The Missing Man : From the Outback to Tarakan, the Powerful Story of Len Waters, the RAAF's Only WWII Aboriginal Fighter Pilot

He was our first Aboriginal fighter pilot, he flew multiple sorties during Australia's World War II Pacific campaign, and he should have had a world of opportunity ahead of him at the war's end, but Len Waters became the missing man in the country's wartime flying history. 'You were the master of the machine...you were an airman.' Flying Officer Bob Crawford Len Waters was a Kamilaroi man. Born on an Aboriginal reserve, he left school at thirteen and by twenty was piloting a RAAF Kittyhawk fighter with 78 Squadron in the lethal skies over the Pacific in World War II. It was serious and dangerous work and his achievement was extraordinary. These would be the best years of his life. Respected by his peers, he was living his dream. The war over, it should have been easy. He believed he could 'live on both sides of the fence' and be part of Australia's emerging commercial airline industry. He had, after all, broken through the 'black ceiling' once before. Above all, he just wanted to fly. Instead, he became a missing man in Australia's wartime flying history. Peter Rees rights that wrong in this powerful, compelling and at times tragic examination of Len Water's life. He also tells us something of ourselves that we need to hear. He was our first Aboriginal fighter pilot, he flew multiple sorties during Australia's World War II Pacific campaign, and he should have had a world of opportunity ahead of him at the war's end, but Len Waters became the missing man in the country's wartime flying history.

'You were the master of the machine...you were an airman.' Flying Officer Bob Crawford

Len Waters was a Kamilaroi man. Born on an Aboriginal reserve, he left school at thirteen and by twenty was piloting a RAAF Kittyhawk fighter with 78 Squadron in the lethal skies over the Pacific in World War II. It was serious and dangerous work and his achievement was extraordinary. These would be the best years of his life. Respected by his peers, he was living his dream.

The war over, it should have been easy. He believed he could 'live on both sides of the fence' and be part of Australia's emerging commercial airline industry. He had, after all, broken through the 'black ceiling' once before. Above all, he just wanted to fly. Instead, he became a missing man in Australia's wartime flying history.

Peter Rees rights that wrong in this powerful, compelling and at times tragic examination of Len Water's life. He also tells us something of ourselves that we need to hear. You were the master of the machine ... you were an airman.' Flying Officer Bob Crawford Len Waters was a Kamilaroi man. Born on an Aboriginal reserve, he left school at thirteen and by twenty was piloting a RAAF Kittyhawk fighter with 78 Squadron in the lethal skies over the Pacific in World War II. It was serious and dangerous work and his achievement was extraordinary. These would be the best years of his life. Respected by his peers, he was living his dream. The war over, it should have been easy. He believed he could 'live on both sides of the fence' and be part of Australia's emerging commercial airline industry. He had, after all, broken through the 'black ceiling' once before. Above all, he just wanted to fly. Instead, he became a missing man in Australia's wartime flying history. Peter Rees rights that wrong in this powerful, compelling and at times tragic examination of Len Water's life. He also tells us something of ourselves that we need to hear. He was our first Aboriginal fighter pilot, he flew multiple sorties during Australia's World War II Pacific campaign, and he should have had a world of opportunity ahead of him at the war's end, but Len Walters became the missing man in the country's wartime flying history.;Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Note; Dedication; CONTENTS; PROLOGUE; PART ONE: THE DREAM, YUWAYA NGARRALI; 1 WORLDS APART; 2 DEPENDENCY; 3 DISPOSSESSION; 4 SKIN; 5 CHOICE; 6 STANDING APART; PART TWO: SKY HIGH GUNAGALAGA NGARRIBAA; 7 DIFFERENT DOORS; 8 THE ERK; 9 SOLO; 10 UTOPIA; 11 THE THRILL OF IT; 12 MISADVENTURE IN MOREE; 13 BAD SHOW; 14 HERE TODAY, GONE TO MOROTAI; 15 FIGHTING FIT; 16 WIND-DOWN; 17 ONE OF THE BOYS; 18 COMING OF AGE; 19 TRUE AUSTRALIAN BLOOD; PART THREE: BACK TO EARTH YANAAWUWLY DHAWUN; 20 A SUITABLE MARRIAGE; 21 BLACKFELLA; 22 FITTING BACK IN; 23 IN THE RING. Cover Title Page Copyright Note Dedication CONTENTS PROLOGUE PART ONE: THE DREAM, YUWAYA NGARRALI 1 WORLDS APART 2 DEPENDENCY 3 DISPOSSESSION 4 SKIN 5 CHOICE 6 STANDING APART PART TWO: SKY HIGH GUNAGALAGA NGARRIBAA 7 DIFFERENT DOORS 8 THE ERK 9 SOLO 10 UTOPIA 11 THE THRILL OF IT 12 MISADVENTURE IN MOREE 13 BAD SHOW 14 HERE TODAY, GONE TO MOROTAI 15 FIGHTING FIT 16 WIND-DOWN 17 ONE OF THE BOYS 18 COMING OF AGE 19 TRUE AUSTRALIAN BLOOD PART THREE: BACK TO EARTH YANAAWUWLY DHAWUN 20 A SUITABLE MARRIAGE 21 BLACKFELLA 22 FITTING BACK IN 23 IN THE RING. 24 WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE25 STRIKE 26 THE LONER 27 THE SATURDAY RITUAL 28 GRIEF 29 BLEAK TIMES 30 ICARUS 31 FLASH BLACK 32 FREE FALL 33 ALONE 34 TWO WORLDS Epilogue: IF ONLY HE HAD KNOWN PIC SECTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX.