I have just been reading a short biography of Air Commodore Keith Caldwell, who was one of New Zealand’s top aces of World War One with 22 victories. In World War Two he was in the RNZAF and was base commander of RNZAF Station Woodbourne and then RNZAF Station Wigram.
The biog says that in 1945 he went to India, and then onto become AOC of RNZAF Hertfordshire.
What and where was RNZAF Hertfordshire? Obviously it is in the English county of Hertfordshire, but does anyone know exactly where? And what the purpose of this station was? Was it fully run and manned by solely RNZAF personnel? Did the New Zealand Government own this place?
I had no idea that the RNZAF had its own station/s in the UK. Perhaps this was more of an administrative centre rather than an operational RNZAF station but it is still very interesting.
I’d love to know more about it if anyone knows, and I’d also like to know if the RNZAF had any other bases of its own in Britain, or other countries (except their well known ones in the Pacific).
Cheers,
Dave
By: Dave Homewood - 24th July 2004 at 14:17
Thanks Denis.
I interviewed the last CO of 488 (NZ) Sqn who was with the Sqn for that whoie period on Mossies, a fascinating chap. Funnily enough he (Ron Watts) and Keith Caldwell both lived in my home town of Cambridge, which is why I am researching the career of the latter man.
Even the RNZAF museum has been able to provide little info on Caldwell’s WWII career, and nothing on his between-the-wars days, as most of the focus is always on his WWI glory days. Pity.
By: Denis - 24th July 2004 at 12:37
488 (New Zealand) Squadron were at Hunsdon for a while in 1944/45 flying Mosquito’s.
Airfields in Hertfordshire included:
Hunsdon.
Sawbridgeworth.
Nuthampstead.
Leavesden.
Bovington
No Keith Cawdwell was Station commander at Hunsdon though.
Hunsdon and Sawbridgeworth are covered on my webstite , URL in the signature below!.
By: Dave Homewood - 24th July 2004 at 10:08
Thanks Melvyn,
Hmm, you could be right there. The book was from the 1970’s I think – it is undated – but was produced by Motat (The Museum of Transport and Technology) who in those days were very much an amatuer outfit, so it may be an error.
Has anyone any idea if Keith Caldwell was in command of any RAF stations in Hertfordshire in 1945?
Cheers
Dave
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 24th July 2004 at 09:57
Dave, it sounds to me like a copy-editing mistake.
MH
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July 24, 2004 at 4:24 am