diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/OpenFlight/Document.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/OpenFlight/Document.cpp
index 0dcb9f038..00ab37c13 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/OpenFlight/Document.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/OpenFlight/Document.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Document::Document() :
     _readObjectRecordData(false),
     _preserveNonOsgAttrsAsUserData(false),
     _desiredUnits(METERS),
+    _keepExternalReferences(false),
     _done(false),
     _level(0),
     _subfaceLevel(0),