CRASH OF A MOSQUITO
AT BANKSTOWN, NSW
ON 10 JUNE 1944

Mosquito

On 10 June 1944, RAAF Mosquito A52-12 (FB.40) crashed when both engines detached and the airframe broke up shortly after taking off from Bankstown airfield in New South Wales. This flight was part of a pre-delivery acceptance test. The two crew members were killed as follows:-

Flight Lieutenant Hubert Boss-Walker (test pilot)
Peter Rockingham

The investigation found "faulty fitting in the wing box spar" as the cause of the accident. All Mosquitoes were grounded in July 1944 following the findings of the accident investigation. 18 faulty wings were found as a result of a review.

Boss-Walker was a Duntroon graduate. Rockingham was a fairly senior executive with Hawker de Havilland.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito - In Australian Service"
By Stewart Wilson

"Black Jack - 50 Years as a Pilot; 1939-1985"
By Group Captain Brian Walker, DSO, RAAF

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 26 September 1999

This page last updated 21 February 2020