"BLACK
MAGIC", P-40N , NO. 78 SQUADRON, RAAF
-
This is a P-40 of particular interest, made notable by the fact
that its pilot
F/Sgt Len Waters,
was the
first Australian Aboriginal military pilot and
was one of only four indigenous people to serve in the RAAF
during World War II. Aboriginal people at the time suffered
official discrimination and disadvantages in Australian society,
such as restrictions on movement, residence, employment, access
to services and citizenship. Most of this was based upon the
patronizing attitude widely held within the British
Commonwealth. Unlike the US, there had been no policy of
segregation in the Australian Military - during WWI, a small
number of Aboriginals had served, and though the numbers of
qualified volunteers was small, there was no policy to prevent
Aboriginals from serving. Waters had joined the RAAF in 1942, a
couple of months after his 18th birthday, and had trained as an
aircraft mechanic. When the opportunity came to transfer to
aircrew, he took it, and showed early talent. He was awarded his
wings on 1 July, 1944, and was posted to No. 78 Squadron on
Noemfoor. He was allocated a P-40N had been nicknamed the
plane and Waters found the name of his plane an amusing
coincidence, and chose to retain it. Flown earlier by Flight
Lieutenant Denis Baker, "Black Magic" had scored the RAAF's last
aerial victory in their New Guinea campaign on 10 June 1944.
Waters flew 95 sorties and, by the end of the war, was
commanding operations which included commissioned officers.
Waters also held the RAAF middleweight boxing title.
