An Australian gun camera photograph of two Japanese Mitsubishi G4M2 "Betty" medium bombers of 753rd Air Group during a raid on Darwin in June 1943."Fighter Guide Map No. 1B, Darwin Area", March 1944. Produced for air defence purposes by the Royal Australian Air Force. The map includes many of the air fields which were targeted by Japanese aircraft.
In the first and deadliest set of attacks, 242 aircraft hit Darwin on the morning of 19 February 1942. Killing at least 235 people and causing immense damage, the attacks made hundreds of people homeless and resulted in the abandonment of Darwin as a major naval base.
Although the main defence was provided by RAAF and Allied fighters, a number of Australian Army anti-aircraft batteries in northern Australia also defended against Japanese air raids.[1]
The explosion of the MV Neptuna, hit during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin. In the foreground is HMAS Deloraine, which escaped damage.
The bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 was both the first and the largest attack mounted by Japan against mainland Australia, when four Japanese aircraft carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū and Sōryū) launched a total of 188 aircraft from a position in the Timor Sea.[2] These 188 naval aircraft inflicted heavy damage on Darwin and sank eight ships. A raid conducted by 54 land-based army bombers later the same day inflicted further damage on the town and RAAF Base Darwin and resulted in the destruction of 20 military aircraft. Allied casualties were 235 killed and between 300 and 400 wounded, the majority of whom were non-Australian Allied sailors. Only four Japanese aircraft (all navy carrier-borne) were confirmed to have been destroyed by Darwin's defenders.[3]
On 3 March 1942, nine Japanese A6M2 Zerofightersattacked the town of Broome, in northern Western Australia. Although Broome was a small town, it had become a significant air base and route of escape for refugees and retreating military personnel, following the Japanese invasion of Java. During the attack, which consisted of strafing runs only by the Zeros, at least 88 Allied civilians and military personnel were killed and 24 aircraft were lost. As Broome was almost undefended, Japanese losses were light, with only a single Zero being shot down over Broome and another one failing to reach its base.[4]
Attacks on north Queensland, July 1942edit
Two Australian soldiers searching for fragments of a bomb dropped during the third raid on Townsville.
Japanese naval flying boats conducted four small air raids on the north Queensland city of Townsville and the town of Mossman in late July 1942. Townsville, which was an important military base, was raided by Japanese Kawanishi H8K1 "Emily" flying boats operating from Rabaul on three nights in late July 1942. On the night of 25/26 July, the city was attacked by two flying boats but did not suffer any damage as the six bombs dropped by these aircraft fell into the sea. Townsville was attacked for the second time in the early hours of 28 July when a single flying boat dropped eight bombs which landed in bushland outside the city. Six P-39 Airacobras unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the Japanese aircraft. The third raid on Townsville occurred in the early hours of 29 July when a single flying boat again attacked the city, dropping seven bombs into the sea and an eighth which fell on an agricultural research station at Oonoonba, damaging a coconut plantation. This aircraft was intercepted by four Airacobras and was damaged. The fourth raid on north Queensland occurred on the night of 31 July when a single flying boat dropped a bomb which exploded near a house outside of Mossman, injuring a child.[5]
Rulhieres Bay, WA (later known as Koolama Bay) Koolama attacked again, no damage or injuries.
Marchedit
3
(09:20) Broome, WA. Attack on Broome: a strafing raid by nine A6M2 Zeros. At least 88 people were killed and 24 Allied aircraft were destroyed. A Sikh pilot of the Royal Indian Air Force Flying Officer Manmohan Singh, in one of the RAF Catalina flying boats died. He was the first Indian casualty on Australian soil.
(~10:30) Carnot Bay, WA. PK-AFV (Pelikaan)—a Douglas DC-3 airliner owned by KLM—was shot down by Zeros returning from the attack on Broome. It crash-landed 50 mi (80 km) north of Broome. Four passengers were killed. Diamonds worth £150,000–300,000 were lost or stolen following the crash.
