On this day in 1941, Australian Flight Lieutenant Clive Caldwell was leading a formation of Tomahawks from No 250 Squadron, RAF, with No 112 Squadron, RAF, flying as top cover, when they encountered about 60 enemy aircraft—both bombers and fighters––over the Western Desert south of Tobruk, Libya.
Leaving 112 Squadron to deal with the fighters, Caldwell led 250 Squadron against the Ju-87 Stukas and during this one engagement accounted for five of the enemy. Although he had only received his wings under the Empire Air Training Scheme a year before, Caldwell was already an ‘ace’ and was about to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for an exploit back in August.
His success in this action earned him a Bar to the DFC also. After returning to Australia in September 1942, he reached the highest tally of combat victories of any Australian pilot in World War II (28½).
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