Michael J. Claringbould was born in Africa during the colonial era, Michael is an Australian who has been interested in the history of the U.S. Fifth Air Force during World War II ever since he discovered airplane wrecks in New Guinea as a youth.  This evolved into an obsession with World War II Pacific aviation. In 1976 he trekked to the intact wreckage of A-20G “The Hell’N Pelican” and later assisted the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the recovery operation. This experience began his association with the 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) veterans and the history of the Fifth Air Force.

In his professional life, Claringbould worked for the Australian Government, Michael has completed diplomatic postings to the Australian embassies in Thailand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Cambodia with shorter assignments to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Solomon Islands.

For over a decade, Claringbould was the Assistant Editor of Flightpath magazine in Australia. Each month, he wrote at least one article on World War II aviation history in the South Pacific or Southwest Pacific. He has a private pilot license and his hobbies include aircraft restoration. Michael lives in Australia with his New Zealand-born wife, Greta.

Claringbould is the co-author of Rampage of the Roarin 20’s Rampage of the Roarin’ 20’s in the Eagles Over The Pacific series.