Wyndham, WA. Strafing attack by Zeroes. No casualties. Koolama, which is in port by this time (see above), sinks as an indirect result of the attack.
Darwin, NT. Sgt. Albert Cooper, 28, (RAF, 54 Squadron) from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, shot down, and killed, in his Spitfire over Darwin harbour[8]
16
(13:30) Darwin RAAF Airfield and Bagot, NT
17
Darwin, NT
18
Horn Island, Qld
19
(11:40) Darwin (Myilly Point and Larrakeyah), NT
20
Broome Airfield, WA. Attack by Mitsubishi G4M2 "Betty" medium bombers. One civilian killed. Minor damage to airfield.
^Tom Lewis (2003). A War at Home. A Comprehensive guide to the first Japanese attacks on Darwin. Tall Stories, Darwin. Page 16.
^David Jenkins (1992), Battle Surface! Japan's Submarine War Against Australia 1942–44. Random House Australia, Sydney. Pages 118–120 and Lewis (2003). Pages 63–71.
Clayton, Mark (April 1986). "The north Australian air war, 1942–1944". Journal of the Australian War Memorial. Canberra: Australian War Memorial (8): 33–45. ISSN 0729-6274.
Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopedia of Australia's Battles. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Gillison, Douglas (1962). . Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
Horner, David (1995). The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN1-86373-917-3.
Lewis, Tom. (2003). A War at Home. A Comprehensive guide to the first Japanese attacks on Darwin. Tall Stories, Darwin. ISBN0-9577351-0-3
Odgers, George (1968). . Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 27 August 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
External linksedit
ozatwar.com, "Japanese Air Raids in Australia During WW2"
diggerhistory.info "Attacks on the Australian mainland in WW2"
Australian War Memorial, "Air raids on Australian mainland – Second World War"
Kalumburu Community-ABC Open, "The secret bombing of Australia"
November 08, 2023
raids, australia, 1942, 1943, between, february, 1942, november, 1943, during, pacific, world, australian, mainland, domestic, airspace, offshore, islands, coastal, shipping, were, attacked, least, times, aircraft, from, imperial, japanese, navy, force, imperi. Between February 1942 and November 1943 during the Pacific War of World War II the Australian mainland domestic airspace offshore islands and coastal shipping were attacked at least 111 times by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force These attacks came in various forms from large scale raids by medium bombers to torpedo attacks on ships and to strafing runs by fighters An Australian gun camera photograph of two Japanese Mitsubishi G4M2 Betty medium bombers of 753rd Air Group during a raid on Darwin in June 1943 Fighter Guide Map No 1B Darwin Area March 1944 Produced for air defence purposes by the Royal Australian Air Force The map includes many of the air fields which were targeted by Japanese aircraft In the first and deadliest set of attacks 242 aircraft hit Darwin on the morning of 19 February 1942 Killing at least 235 people and causing immense damage the attacks made hundreds of people homeless and resulted in the abandonment of Darwin as a major naval base These attacks were opposed by and often aimed at units and personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force RAAF Australian Army Royal Australian Navy United States Army Air Forces United States Navy British Royal Air Force and Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force Japanese aircrews also targeted civil infrastructure including harbours civil airfields railways and fuel tanks Some civilians were also killed Although the main defence was provided by RAAF and Allied fighters a number of Australian Army anti aircraft batteries in northern Australia also defended against Japanese air raids 1 Contents 1 Early Japanese air raids 1 1 The first air raid on Darwin 1 2 The attack on Broome 2 Attacks on north Queensland July 1942 3 List of attacks by date 3 1 1942 3 1 1 February 3 1 2 March 3 