Major Keith Logan Caldwell

To students of First World War aviation the name of Keith Caldwell is easily the best known among all those New Zealanders who flew on operations with the British air services. Even among his contemporaries, his reputation was formidable.

Caldwell was born in Wellington 17 October 1895 and educated at King’s College, Auckland and Wanganui Collegiate. One of the first two pupils accepted for training at the New Zealand Flying School, he passed his flight tests in December 1915 and sailed for the United Kingdom shortly afterwards. He received his RFC commission in April 1916. 
 
It is almost impossible to do justice to Caldwell’s contribution as a pilot in France in this brief account, but the following bare details must suffice. His first posting was 8 Squadron in July, for army co-operation duties; yet even flying the unit’s highly unsuitable BE2Cs and Ds, the New Zealander was still able to claim one victory. 
 
This and several other combats presumably persuaded higher authority that Caldwell would be better suited to duty with a fighter unit; at any rate, he was posted in November to the Nieuport Scout equipped 60 Squadron for a period of service which lasted almost a year. During this time 60 Squadron converted to SE5As (late July 1917), and Caldwell was promoted to Captain and Flight Commander. He also scored or shared in at least seven victories, including one forced down behind British lines on 11 December 1916. 
 
In October 1917 Caldwell departed for Home Establishment, and training duties. After some months of this work he was promoted to Major and in March 1918 given command of 74 Squadron, newly-equipped with SE5As and working up for a posting overseas. On 30 March he led the unit to France. 
 
Tremendous success was enjoyed by 74 Squadron during 1918, and as Commanding Officer, Caldwell could take much of the credit for this. His personal success was considerable in itself; sixteen more victories, five of them claimed in September. A sample Combat Report describing the destruction of a Fokker Scout on 14 October reads: "While on a line patrol I saw an EA below me at 15,000 feet. I attacked, firing 50 rounds, as EA turned East, and observed hits. The visibility was good and EA was seen to crash." Caldwell had a final score of at least twenty four victories (three shared), a total long believed to be much greater owing to his modesty when making claims. In recommending him for the award of the Military Cross in July 1917, his 60 Squadron Commanding Officer said of him: "He has had 59 combats in the air, in every one of which he has displayed considerable gallantry and skill." Another recommendation from Caldwell’s Brigade Commander, dated October 1918, said: "A splendid Squadron leader who has produced a very high morale in his Squadron by personal example in attacking and killing enemy aircraft." Caldwell’s outstanding record earned him the Military Cross, and Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. Transferred to the Unemployed List of the RAF on 17 July 1919, he took up farming upon his return to New Zealand. Aviation links were maintained via the New Zealand Territorial Air Force, in which he served from its formation in 1923. In the Second World War he rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the RNZAF, but afterwards returned to farming and an eventual final retirement to Auckland. 
 
New Zealand’s top-scoring "ace" of 1914-18 died at his home on 28 November 1980, aged 85.