TitleBombing of DarwinDate of publication19th February 1942SourceThe News, 19 February 1942, p. 1Description
In the days before television the evening newspaper The News brings to its readers the immediacy of the attack with its headline "Darwin bombed today".
On 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese planes were launched against Darwin, its harbour full of Allied ships. It was the largest Japanese attack since Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Attacks continued on the town until November 1943. Darwin was seen as a key defensive position for Australia against the aggression of Japan which entered World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbour. Darwin was also seen as a key port in the defence of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
The Japanese fighters attacked land targets and shipping. Dive bombers were used against the ships in the harbour, the military and civilian aerodromes and the hospital. Eight ships were sunk and many others damaged. On land the Post Office, Telegraph Office, Cable Office and the Postmaster's Residence, were attacked. All the workers were killed. The first attack lasted approximately forty minutes. The airfield was attacked and all aircraft destroyed, most before they could even take off. In all about 243 people were killed, although at the time the authorities said the number was much less in an attempt to minimise panic. Fortunately the majority of women and children had been evacuated before the attack was made.
This first raid was followed by another within the hour. It was this attack that caused the most damage at the airfield. Many more attacks followed over the next 20 months. Broome in Western Australia was also attacked on 2 March 1942.
