Ernest Carleton Caldwell
This is the grave of Carleton Ernest,
Caldwell Brandesburton (St Mary)
Churchyard, Yorks,England.
The plane shown above is the beaufighter plane a twin
engine plane built in 27 July 1940 that Caldwell
fell into the sea off the coast of Skipsea East York
This is the No.5 Course of 2 (C) OTU.This is the
unit that Caldwall was in at the time of his death.
The Operational Training unit specialized in
training twin engine fighters and strike crews.
Before the RCAF
Ernest Carleton Caldwell was born Sept 4 1922 in Ottawa Ontario into the United Religion.His dad James Calwell was a lawyer who later died before he applied for the military and his mother Eleanor Margaret MacCarthy. He lived at 789 Carling Ave, Ottawa (at the corner of Carling and Preston). He attended Elmdale and Devonshire elementary school from 1929 to 1936 and then attended Glebe C.I. 1936 to 1941. While in Grade 8 he started working as a Caddie and Pro shop assistant over summers vacations at Ottawa Hunt Golf Club until 1940. Some of the sports Caldwell played were Football, Golf, Swiming and skiing.
Service Record
Caldwell first applied for the RCAF at the RCAF Recruiting station in Ottawa Centre. In a interview with J.E. Drummond He said "Very bright young man with pleasing personality, Keen to be a pilot and should improve with discipline and training." Caldwells first placement (19,5,1941) was to a manning depot in Toronto. After 9 days at the manning depot he started a Bombing and gunnery school in Fingal Ont where he spend 2 months training. A day later he started initial training in Toronto wear he trained for about a month. A day after being released he started Elementary Flying Training School in Oshawa were he spent 2 months. A day later (11,10,1941) he went to Service Flying Training School Hagersville, Ontario he remained there 3 months over the new year and left in (10,1,1942). In a day he was in a Y depot or a Overseas transit depot in Halifax where twelve days later he was arrived at a Raf trainees pod. No 132 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit this unit was previously the No 2 OTU which specialized in training twin engined fighter and strike crews. His plane fell into the sea while he was with the OTU 2/132.
Death and Memorial
The first report of his death was (19,2,1943) where he was reported "Missing, Believed Killed" in a Beaufighter off the coast off Skipsea E Yorks.On the 20th a casualty report was created stating "Killed As the result of a flying accident (Air craft fell into the sea near Skipsea, Yorkshire, England)" and on the 21st of Feb. 19 1943 his body was recovered. After 3 days Caldwell was buried at Brandesburton (St Mary) Churchyard, Yorks, England. Following his mother was sent a Ministerial Card on 10,3,43, Royal Message on 15,4,43 and a Memorial Cross 15,4,43.
Point A on the map is Skipsea E Yorkshire England
Connections to The WWII Themes
Ernest Carleton Caldwell's Training and service connects with themes shown this unit. Because Planes become the turning point of the war are both sides armed to bomb each others civilian population. Caldwell was Trained to pilot twin engine planes, this experience is needed to pilot bombers.
Bibliography to come
Comments (1)
Rachel Collishaw said
at 12:45 pm on Jun 15, 2012
Good job Robin - missing bibliography and skimpy on the themes connection. Clear writing
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