The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Aerial view of part of the Japanese naval base at Surabaya on the island of Java, taken from 31,000 feet by a camera fitted with a 20 inch lens. This image is one of a series that were the first taken of Surabaya, the largest naval base outside Japan. Previously B-24 aircraft of the 380th Bombardment Group USAAF had failed to return from their reconnaissance missions; the Mosquito succeeded due to its greater speed and ability to fly at high altitudes, which enabled it to evade anti aircraft fire. Nevertheless the mission was hazardous; one engine failed, power was too low to send a radio distress signal and the entire 1000 mile return trip was flown on one engine with fuel running very low. The photographs were valuable for confirming that the Japanese fleet was away in the Pacific ocean. The pilot, 400076 Flying Officer Kenneth Ford Boss-Walker, was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for the flight.
Aerial view of part of the Japanese naval base at Surabaya on the island of Java, taken from 31,000 feet by a camera fitted with a 20 inch lens. This image is one of a series that were the first taken
Distinguished Flying Cross. Engraved reverse with year of issue. 400076 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Ford Boss-Walker was born in Hobart in 1915 and enlisted in the RAAF on 27 May 1970. After qualifyin
BROOME, WA. 1944-06-25. DE HAVILLAND DH-98 MOSQUITO A52-2 AT BROOME ON RETURN FROM A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT OVER SOURABAYA, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. THE PORT ENGINE FAILED IN THE TARGET AR
Studio portrait of 400076 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Kenneth Ford (Ken) Boss-Walker DFC, 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, RAAF (later converted to 87 Squadron, RAAF). Flt Lt Boss-Walker enlisted in
Fenton, NT. 7 September 1944. Members of US Army Air Force (USAAF) and RAAF air crew just back from a raid on Laha stand near their Consolidated B24 Liberator bomber aircraft of one of the USAAF squad
A United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25 Mitchell bomber aircraft flying low in a valley near Rabaul on return from a raid over Simpsin Harbour. Japanese ships are burning in the harbor.
