Some info of that time & what happens when the boys have to much time on their hands. Court Martial the Ace - Caldwell V the RAAF
"There is money to be made in liquor up at Morotai, so if you want to earn a few extra shillings you can sell liquor for me"
Caldwell to his batman, Darwin, late November 1944.
In late 1944 Caldwell moved his Spitfire Wing from Darwin to Morotai expecting to see at least some action against the enemy. Over the following months he became embroiled in a battle not so much with the enemy but the RAAF over allegations relating to illegal liquor trading on the 'black market'. This led to his arrest, Court Martial and a far reaching government enquiry into 1st TAF, RAAF.
Up at Morotai
On the 22nd of December, 1944, the first flight of Spitfires from No. 80 Wing led by its Commanding Officer Grp/Cpt Caldwell touched down at Morotai, a small coral island in the Halmaheras Group. The wing had left Darwin to be part of the RAAF's 1st TAF, a mobile strike force equipped with Bostons, Beaufighters, Kittyhawks and now Spitfires. Morotai had developed into a huge army and air force base populated with thousands of US and Australian servicemen. In preparation for the wings move, Caldwell had visited the island in November, 1944 with Squadron Leader Harpham to organise construction of a camp to house the wing's personnel.
The task seemed impossible to achieve as it soon became clear that the RAAF had neither the supplies nor equipment to enable a camp to be erected on the island to accommodate the wing. By contrast, the US Air force on the island was well equipped and had all the necessary machinery and equipment. Caldwell and his adjutant S/L Harpham approached the Americans for help. To obtain the Americans prompt assistance in supplying machinery and equipment and to foster goodwill, presents of liquor were made to a number of American officers. With the invaluable assistance and goodwill of the Americans, the camp was made reasonably habitable by the time the wing started to arrive on the island.
It was during this visit that Caldwell became alive to the possibility of selling liquor to servicemen on the island where demand for the product far exceeded its available supply. Liquor trading between Australian and US servicemen was a common activity in the South West Pacific and New Guinea. In contrast to other theatres of war where it was relatively easy to obtain liquor, recreation and entertainment at the nearest town or metropolitan centre, servicemen in the Pacific had limited avenues of escape from the monotony of camp life. The South West Pacific in WWII was nothing like a tropical paradise; it was an alien environment, sparsely populated with natives whose way of life had changed little since the stone-age. On his return to Darwin Caldwell remarked to his batman Corporal Parker, "There is money to be made in liquor up at Morotai, so if you want to earn a few extra shillings you can sell liquor for me". Parker was of a like mind and willingly took part in the venture. Later Caldwell claimed the remark was never made or at the very least it was misinterpreted by Parker, but subsequent events and investigations provided no support for this claim.
When Caldwell landed on the island with No.452 Squadron he had a bottle of whisky in the cockpit and nearly 5 dozen bottles of whisky, gin, beer and wine in an accompanying C.47 transport loaded with the squadrons equipment and supplies. It wasn't long before Parker came to Caldwell saying he knew of some Americans who wanted to buy some liquor. On Christmas day 1944, Corporal Parker, sold 2 to 4 bottles of whisky he had acquired from Caldwell to some American servicemen. From then on, Parker sold liquor on behalf of Caldwell 3 to 4 times a week in return for a commission or 'tip' of approximately 10% of the proceeds up until the 12th of January. On this day, Parker was out selling liquor for Caldwell when he met up with some American servicemen. While in the company of his new friends he got drunk and the money collected from the liquor sales he had made that day was either lost or stolen from him.
After this incident, LAC (Leading Aircraftsman) Charter, a steward attached to No. 80 wing HQ, started selling Caldwell's liquor. Charter together with LAC Fitzroy and Caldwell's batman Cpl. Parker would load the bottles into haversacks and go around to the various American camps to sell it. Carrying haversacks filled with bottles was heavy work so Charter asked Caldwell if he could get a jeep for them. Caldwell got them a jeep and on the 1st of April Charter, Fitzroy and Parker set off in their new transport to the American camps. Carrying their haversacks, Charter and Fitzroy entered one of the American camps while Parker waited for them in the jeep. Upon entering one the tents they were apprehended by American MP's and taken into custody. After waiting a while Parker assumed they had found some buyers so he returned to No. 80 wing HQ unaware of the fate of his companions in the camp. The next day Parker told Caldwell that Charter and Fitzroy had not returned to camp and it seemed likely they had been caught by the MP's. He advised Caldwell that in the circumstances it would be wise to hide any liquor they had. Caldwell agreed, and Parker took the crates and bottles from Charter's and Caldwell's tent and hid it in a slit trench.
The MP's arrive
Caught red handed by the American MP's, Charter and Fitzroy knew there was little point in denying their actions. They were handed over to the RAAF Service Police where they made full and frank statements. The next day Flying Officer Schweppes, Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal, Service Police Unit, interviewed Caldwell and told him Charter and Fitzroy had made statements to the effect that they had sold liquor on his behalf. At first Caldwell denied he had any involvement in the sales but at a later interview he admitted the airman were indeed telling the truth and also added he had transacted some further sales himself.
In consequence of the investigations made by Schweppes, the AOC of 1st TAF, Air Commodore Cobby, suspended Caldwell from his appointment as CO of No. 80 Wing. On the 10th of April he was placed under open arrest and notified that charges were to be laid against him. The charges related to sales of liquor in breach of ABO 'N' 548 and these breaches constituted conduct to the prejudice of good order and air force discipline under Section 40 of the Air Force Act. Air Board Order 'N' 548 prohibited the importation and sale of alcoholic liquor into the Pacific Area by members of the RAAF. Strictly speaking the importation of a single bottle of liquor for personal consumption was a breach of the order but such an act was unlikely to attract or warrant a charge under Section 40.
A Field General Court Martial was convened on the 18th of April but due to the absence of defending counsel it did not commence until the 21st. Court Martial proceedings had already been taken against Wing Commander Gibbes based on Charters evidence of sales he made on his behalf. The charges were similar to those against Caldwell in that he sold liquor in contravention of ABO 'N' 548 and that in the particular circumstances outlined in the charge, this constituted conduct to the prejudice of good order and air force discipline. Gibbes simply pleaded guilty to all three charges even though he had yet to arrive at Morotai by the date specified in the first charge. He was sentenced to be reduced in rank to Flight Lieutenant but the AOC, 1st TAF varied the sentence to Squadron Leader. By the time Caldwells defence council arrived on the 21st of April, 1st TAF staff were too busy preparing for operations at Tarakan and Borneo to conduct the proceedings so it was decided to dissolve the court and release Caldwell from arrest. This however was not the end of the matter and Caldwell did appear before a Court Martial after the end of the war.
Caldwell's Allegations