The Country Party 's coalition with the UAP had lapsed following Menzies ' elevation to the prime ministership . In March 1940 , Menzies and Cameron agreed to resume the coalition , providing an opportunity for five Country Party members to be added to the ministry . Cameron somewhat unexpectedly nominated Fadden as a Country Party representative , and he was appointed as an assistant minister to the Treasurer ( Percy Spender ) and the Minister for Supply and Development ( Frederick Stewart ) . In August 1940 , Fadden narrowly escaped being killed in the Canberra air disaster , which claimed the lives of three government ministers and the Chief of the General Staff . He was scheduled to be aboard the flight , which was transporting the ministers back to Canberra after a cabinet meeting in Melbourne , but instead took an overnight train . He traded places with Richard Elford ( James Fairbairn 's private secretary ) , who had wanted to stay in Melbourne to celebrate a wedding anniversary ; both Elford and Fairbairn were among those killed . After the crash , Fadden replaced Fairbairn as Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation ; he also continued as assistant minister to the Treasurer
Canberra air disaster
1940 Canberra air disaster
Arthur Fadden