The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force. Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could supp
No. 1 TAF Headquarters following the Japanese surrender; one further strike was flown after this picture was taken.
Air Commodore Scherger (left) with other Allied officers in April 1944, after the landings at Aitape
Air Commodore Cobby (left) and Group Captain Caldwell (right) pictured at Morotai in January 1945
No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawks, Noemfoor, 1944
Clive Caldwell
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Clive Robertson Caldwell, 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 a German ace i
Australian First Tactical Air Force
…the main advance towards Japan. Frustration was especially evident among highly experienced pilots, such as Australia's top-scoring ace, Group Captain Clive Caldwell, who commanded No. 1 TAF's Spitfire squadrons. This led to a series of events known as the "Morotai Mutiny" in April 1945. Officers based at Morotai…
Clive Caldwell c. 1942
Caldwell posing beside his Supermarine Spitfire.
Test Pilot Herbert O. Fisher shakes hands with Curtiss-Wright fire chief; note Caldwell in background, August 1942.
Caldwell with his Spitfire on Morotai, in December 1944