Ww2 – Darwin Bombing

The Japanese air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942 were the largest attacks ever mounted by a foreign power against Australia since European settlement. The attack was part of a Japanese plan to take control of all countries in the Pacific Rim. The attacks on Darwin are often referred to as the “Pearl Harbor of Australia” although it was a less significant military target with the first 2 attacks on Darwin causing the most damage. It was the largest Japanese attack since Pearl Harbour.

On 16 December 1941 an official order was issued by the Administrator to evacuate women and children from Darwin. The majority of the “1066 women and 900 children were evacuated by sea” with the first group leaving on the 19th of December and the last group sailing away on the 15th of February, 4 days before the Darwin bombing. The only air defenses Darwin had were 10 Kitty hawks from the US 33rd Pursuit Squadron that had been delayed in Darwin. It is claimed that Darwin was poorly covered by anti-aircraft guns, “there being only light automatic weapons and none of 20 mm or greater calibre.”

This first attack on Darwin, and the attack that was to proceed later that day, were both planned and led by the Japanese commander, Mitosuo Fuchida, responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbour 10 weeks earlier. Four of the six Japanese aircraft carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbour launched a major air strike “333km Northwest from Darwin’s shore.” Most of the attacking planes came from the four aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Carrier “Division 1, Akagi and Kaga,  and Carrier Division 2, Hiryū and Sōryū” in the Timor Sea. Land-based heavy bombers were also involved. The Japanese launched two waves of planes, comprising 242 bombers and fighters.