Background
Darwin was a town with a limited population of 5800 and minuscule military infrastructure in 1942. This made it a prime location to construct military bases for both the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. They started building military bases near the town in the 1930’s.
Darwin was also a key in the air ferry route of the South Pacific as it allowed Allies to bypass the Japanese mandate in central Pacific in early August 1941. By November, maintenance facilities, munitions storage, communication, improvement of airfields, and training bases was established in Australia (some in which were located in Darwin) in order to assist the B-17 bombers.
Darwin was also a key in the air ferry route of the South Pacific as it allowed Allies to bypass the Japanese mandate in central Pacific in early August 1941. By November, maintenance facilities, munitions storage, communication, improvement of airfields, and training bases was established in Australia (some in which were located in Darwin) in order to assist the B-17 bombers.
The Attack
On the day of the attack, Japanese air craft carriers were positions 350 km from Darwin. these aircraft carriers were the same ones used at Pearl Harbour - this attack was also led by the same captain, Mitsuo Fuchida. All together, the aircraft carriers had 27 aircrafts and 53 bomber planes ready to openly attack Darwin.
9:15 AM |
John Gribble, a coastwatcher at Melville Island station radioed a warning to Naval Signals at Darwin. Described his seeings as a large group of aircrafts flying by. Naval Signals ignored his warnings
|
9:35 AM |
At the Bathrust Island station, Father John McGrath from the Catholic Mission radioed a similar warning stating "An unusually large air formation bearing down on us from the northwest, identity suspect, visibility not clear". He then clarified and radioed a critical warning later on, describing 6 Japanese aircrafts attacking the mission and machine gunned th church and airstrip. The warnings were still disregarded by Darwin authorities - assuming they were the 10 Emerican Kittyhawks.
|
9:58 AM |
the Japanese planes have now arrived. Because Australian defence forces ignored the warnings, they were completely unprepared.
|
First attack began just before 10 am – heavy bombers bombed the Harbour's military and civil aerodromes at the hospital at Berrimah. The Japanese aimed at all munitions ships, bombing them several times sinking 80 men. The munition vessel Neptuna that was loaded with various ammunition caught on fire after being bombed and exploded, killing 45 people.
Two Soldiers, Lance Bombardier Frederick Wombey and Gunner Wilbert Hudson took actions to defende by taking machine guns ans attack Japanese planes, unfortunately their great effort wasn't able to reduce much damage. the port was destroyed and 14 ships were damage, 21 wharf labourers were killed.
Second attack began an hour later – high altitude bombing of the royal Australian air force at Parap which lasted for 20-25 mins. this second attack was aimed at Darwin - the city itself as most civil and military facilities in Darwin destroyed. All residence were destroyed, nine people who were hiding in the buildings were killed. another 23 American and Australians planes were damaged beyond repair.
It is estimated that 638 bombs were dropped in these two raids, killing at least 243 people and wounded 300-400 people. Embarrassed of their unpreparedness for the Battle, the government censored the number of casualties and instead published only 15-17 deaths and 24 injuries.
The Bombing continued over two years with equal damage each time. The 64th and last Attack on the Northern Territory or 46th attack on Darwin was on November 12, 1943.
Gallery
Amy Nguyen - SA3
For Servite College
For Servite College