Aerial view of part of the Japanese naval base at Surabaya on the island of Java, taken from ...

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.