War Memorials in Australia
The Pilots Memorial
Place:
St George, Queensland, 4487
District:
Maranoa and Warrego
Orientation: 291 km E of
Cunnamulla
Location: Apex Park, St George's Terrace opposite Roe Street
Position: 28 02 21 S 148 34 39 E
Ref: 40022
__________________________
The memorial consists of two large tablets of banded sandstone and a banded sandstone plinth, all bearing bronze plaques and placed on a tiled platform.
East face of south tablet
Bronze plaque
Bas relief sculpture of head and
shoulders of S/Ldr Jackson
In memory of
SQUADRON LEADER JOHN FRANCIS JACKSON DFC
1908 - 1942
John Francis Jackson was born in Brisbane in 1908 and came to the St.
George District at the
age of nineteen to manage "Macwood", a grazing property acquired by his father.
Later he
acquired a Stock and Station Agency in the town, learned to fly, and bought an
aeroplane
to use in the business.
He joined the R.A.A.F at the
outbreak of War in 1939 and served in the Middle East as a
Fighter Pilot with 3 Squadron which at the time was equipped with Gloster
Gladiator biplanes
opposing the Italian Airforce. In March 1942 he was given command of 75 Squadron,
which
had been hastily formed in Townsville, equipped with Kittyhawk aircraft manned
mostly by
pilots with no combat experience and sent to defend Port Moresby against the
Japanese invasion.
After being shot down in the sea near Lae he managed to swim to shore and walk
to safety
with the aid of natives. He later led a flight of five Kittyhawks to
intercept a superior force
of bombers and fighters and was killed in action on April 28, 1942, leaving a
wife and two
children.
John was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC) for his work in the Middle East and
in honour of the valiant defence of Port Moresby by he and 75 Squadron, the
airport at
Port Moresby was renamed Jackson Field. It is now known as Jackson Airport and
John
Jackson is probably the only Australian who has an International Airport, in
another country,
named in his honour.
"Lest we Forget"
East face of north tablet
Bronze plaque
Bas relief sculpture of head and
shoulders of W/O Waters
In memory of
WARRANT OFFICER LEONARD VICTOR WATERS
1924 - 1993
Leonard Victor Waters was born at Euraba Mission near Boomi on June 20,
1924. He later
moved to "Old Toomelah" with his family and then again to Nindigully (Qld).
At the age of
13 Leonard left school to work as a ring barker and shearer to help his family
of 11 get
through the Depression.
When World War II broke out. he felt
his destiny lay with the Airforce and joined the RAAF
one day before the Battle of the Coral Sea on August 24, 1942. Upon joining he
worked as
ground staff then trained as a flight mechanic and was able to strip and
reassemble Kittyhawk
Fighter engines. Later a shortage of pilots required the RAAF to call for more
airmen.
In December 1943 Leonard volunteered
for aircrew, was selected and commenced training
in Victoria. He studied with 148 other students (48 were accepted as pilots.
Leonard came
4th overall).
Flight Sergeant Leonard Waters was
posted to 78th Fighter Squadron at Noemffer Island,
Western New Guinea, in November 1944. He was the only Aboriginal pilot to fly in
World
War II. Leonard flew a Kittyhawk Fighter, with "Black Magic" painted on the nose
of the
plane.
After the war, he returned to
shearing and the task of raising a large family at Cunnamulla,
St. George and Brisbane. Leonard Victor Waters died at Cunnamulla on August 24
1993
aged 69. He was buried with full military honours at St. George, Queensland.
"Lest we Forget"
East face of plinth
Bronze plaque
The Pilots Memorial
Officially Dedicated
on
8th March, 2003
by
the Hon. Bruce Scott MP,
Federal Member for Maranoa and Minister for
Veterans Affairs 1996 - 2001
Insignia of Rotary International
Information current to December 2003