Clive Caldwell

Clive Robertson Caldwell
Clive Caldwell c. 1942
Nickname(s)	"Killer"
Born	(1911-07-28)July 28, 1911 Lewisham, New South Wales
Died	5 August 1994(1994-08-05) (aged 83) Sydney
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service	1940–1946
Rank	Flight Lieutenant (formerly Group Captain)
Commands held	No. 112 Squadron RAF (1942) No. 1 Wing RAAF (1942–1943) No. 80 Wing RAAF (1944–1945)
Battles/wars	World War II North African campaign Syria-Lebanon campaign South West Pacific theatre New Guinea campaign
Awards	Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Krzyż Walecznych (Poland)

Clive Robertson Caldwell, DSO, DFC & Bar (28 July 1911 – 5 August 1994) was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 operational sorties, including an ace in a day. In addition to his official score, he has been ascribed six probables and 15 damaged.^[1][2] Caldwell flew Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks and Kittyhawks in the North African Campaign and Supermarine Spitfires in the South West Pacific Theatre. He was the highest-scoring P-40 pilot from any air force and the highest-scoring Allied pilot in North Africa.^[3] Caldwell also commanded a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wings. His military service ended in controversy, when he resigned in protest at the misuse of Australian First Tactical Air Force's fighter units and was later court martialed and convicted for trading liquor.