Who was the top-scoring Australian flying ace?

Short answer

The top-scoring Australian ace was Clive Caldwell, Australia's leading flying ace of World War II, officially credited with 28.5 enemy aircraft shot down over more than 300 operational sorties. He flew P-40s in North Africa, where he claimed 22 victories, making him the top-scoring P-40 pilot of any air force.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Who was the top-scoring Australian flying ace?

Crashed Kittyhawk I 260 Sqn in N Africa 1942

The Australian Ace with the Most Victories

Clive Caldwell was Australia's leading fighter ace of the Second World War. His official tally is 28.5 enemy aircraft shot down over more than 300 operational sorties, a count that includes the German ace Erbo Graf von Kageneck. To that official record are added, credited to him, six probables and 15 aircraft damaged.

With the P-40 in North Africa

In the North African campaign, Caldwell flew Curtiss P-40s in their Tomahawk and Kittyhawk versions. With that fighter he claimed 22 victories in the North African theatre, including ten Bf 109s and two Macchi C.202s. He was the P-40 pilot with the most kills of any air force and also the Allied pilot with the most kills in North Africa.

Flying Hours

In reviewing his time in North Africa, he is credited with some 550 flying hours over more than 300 operational sorties, without it being specified whether the figure covers only that period.