'Clive Robertson Caldwell was born in Sydney, NSW, in 1910. Educated at Sydney Grammar, he was a keen sportsman and developed an early enthusiasm for aircraft. During the 1930s, a pilot friend provided him with some instruction and experience in flying, and when war was declared he determined, despite being over age, to join the RAAF as aircrew. After modifying his birth certificate to indicate that he was 26 years old, (28 being the cut-off date for pilot training) Caldwell was accepted.
'Discovering that his intake was destined to become flying instructors, he sought a discharge and re-enlisted with the first Australians selected for the Empire Air Training Scheme. Graduating from the course as a Pilot Officer in January 1941, he was posted to 250 Squadron, RAF, flying P-40 Tomahawk fighters in Syria, Palestine and North Africa.'
Source: Digger History website, http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-heroes/caldwell.htm
Sighted: 28/07/2005
