LEST WE FORGET
The Honourable James Valentine FAIRBAIRN
Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation
As Minister for Civil Aviation with responsibility for the RAAF, Minister Fairbairn was the principal negotiator for Australia at Ottawa in late 1939 when the Air Training Plan was agreed.
His biography is given in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft Hudson A16-97), Canberra ACT, 13 August 1940
While serving with No. 54 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, James Fairbairn was shot down between Cambrai and St Quentin on 14 February 1917 and taken prisoner. Due to severe injuries to his right arm, he was repatriated just over one year later.
At 1050 hours on 13 August 1940, No. 2 Squadron Hudson A16-97 spun and crashed 3 kms east of Canberra aerodrome. Everyone on board was killed. This accident had profound affects on the highest level of Australia’s Government and Defence hierarchy during a critical period early in World War II. On board A16-97 were:
Crew:
Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale (6673)
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock (115) (Pilot)
Corporal John Frederick Palmer (2130)
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener (607) (Navigator)
Passengers:
Mr. Richard Elford (Secretary to the Minister for Air)
The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn (Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation)
The Honourable Sir Henry Somer Gullett KCMG (Vice President of the Executive Council, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Information)
Brigadier the Honourable Geoffrey Austin Street MC (Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite DSO MC (V159753) (Army Headquarters)
Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB KCMG KCVO DSO (Chief of the General Staff)
References:
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 318; A9845, 319
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992