Jet honours Indigenous pilot

It was the first time the Waters family clapped eyes on the F/A18 fighter jet painted in Indigenous colours that bears the name of Warrant Officer Leonard Victor Waters.

Len’s late uncle, Australia’s first known Indigenous fighter pilot, flew 95 missions during World War II in an old Kitty Hawk, Black Magic, which his squadron leader jokingly told him had his name all over it.

“A few years ago at an air show in Tamworth, I met an old bloke who told me Black Magic was his plane before my uncle flew it,” Len said.

“Who would have thought all these years later he really would have a plane named in his honour, the Worimi Hornet.

“It was a truly humbling experience to be there on the day. My aunty Gladys, uncle Len’s widow, didn’t know we were coming, so it was quite a shock for her to see me.”

Len said it was not only significant for the Waters family, but for the Kamilaroi and Worimi tribes.

The Worimi people are the traditional owners of the land on which RAAF Base Williamtown stands, where the jet is normally based. 

“The incredible thing was it has reunited two tribal lands – Worimi and Kamilaroi – and put a living name to that plane, Leonard Victor Waters,” he said.

“The Worimi elders are so proud of it and were so happy to meet me, the namesake and nephew of the man on that jet.”

Len had the opportunity to speak to the pilot who flies the Worimi Hornet bearing his uncle’s name, and was told it was a pleasure to fly.

“At one point the RAAF staff offered me a set of ear muffs, as there were Hornets taking off and landing nearby,” Len said.

“I just looked at them and said: ‘What – and spoil all this? It’s dhuulamay’ – which is the Kamilaroi word for thunder.”

Len said he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face for days afterwards, seeing those colours on the plane featuring the wedge-tailed eagle, Australia’s iconic bird of prey.

“The whole exercise was a momentous step towards reconciliation,” Len said.

Although his uncle has now been gone for close to 20 years, Len said it was a wondrous thing to see him acknowledged for the great man he was.

His uncle has been a lifelong inspiration for Len.

“I’d never heard of an Aboriginal person flying a plane before my uncle, so I carried that with me,” he said. 

“He’s driven me to aspire to be the best I can be and has proven to us all that all you’ve got to do is have a go – you can be anything you want to be.”