1 3 April 3 1 4 June 3 1 5 July 3 1 6 August 3 1 7 September 3 1 8 October 3 1 9 November 3 2 1943 3 2 1 January 3 2 2 March 3 2 3 May 3 2 4 June 3 2 5 July 3 2 6 August 3 2 7 September 3 2 8 November 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly Japanese air raids editThe Japanese conducted a series of air raids on Australia during February and March 1942 These raids sought to prevent the Allies from using bases in northern Australia to contest the conquest of the Netherlands East Indies The first air raid on Darwin edit Main article Bombing of Darwin nbsp The explosion of the MV Neptuna hit during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin In the foreground is HMAS Deloraine which escaped damage The bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 was both the first and the largest attack mounted by Japan against mainland Australia when four Japanese aircraft carriers Akagi Kaga Hiryu and Sōryu launched a total of 188 aircraft from a position in the Timor Sea 2 These 188 naval aircraft inflicted heavy damage on Darwin and sank eight ships A raid conducted by 54 land based army bombers later the same day inflicted further damage on the town and RAAF Base Darwin and resulted in the destruction of 20 military aircraft Allied casualties were 235 killed and between 300 and 400 wounded the majority of whom were non Australian Allied sailors Only four Japanese aircraft all navy carrier borne were confirmed to have been destroyed by Darwin s defenders 3 The attack on Broome edit Main article Attack on Broome See also Western Australian emergency of March 1942 On 3 March 1942 nine Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters attacked the town of Broome in northern Western Australia Although Broome was a small town it had become a significant air base and route of escape for refugees and retreating military personnel following the Japanese invasion of Java During the attack which consisted of strafing runs only by the Zeros at least 88 Allied civilians and military personnel were killed and 24 aircraft were lost As Broome was almost undefended Japanese losses were light with only a single Zero being shot down over Broome and another one failing to reach its base 4 Attacks on north Queensland July 1942 edit nbsp Two Australian soldiers searching for fragments of a bomb dropped during the third raid on Townsville Japanese naval flying boats conducted four small air raids on the north Queensland city of Townsville and the town of Mossman in late July 1942 Townsville which was an important military base was raided by Japanese Kawanishi H8K1 Emily flying boats operating from Rabaul on three nights in late July 1942 On the night of 25 26 July the city was attacked by two flying boats but did not suffer any damage as the six bombs dropped by these aircraft fell into the sea Townsville was attacked for the second time in the early hours of 28 July when a single flying boat dropped eight bombs which landed in bushland outside the city Six P 39 Airacobras unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the Japanese aircraft The third raid on Townsville occurred in the early hours of 29 July when a single flying boat again attacked the city dropping seven bombs into the sea and an eighth which fell on an agricultural research station at Oonoonba damaging a coconut plantation This aircraft was intercepted by four Airacobras and was damaged The fourth raid on north Queensland occurred on the night of 31 July when a single flying boat dropped a bomb which exploded near a house outside of Mossman injuring a child 5 List of attacks by date edit1942 edit February edit 19 Bombing of Darwin 10 00 Attack by 188 carrier based aircraft at Darwin Northern Territory NT 11 55 Attack by 54 land based high level bombers at Darwin NT Bathurst Island NT 20 11 30 Off Cape Londonderry Western Australia WA MV Koolama damaged by a Kawanishi H6K5 flying boat Attacked again at 13 30 and severely damaged with injuries to three passengers 21 Rulhieres