THE BOMBING OF DARWIN
Date: The bombing of Darwin occurred on the 19th of January 1942
Australia's Involvement: From the first raid on 19 February 1942 until the last on 12 November 1943, Australia and its allies had over 900 casualties and lost 77 aircraft and several ships. Many military and civilian facilities were destroyed. The Japanese lost about 131 aircraft in total during the attacks. The bombing of Darwin occurred on Australia's Mainland, it was the first time Australia had been the location of a battle.
In January, 1942, 188 Japanese planes were launched into Darwin (NT, Australia), whose harbour was full of Allied ships. It was the largest Japanese attack since Pearl Harbour, a few months earlier, and followed a reconnaissance flight in February 1942. On that day there were 27 Allied ships in the harbour and approximately 30 aircraft at the Darwin Civil and RAAF airfields.
Australia's Involvement: From the first raid on 19 February 1942 until the last on 12 November 1943, Australia and its allies had over 900 casualties and lost 77 aircraft and several ships. Many military and civilian facilities were destroyed. The Japanese lost about 131 aircraft in total during the attacks. The bombing of Darwin occurred on Australia's Mainland, it was the first time Australia had been the location of a battle.
In January, 1942, 188 Japanese planes were launched into Darwin (NT, Australia), whose harbour was full of Allied ships. It was the largest Japanese attack since Pearl Harbour, a few months earlier, and followed a reconnaissance flight in February 1942. On that day there were 27 Allied ships in the harbour and approximately 30 aircraft at the Darwin Civil and RAAF airfields.
- The two attacks on Darwin, involved 54 land-based bombers and approximately 188 attack aircraft which were launched from four Japanese aircraft-carriers in the Timor Sea in the Indian Ocean
- The attack was planned and led by the commander responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbour ten weeks earlier
- In the first attack, which began just before 10.00 am, heavy bombers pattern-bombed the harbour and town
- Nine ships were sunk in Darwin Harbour and up to 15 others were damaged
- For the first time, war had reached almost every country, even those on the other side of the world, and was now being felt on Australia's home soil