The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War service of Group Captain Clive Robertson Caldwell, DSO, DFC & Bar, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, North Africa and New Guinea, 1941-1990.
The collection consists of a range of correspondence, documents, news clippings and notebooks related to Caldwell’s service as a fighter pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.
Wallet 1 of 7 - Contains Caldwell’s flying log book, covering 1941 to 1945. It outlines Caldwell’s training, test flights, sweeps, raids, and enemy engagements across Australia, North Africa, Europe and the Pacific during the Second World War. The log book includes a typed copy of a telegram from the Prime Minister “wishing you good luck and every success to all the ranks of the Royal Air Force” dated 17 November 1941.
Wallet 2 of 7 - Consists of a collection of notes, letters, clippings, and records, dated July 1941 to March 1946. The wallet includes an undated notebook of handwritten poetry, a typed paper on air gunnery titled “Air to Air Firing” written by Caldwell in July 1941, a telegram alerting Caldwell of his promotion to wing commander, records of service, extracts of citations, extracts from his flying log book, a typed report on Air Firing Training No. 1 Fighter Wing written 14 August 1943 by 40674 Flight Lieutenant John Reynolds Cock DFC, newspaper clippings, correspondence with magazine editors, extracts from opinions about Caldwell expressed by Group Captain Gerald Packer, Air Commodore Harry Cobby, and Group Captain W.N. Gibson, and a flyer nominating Caldwell for the ANZAC House Appeal pin-up man contest.
Wallet 3 of 7 - Consists of reports addressed to No. 1 Fighter Wing Headquarters from No. 54 Squadron RAF and Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons RAAF. The wallet includes consolidated combat reports, fighter combat reports, intelligence reports, tactical appreciation reports, and detailed narratives and observations prepared by Caldwell, all dated between February and May 1943, regarding the air raids Nos. 52, 53 and 54 on Darwin.
Wallet 4 of 7 - Consists of reports addressed to No. 1 Fighter Wing Headquarters from No. 54 Squadron RAF and Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons RAAF. The wallet includes consolidated combat reports, fighter combat reports, armament reports, assessment of enemy casualties, and detailed narratives, all dated between May and June 1943 and regarding the Milingimbi raid No. 2 and the Darwin air raids Nos. 55 and 56.
Wallet 5 of 7 - Consists of reports addressed to No. 1 Fighter Wing Headquarters from No. 54 Squadron RAF and Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons RAAF. The wallet includes consolidated combat reports, reconnaissance fighter combat reports, casualty reports, ammunition reports, armament reports, log book extracts, search reports, and detailed narratives, all dated between June and September 1943, regarding air raids Nos. 57 and 58 on Darwin. The collection also includes photographs taken by Caldwell of one “DINAH” destroyed 17 August 1943, and telegrams of congratulations from Governor-General Lord Gowrie and Air Commodore Frank Bladin.
Wallet 6 of 7 - Consists of a collection of letters, clippings, notes, and speeches created in the years after the Caldwell’s service, dated 1948–1990. Items include various fan mail from aircraft enthusiasts, correspondence with publishers over misinformation in text, the photocopy of an article “Spitfires Over Darwin” by Fred Morton, a written apology from the committee of CONTACT magazine regarding inaccuracies published in a 1987 edition, notes written by Caldwell regarding No. 1. Fighter (Spitfire) Wing, and pages from an edited memoir written by Caldwell. It also includes correspondence with August Graf von Kageneck in 1985, who was the brother of an enemy pilot shot down and killed by Caldwell on Christmas Eve 1941. Von Kageneck sent Caldwell a photo of his brother Erbo and later wrote an included article about his brother originally published in the International Herald Tribune in 1990.
Wallet 7 of 7 - Consists of a 26-page typed research assignment by journalism student James D. Robinson titled “The Darwin Raids 28th January 1942 – 25th July 1945.” The folder includes copies of combat reports on Darwin air raid Nos. 52 and 54 on Darwin, and a copy of “Air to Air Firing” written by Calwell in July 1941. These copies are thought to be the research papers used by Robinson for his assignment.
COPIES OF SERVICE PAPERS INCLUDING GRP CAPT CALDWELL'S FLYING LOGBOOK COVERING HIS DUTIES WITH 250 SQN RAF IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND LATER WITH 1 FIGHTER WING STATIONED IN DARWIN. ALSO CONTAINS CONGRATUL
LOG BOOK ENTRIES, REPORT ON CALDWELL'S PROGRESS, INFORMATION ON THE ACTIONS FOR WHICH HE WAS AWARDED THE DFC AND BAR, COVERS PERIOD 1941-1943. PHOTOCOPIES
Copies of reports maintained by Quinn during his work as intelligence officer in the RAAF concern air raids on Darwin (1942-1943), Netherland East Indies Forces (NEI), Defence of Ambon, 1941-1942, Lah
Collection relating to the Second World War and Malayan Emergency service of 033013 (250752) Wing Commander Kenneth Victor Robertson, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, 1940-1970. Wallet 1 of 6 –
Africa Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details. Clive Robertson Caldwell was born in Sydney, NSW, in 1910. Educated at Sydney Grammar, he developed an early enthusiasm for aircraft.When war
Pacific Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details. Clive Robertson Caldwell was born in Sydney, NSW, in 1910. Educated at Sydney Grammar, he developed an early enthusiasm for aircraft.When war
