Squadron Leader Hilary Charles CALDWELL (103013)
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Date of birth: 13th July 1900
Date of death: 18th May 1944

Killed on active service aged 43
Buried at Madrid British Cemetery
He was born at Quilmes, Buenos Aires in Argentina on the 13th of July 1900 the second son of Vere Caldwell and Louisa Mary (nee Abrahams) of Estancia La Corona, Carlos Casares, Argentina, later of Wray Cottage, Reigate in Surrey. He was christened at Quilmes on the 19th August 1900.

He was educated at St George's College, Quilmes, at Glengorse School and at the King's School Canterbury from September 1913 to July 1918 where he was a member of the Cricket XI in 1918.

On leaving school he gained a special entry cadetship to the Royal Naval Engineering College at Keyham. He went on to University College where he studied engineering and graduated in 1921. He later returned to Argentina where he managed various estates and became well known as a judge of cattle.

He had learnt to fly in Argentina and, having decided to return to England to join up, he boarded the passenger cargo ship SS Highland Brigade at Buenos Aires, landing at Liverpool on the 22nd of August 1940.

He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Leading Aircraftsman and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 19th of July 1941, was promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th of July 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 19th of July 1943.

He was married in early 1942 to Rona Vivien Spencer (nee Wilkin); they lived at Silverthorne, Beaconsfield and had a daughter, Susan R., born at Amersham in 1943

After acting as an instructor in various places he was appointed as Assistant Air Attache to Madrid in 1944.

In May 1944 Hilary Caldwell was asked to make his first official flight by taking Arthur Yencken CMG, the acting British Minister to Spain, to Barcelona to greet one of the first batches of repatriated British prisoners of war. He was to fly Vega Gull G-AFVI, an embassy aircraft, which was not equipped with wireless or the type of navigational aids associated with a military aircraft. At 8am on the morning of the 18th of May 1944 he received a weather report which reported low cloud along the route and he was advised to delay his flight until 11am but decided to go at the original time of 8.30am. He took off from Barajas Airfield at 8.40am with Arthur Yencken and with a Spanish flight mechanic, Gaspar Martinez Lopez.

At around 10am a farm worker, Miguel Jauregui was working at his farm "Viloba" when he saw the aircraft clear the mist shrouded Coba de Cantes Ridge in the Sierra de Artigo Range and head down the valley which is closed at one end by a peak known as Roca de Viloba. Seeing this obstruction the aircraft changed course slightly to starboard and climbed but, in spite of the vigorous use of the elevator, it was unable to clear the rock which it hit a few feet below the top. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames killing all three of the occupants instantly. Jauregui made his way up to the crash site but realised that there was nothing he could do so he walked to the village of Prats de Compte to alert the authorities.

After the war there was an enquiry to investigate whether a German agent was involved in the loss of the aircraft. It concluded that the crash was in part due to Caldwell's decision not to delay the flight because of the weather and that it was a tragic accident.

A service was held in his memory at Tylers Green Church near Beaconsfield at 3pm on the 1st of June 1944.

His brother-in-law, E.S. Dewing wrote:-

"Hilary was the most unselfish man I have ever known and that is saying quite a lot."

He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour at the English Social Club at Lomas de Zamora in Argentina and on a stained glass window in the chapel at Lavollol Cemetery.
 

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