'Framing the Legend: Clive Caldwell’s Photographic Archive': an Aviation Cultures Spotlight presentation 27 February 2026

Have you heard about Aviation Cultures? 

Aviation Cultures is a series of conferences where researchers and practitioners come together to share their knowledge and ideas about flight, and its place in history and society. I've participated in a few of their events over the years and every one has been a personal and professional highlight.

Check out their website https://aviationcultures.org/

The next Searchlight presentations - entitled Print the Legend - will take place on 27-28 February 2026. There are some great papers lined up from aviation experts from all over the world.

I'm on during the 27 February morning session, talking about Clive Caldwell, Australia's highest scoring SWW fighter pilot, from a very different perspective: 'Framing the Legend: Clive Caldwell’s Photographic Archive'. And here's the blurb:

Clive Caldwell Air Ace was published in 2006. The work of a sprog author (yup, me), it was well received yet deficient. While recognising that Australia’s highest scoring Second World War ace was virtually a legend in his own time, the book did not fully explore the real man. Obvious questions were unasked or left unanswered. Myths were not busted. (To be fair, I didn't do too badly.)

Two decades later, with more biographical experience under my belt, I am re-examining Clive Caldwell’s life and flying career through the prisms of war trauma and moral injury – both revealed in his private writings and medical records. (Yup, that means I'm re-researching/rewriting the book for a second edition/new work - if you're a publisher, please get in touch!) I also challenge Caldwell’s tall tales, his ‘victory’ tally, and his part in the death of Erbo von Kageneck (spoiler: he didn’t do it but if you've read my article you already know that.) https://www.academia.edu/119203385/Letters_From_A_Luftwaffe_Ace

Central to this re-evaluation are Caldwell’s photo albums. Once merely sources of personal and career information, the former sprog’s (very much) older (wrinkled) eyes now discern new meaning in his curation of official and media photographs alongside ‘box brownie’ images of aircraft wreckage and pilot remains.

This Searchlight paper discusses Caldwell’s photo-narration of operational precarity and anticipated death, as well as his desire to defy that fate by creating a pictorial record of his contribution to Australian aviation history. In highlighting these intersections, I hope to offer deeper insight into a fighter pilot still acknowledged as an aviation legend.

  

The presentations are via zoom (and free!) and scheduled so you can (hopefully) tune in regardless of time zone. You do have to register to receive the link.

So, sign up and join me and other members of Aviation Cultures for a couple of days of top flight aviation presentation and discussion. I'll be very interested to know what you think of my interpretation.

Sign up/register/more info here: https://aviationcultures.org/spotlights/print-the-legend/

And please spread the word! The more the merrier.

I look forward to seeing you.

In the interim, virtually enjoy this magnificent slice of cake ... I did in real life!