317.mp3 Listen with border

Web Archive of this article, click here.

Audio file of Len's nephew about Len having to face discrimination at home

(Source: WebArchive Only ABC)

2. Read the ABC News 13 July 2018. Read

Local Copy

3. Read the following account of Indigenous Australian servicemen and their treatment during and after the war from the Australian War Memorial.

4. Create a storyboard a about Len Waters' life so that other Australian students might know of the contribution he made, the hardships he faced back home, and his later life.

How to Create a Storyboard for Your Video Shoot:

https://youtu.be/dnlQN_L5HC0

5. Using Animoto, create a movie about Len Waters' life so that other Australian students might know of the contribution he made, the hardships he faced back home, and answer the questions....

Why were Indigenous Australians treated so differently during and after war?

Was it ethical? Give Reasons

Material sourced from
Leonard Waters Aboriginal Fighter Pilot
Courier Mail
WWII Australia
Wikipedia