The Bombing of Darwin in 1942

The bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in World War 11 began in February 1942 with aircraft from four Japanese aircraft carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu.

This first raid by 188 aircraft caused massive damage to the town and the sinking of 8 of the 45 ships in the harbour at the time. Later the same day 54 land based bombers destroyed 20 military aircraft and inflicted further damage on the town.

Ships burning in Darwin Harbour

While only 4 Japanese planes were shot down, 251 people were killed and around 350- 400 were wounded. Although this was the heaviest attack, Japanese planes continued to attack the north of Australia until November 1943 with more raids on Darwin, Katherine, Adelaide River, Batchelor Airfield, Broome, Townsville and other smaller bases and towns.

Bombing damage at Parap Airfield

The few planes available to defend Darwin were still on the ground and were destroyed easily. Warnings from an Australian Coastwatcher on Melville Island and a Catholic Priest on Bathurst Island were thought to be mistaken sightings of a flight of US P-40E Kittyhawk fighters and ignored.

Wartime defence bunkers can be found
along Nightcliff and Casuarina Beaches.

This crumbling gun emplacement at Casuarina Beach is one of the many traces of wartime activities still to be found around Darwin.

Other wartime sites include;
Bunkers in Charles Darwin National Park
Fuel tunnels under Darwin CBD
Gun bunkers at East Point
Damage to original QANTAS hanger
Doctors Gully Catalina Base

Doctors Gully was a wartime Catalina Base

Looking across Doctors Gully towards the present day Naval Base is a much more peaceful scene today. Darwin remains the base for surveilance of Australia's northern coastline.

The destroyer USS Peary was one of the ships sunk on the first bombing raid. Today a salvaged gun from the ship stands as a silent memorial, pointing towards the position where she was found after the war. More on this Darwin bombing memorial here.

USS Peary Memorial

Damage from the original bombing is still visible at the hangar in Parap located behind Ross Smith Ave, which was the original Darwin Civil Airport. Now used as a museum and workshop by the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, the hangar is also an important part of the history of QANTAS Australia.