Len Waters

Leonard Victor Waters ( born June 20, 1924 in Eurabamission at Boomi, New South Wales, † August 24 1993 in Cunnamulla ) was the only pilot who flew in World War II as Aboriginal fighter aircraft. His portrait was printed on an Australian postage stamp in 1995.

Life

Little is known about the life of Waters. He grew up with 10 siblings and left at the age of 13 years, the school, to work as a shearer. He married 1946 Gladys Saunders, with whom he had five children.

As of August 1942, he competed in the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) and was trained there as a mechanic. In 1943 he completed a pilot course as Fifth Best and was then the only Aborigine, who served as a fighter pilot in World War II. As of November 1944, he flew with his Kittyhawk fighter aircraft, bearing the lettering Black Magic, 95 missions against the Japanese forces in Borneo and New Guinea. On 1 January 1945, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and retired on January 18, 1946 with the rank of Warrant Officer of the RAAF. Despite his piloting skills, he found in his later life no more use as a pilot, but first had to be a road worker and later shearers hire. It was the only chance to earn money for him, because Aborigines were clearly discriminated against at that time in Australia and significantly socially marginalized.

Today

He died at the age of 69 years in Cunnamulla and was buried in St. George Cemetery. According to him, a street that is named Len Waters Street in Ngunnawal in Canberra, and the Leonard Waters Park of Boggabilla at Moree. Two years after his death, his portrait was reproduced on an Australian postage stamp in honor in 1995.

Swell

  • Len Waters on www.ww2australia.gov.au
  • Encyclopedia: Indigenous Australian servicemen

Weblink

  • Len Waters Park
  • Pilot
  • Aboriginal
  • Born in 1924
  • Died in 1993
  • Man
Moree, New South Wales
506678
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