Sam Calder
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Sam Calder AM, OBE |
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|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Northern Territory |
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In office 26 November 1966 – 19 September 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Jock Nelson |
| Succeeded by | Grant Tambling |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
10 August 1916 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Died | 30 September 2008 (aged 92) Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party |
Country (1966–74) CLP (1974–80) |
| Spouse(s) | Daphne Campbell (1926-2013) |
| Occupation | Pilot |
Stephen Edward "Sam" Calder AM, OBE (10 August 1916 – 30 September 2008) was a decorated World War II flying ace, member of the Australian House of Representatives, and one of the founders of the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party.
Calder was born in Melbourne, Victoria and educated at Melbourne Grammar before joining the Royal Australian Air Force in 1932. Trained as a pilot, Calder flew Typhoon planes throughout World War II, completing 120 missions over Europe and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Following the end of hostilities in 1945, Calder returned to Australia and worked as the chief pilot for Northern Territory-based airline Connellan Airways. The airline prospered as it provided a vast network of medical, passenger and mail services throughout the Northern Territory, although it would eventually collapse following a decision by then Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Everingham, a political opponent of Calder, to give competing airline Ansett Airlines the rights to the Darwin-Alice Springs route. Not content with this, Calder also took on the challenge of managing cattle stations the size of some European countries.
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