Bay WA later known as Koolama Bay Koolama attacked again no damage or injuries March edit 3 09 20 Broome WA Attack on Broome a strafing raid by nine A6M2 Zeros At least 88 people were killed and 24 Allied aircraft were destroyed A Sikh pilot of the Royal Indian Air Force Flying Officer Manmohan Singh in one of the RAF Catalina flying boats died He was the first Indian casualty on Australian soil 10 30 Carnot Bay WA PK AFV Pelikaan a Douglas DC 3 airliner owned by KLM was shot down by Zeros returning from the attack on Broome It crash landed 50 mi 80 km north of Broome Four passengers were killed Diamonds worth 150 000 300 000 were lost or stolen following the crash Wyndham WA Strafing attack by Zeroes No casualties Koolama which is in port by this time see above sinks as an indirect result of the attack Wyndham Airfield WA 6 4 Wreckage and passengers from PK AFV attacked again by a Kawanishi H6K5 flying boat no damage or casualties 14 00 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 14 Horn Island Queensland Qld 7 15 Darwin NT Sgt Albert Cooper 28 RAF 54 Squadron from Wolverhampton Staffordshire England shot down and killed in his Spitfire over Darwin harbour 8 16 13 30 Darwin RAAF Airfield and Bagot NT 17 Darwin NT 18 Horn Island Qld 19 11 40 Darwin Myilly Point and Larrakeyah NT 20 Broome Airfield WA Attack by Mitsubishi G4M2 Betty medium bombers One civilian killed Minor damage to airfield Derby WA 9 22 00 51 Darwin NT 22 Katherine NT 10 One civilian killed Furthest air raid into the Australian interior over 200 km from the coast 23 Darwin NT Wyndham WA two raids 6 28 12 30 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 30 05 40 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 30 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 31 13 20 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 22 19 Darwin RAAF Airfield NTApril edit 2 15 30 Darwin Harvey St McMinn St Shell Oil Tanks NT Sattler Airfield NT 4 13 48 Darwin Civil Airfield and Parap Hotel NT 5 12 29 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 25 14 00 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 27 12 07 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 30 Horn Island QLDJune edit 13 11 52 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 14 13 14 Darwin town area NT 15 12 20 Darwin Larrakeyah to Stokes Hill NT 16 12 01 Darwin town area NT 26 20 50 Darwin NTJuly edit 7 Horn Island Qld 25 20 50 Darwin town area NT 26 Townsville Qld 21 39 22 54 Darwin Vesteys Meatworks NT 27 22 27 Knuckey s Lagoon Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 28 00 45 Darwin RAAF airfield NT Townsville Qld 29 00 59 Darwin town area and Knuckey s Lagoon NT Townsville Qld 30 03 58 Darwin town area and Darwin RAAF Airfield NT Horn Island Qld Port Hedland WA 11 31 Mossman Qld 11 13 33 Darwin RAAF Airfield NTAugust edit 1 Horn Island Qld 21 Wyndham WA 23 12 12 Hughes Airfield NT 24 21 24 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 22 14 Noonamah NT 25 00 05 Darwin and Parap NT 27 03 45 05 37 Darwin Botanical Gardens and Cox Peninsula NT 28 03 35 Darwin Railway Yards and Port Patterson NT 30 02 39 Darwin town area NT 31 05 14 Darwin town area and Cox Peninsula NTSeptember edit 25 03 41 Darwin town area and Knuckey s Lagoon NT 25 05 48 Darwin town area and Daly Street Bridge NT 26 05 22 Livingstone Airfield NT 27 04 56 Bynoe Harbour NT 05 44 Darwin town area Frances Bay October edit 10 Horn Island Qld 24 04 42 Batchelor Airfield 04 52 Pell Airfield 04 57 Cox Peninsula 05 12 Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 25 05 30 Darwin town area and Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 26 04 54 Darwin town area and Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 27 02 20 Darwin town area and Darwin RAAF Airfield NTNovember edit 23 03 00 04 39 Darwin town area and Darwin RAAF Airfield NT Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 26 03 20 Darwin town area Strauss Airfield and Hughes Airfield NT 27 03 56 04 