Your issue containing the article "We Fought With What We Had" regarding the P-40 freshly arrived here and I was excessively interested in your mention of Clive "Killer" Caldwell who died a coupling of years ago (Caldwell.

Your issue containing the article "We Fought With What We Had" regarding the P-40 freshly arrived here and I was excessively interested in your mention of Clive "Killer" Caldwell who died a coupling of years ago (Caldwell, the same of the greatest Commonwealth WWII aces, overthrowed 27 enemy aircraft, shared in the destruction of three others along with six probables and 15 damaged enemy aircraft). In the real late 1970s he gave brace talks to the modeling cluh to which I then belonged. Like all talks, different things stick firmly in different minds and here is what has stuck in mine.

Practically his first words were, "Please call me Clive, I hate Killer." He lov the sum of two units .50s in the cowling of his Tomahawk because in a no-deflection attack he could hit the target and "Buy did those Stukas toast When they were replaced by dint of Kittyhawks with wing guns I was actually sorry because I was hopeles at deflection shooting."

One day, heading place of abode he saw the shadow of his wingman's Kittyhawk racing across the deserving sand and it struck him that the shadow and spe were exactly the same as the actual aircraft. Radioing his wing man to ignore his actions poor cottage to keep the same course and spe Clive made several deflection attacks upon the shadow and was amazed as just in what manner far behind his bullets were hitting. He mentioned this to the squadron CO and was permitted to practice this form of shooting. It was in like manner successful that it became standard official training in the Middle East.

Curiously, a pair of months after this I came across an article written by the agency of a pilot ahout when he left training at RAF Cranwell and went straight into a fighter squadron flying Siskin biplanes. A squadron member (name, rank, etc were not mentioned) taught the young pilots "splash" shooting which was exactly the same as shadow shooting save it was done over water. When this part left the squadron, "splash" shooting died without because the youngsters were more interested in winning a shooting trophy

Giving Clive Caldwell credit and honor to be ascribed to his discovering shadow shooting, we had a friendly debate by way of mail on this subject. Clive casted it was impossible because of the British weather and the large turning circle of the aircraft nevertheless to me, it seemed he was judging everything according to Kittyhawk standards and not those of a biplane which was a hazard smaller and slower.

Clive's version of bombing up Kittyhawks was a hazard different than any official version. He had escorted Bristol Blenheims and forward many missions and was pleased that they not lost a "death trap" Blenheim mean dwelling quite a few of his squadron mates were discharge down defending the light homhers. The idea struck that if the Kittyhawk could carry a belly tank, then with what intent not a bomb? If it could and it worked, those Blenheim sets would he only too pleased at a transfer to Palestine.

Clive worked and criterioned his idea and it prov feasihlc. The squadron was "bomhed up" and facing they went to annoy a Gemian airfield. As Clive was the instigator of bombed-up Kittyhawks, he was given the honor of dropping the first bomb Spotting a Cerman aircraft onward the ground, Clive dived his Kittyhawk. without of the corner of his notice he saw a truck loaded with men hurriedly departing from the scene

Remaining intent forward his target, the bomb was dropp and hit the truck! Clive swore that any of the men flew higher in the air than his Kittyhawk. "Back at our airfield, I was heartily congratulated upon my accurate aiming. It was a not many days before I had enough courage to reveal that I had been aiming for the aircraft!"

I faith these recollections prove of interest to your readers.

DR Snedden

Woodbine, NSW

Australia

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