On 13 August 1940 , in what became known as the Canberra air disaster , a RAAF Lockheed Hudson flying from Melbourne crashed into a small hill to the east of the airport . Four crew and six passengers , including the Chief of the General staff and three Federal Government ministers , were killed in the accident . James Fairbairn , Minister for Air and Civil Aviation , was one of those killed and Fairbairn Airbase , the eastern component of the airport , was subsequently named after him . In 1962 the military side of the airport was renamed RAAF Base Fairbairn . The North-East quadrant of the airport still retains the Fairbairn name
Canberra air disaster
1940 Canberra air disaster
Canberra Airport