SUMMARY
During WWII, The Japanese flew 64 raids on Darwin. This marked a defining moment in Australia’s history. The efforts of the war that had raged in most parts of other countries, had finally come to home soil.
The first attack started at 9:58am on the 19th February 1942. In that raid, there were 188 Japanese planes and combined with another attack later that day, at least 243 people were killed and 300-400 were wounded. Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships at anchor in the harbour were sunk, and most civil and military facilities in Darwin were destroyed. These were the most serious of the 64 air raids which continued until 12th November 1943.
The fear the first two raids caused was tremendous. With much of the town being destroyed and the number of people killed and wounded, many of the remaining population believed that an invasion was imminent. About half of Darwin’s population fled southwards towards Adelaide River. Many of the servicemen at the RAAF base deserted their stations due to the confusion and widespread panic. A few days after the initial attacks, 278 servicemen were still missing.
Despite the terror the unexpected air raids caused, order managed to be restored to the town within a few days. The military defences eventually were rebuilt and strengthened. This meant the later air raids had better defence with American, Australian and British fighters deployed to defend the base.
Opposing to the belief of the civilians in Darwin at the time, the attacks that day were not a precursor to an invasion. However, they did serve to interrupt the use of Darwin’s port facilities. Darwin was a key defensive position against Japan, being the largest town in the North of Australia. It was seen as a key port for the Allied ships, planes and forces defending the Dutch East Indies.
The Japanese were preparing to invade and ultimately secure neighbouring Timor. Their plan was to wipe out as much of Australia’s and the Allied Forces air and sea defence. This was done in order to gain control of the richer countries of South East Asia and establish stronger defences against counter-attacks from the European powers in the region. They anticipated that an air raid would hinder Darwin’s potential as a base and at the same time, damage Australia’s morale.
Despite the significance of the bombing at Darwin, the impact it made on Australia often remains overshadowed by subsequent events. By Japan bombing Australia, it gave us a place in the war as suddenly we were not just supporting Britain, but fighting to protect our own country.
This museum display is to show the significance and the impact the bombing at Darwin had on Australia at the time. It is to show the damage caused and the devastation and fear people not just in Darwin, but all over Australia felt from a foreign attack on their homeland.
The first attack started at 9:58am on the 19th February 1942. In that raid, there were 188 Japanese planes and combined with another attack later that day, at least 243 people were killed and 300-400 were wounded. Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships at anchor in the harbour were sunk, and most civil and military facilities in Darwin were destroyed. These were the most serious of the 64 air raids which continued until 12th November 1943.
The fear the first two raids caused was tremendous. With much of the town being destroyed and the number of people killed and wounded, many of the remaining population believed that an invasion was imminent. About half of Darwin’s population fled southwards towards Adelaide River. Many of the servicemen at the RAAF base deserted their stations due to the confusion and widespread panic. A few days after the initial attacks, 278 servicemen were still missing.
Despite the terror the unexpected air raids caused, order managed to be restored to the town within a few days. The military defences eventually were rebuilt and strengthened. This meant the later air raids had better defence with American, Australian and British fighters deployed to defend the base.
Opposing to the belief of the civilians in Darwin at the time, the attacks that day were not a precursor to an invasion. However, they did serve to interrupt the use of Darwin’s port facilities. Darwin was a key defensive position against Japan, being the largest town in the North of Australia. It was seen as a key port for the Allied ships, planes and forces defending the Dutch East Indies.
The Japanese were preparing to invade and ultimately secure neighbouring Timor. Their plan was to wipe out as much of Australia’s and the Allied Forces air and sea defence. This was done in order to gain control of the richer countries of South East Asia and establish stronger defences against counter-attacks from the European powers in the region. They anticipated that an air raid would hinder Darwin’s potential as a base and at the same time, damage Australia’s morale.
Despite the significance of the bombing at Darwin, the impact it made on Australia often remains overshadowed by subsequent events. By Japan bombing Australia, it gave us a place in the war as suddenly we were not just supporting Britain, but fighting to protect our own country.
This museum display is to show the significance and the impact the bombing at Darwin had on Australia at the time. It is to show the damage caused and the devastation and fear people not just in Darwin, but all over Australia felt from a foreign attack on their homeland.
ARTIFACTS