Petty, Walter

Walter Lloyd George Petty

RAAF, Number 64837

Leading Aircraftman

Petty_1

Walter Lloyd George Petty (Known as Lloyd) enlisted in the RAAF in May 1942 and trained at Bradfield Park Sydney, Uranquinty (Wagga), Evans Head and Tocumwal. Born at Yass on the 13 th August 1915, he was a self taught mechanic and first drove a car at the age of 11 years often driving to Yass without a license till he was old enough to get his license at 17.

A Fitter 11 E he fell in love with the Spitfires and the Beaufighters and spent the last 10 months on Moratai in the spark plug section. At one stage his section was accused of sabotage when there was a lot of trouble keeping the planes serviceable. He denied the trouble was in his charge and under threat of a court-martial the trouble wasn't found. He said the trouble was with the carburetor section, where it was found that there was sabotage.

One memory stuck forever in his mind when he saw the plight of the Prisoners of War, after their treatment by the Japanese, when they were brought off Borneo.

At the end of the WWII he flew back to Australia with the second (and last) flights of planes as head mechanic, starting with 16 planes they picked up one left along the way by the first flight with engine trouble. Lloyd was left with the remaining Spitfire (and a Beaufighter) for cover, he had the plane's mechanical trouble fixed and had it back in the air in half an hour.

In the lineup for his discharge, he was told "As key Personal". He was going on leave to be recalled at 10 days notice if recalled. He brought a property "While Waiting" and had a letter asking that would he consider rejoining the Air Force, but he decided to stay on the land-a decision he often regretted!!

He was finally discharged on the 13rd of February 1946, though in the records it is officially shown as discharged, "Los Negros, Moratai, 13/1/1947.

Towards the end of Lloyd's life, he had a pacemaker for 14 years and became entirely dependent on it in the remaining two years. He would have been 90 years old on the 13th August and married for 65years on the 24th August, but passed away on his last flight on the 30 th July, 2005..

By Dorothy M Petty, Lee Hunt and Steve McGregor