Grid: The life and times of First World War fighter ace Keith Caldwell - Hardcover

Adam Claasen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0995102937 ISBN 13: 9780995102934

Publisher: Massey University Press, 2024

Synopsis

This gripping biography of Air Commodore Keith ‘Grid’ Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & bar, Croix de guerre, tells the story of his remarkable exploits during the First World War. Flying single-seat fighters against the best of the German air force, including the Red Baron’s Flying Circus and airmen such as Werner Voss, Caldwell accumulated 26 victories in aerial combat. Over his illustrious career he flew with numerous ‘stars’ of the British air service, including Albert Ball, William ‘Billy’ Bishop and Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock. In the last year of the war, aged only 22, he was given command of the new 74 Squadron. Under his leadership 74 ‘Tiger’ Sqaudron become one of the war’s most feared and revered units. Written by a leading military historian, Grid details Caldwell’s journey from early flight training in Auckland to his death-defying sorties over enemy lines on the Western Front. It also details his pivotal role in sustaining military aviation in interwar New Zealand, and his role in reinvigorating interest in the airmen of the First World War during the 1960s and 1970s.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Adam Claasen is an historian at Massey University, New Zealand. He is a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship grantee, a Fulbright Scholarship (Georgetown University) awardee and a Massey University research team medallist. Adam teaches on the Second World War and American foreign policy and is a Vice-Chancellor’s award recipient for sustained excellence in teaching. He has presented conference papers and published on military intelligence, air power and geostrategy. His books include Hitler’s Northern War: The Luftwaffe’s ill-fated campaign, 1940–1945; Dogfight: Anzacs in the Battle of Britain; and Fearless: The extraordinary untold story of New Zealand’s Great War airmen.

Edition details

• Publisher: Massey University Press
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0995102937
• ISBN 13: 9780995102934
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 440