46 Coomalie Creek Hughes Airfield and Strauss Airfield NT1943 edit nbsp Two Australian Supermarine Spitfire fighters taking off from Darwin to intercept Japanese raiders in March 1943January edit 20 22 44 00 15 Searchlight station AWC Camp Ironstone NT 21 21 54 Darwin Frances Bay NT 22 13 30 HMAS Patricia Cam sunk near Wessel Islands NT March edit 2 14 34 Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 15 11 20 Darwin oil tanks NTMay edit nbsp HMAS Maroubra sinking after being attacked off Millingimbi on 10 May 19432 10 15 Darwin RAAF Airfield and Darwin Floating Dock NT 9 Millingimbi NT 10 Millingimbi NT The cutter HMAS Maroubra was sunk 20 Exmouth Gulf WA 21 Exmouth Gulf WA 28 Millingimbi NTJune edit 18 Horn Island Qld 20 10 43 Winnellie and Darwin RAAF Airfield NT 28 11 07 Vesteys NT 30 12 30 Fenton Airfield NTJuly edit 6 12 02 Fenton Airfield NTAugust edit 13 21 45 Fenton Airfield NT 23 12 Fenton Airfield and Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 23 42 Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 14 Long Airfield NT 17 Port Hedland WA 11 21 00 37 Fenton Airfield and Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 03 30 Pell Airfield NTSeptember edit 15 00 25 Fenton Airfield and Long Airfield NT 15 Onslow WA 16 Exmouth Gulf WA The southernmost air raid in Australia 18 03 50 Fenton Airfield and Long Airfield NT 27 Drysdale River Mission Kalumburu airfield WA Six fatalities Father Thomas Gil the superior of the mission and five Aboriginal Australians November edit 10 Coomalie Creek Airfield NT 12 03 53 05 30 Parap Adelaide River and Batchelor Airfield NTSee also edit3rd Air Group Takao Air Group No 1 Wing RAAF Military history of Australia during World War II Battle for AustraliaNotes edit Horner 1995 p 379 Tom Lewis 2003 A War at Home A Comprehensive guide to the first Japanese attacks on Darwin Tall Stories Darwin Page 16 David Jenkins 1992 Battle Surface Japan s Submarine War Against Australia 1942 44 Random House Australia Sydney Pages 118 120 and Lewis 2003 Pages 63 71 Coulthard Clark 2001 pp 211 212 Gillison 1962 Pages 562 563 a b Coulthard Clark Chris 2001 The Encyclopedia of Australia s Battles Sydney Allen amp Unwin p 212 Crowdey Vanessa 1999 The day the bombs fell PDF Wartime 8 46 49 Archived from the original PDF on 10 April 2008 Retrieved 9 January 2008 Cooper Anthony 2011 Darwin Spitfires The Real Battle for Australia University of New South Wales Press Coulthard Clark 2001 p 214 Coulthard Clark 2001 p 215 a b c Coulthard Clark 2001 p 224References editClayton Mark April 1986 The north Australian air war 1942 1944 Journal of the Australian War Memorial Canberra Australian War Memorial 8 33 45 ISSN 0729 6274 Coulthard Clark Chris 2001 The Encyclopedia of Australia s Battles Sydney Allen amp Unwin Gillison Douglas 1962 History of Australia in the War of 1939 1945 Series 3 Air Volume I Royal Australian Air Force 1939 1942 Canberra Australian War Memorial Archived from the original on 14 June 2006 Retrieved 21 April 2007 Horner David 1995 The Gunners A History of Australian Artillery St Leonards New South Wales Allen amp Unwin ISBN 1 86373 917 3 Lewis Tom 2003 A War at Home A Comprehensive guide to the first Japanese attacks on Darwin Tall Stories Darwin ISBN 0 9577351 0 3 Odgers George 1968 History of Australia in the War of 1939 1945 Series 3 Air Volume II Air War Against Japan 1943 1945 Canberra Australian War Memorial Archived from the original on 27 August 2006 Retrieved 21 April 2007 External links editozatwar com Japanese Air Raids in Australia During WW2 diggerhistory info Attacks on the Australian mainland in WW2 Australian War Memorial Air raids on Australian mainland Second World War Darwin Defenders 1942 45 Inc veterans association s list of 43 air raids excluding reconnaissance flights Kalumburu Community ABC Open The secret bombing of Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Air raids on Australia 1942 1943 amp oldid 1168318859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
