- 1942 -

• More Japanese bombs fell on Darwin than on Pearl Harbour.

Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, was devastated by Japan's Pearl Harbour veterans on the 19th February 1942, in which 243 people were killed. In all, the Japanese attacked Darwin 64 times and the last attack occurred in late 1943. However the Territory was not undefended. It became a huge armed base from which countless long range bomber sorties were flown.  It became a major port for the navy, both for re-supply and repairs, and a major base for the Australian army. Darwin was the home base for the commando units which operated behind the Japanese lines.

Lewis gunners of the 14th anti-aircraft battery Darwin 1942.

On 19 February 1942 war came to Australia for the first time since white settlement.

From a point off the coast of Timor a fleet of around 200 Japanese aircraft were despatched to attack Darwin. Early in the morning the aircraft passed over Bathurst Island and Catholic missionaries based there radioed Darwin. Believing the missionaries to be mistaken, the RAAF refused to act on the advice. As the formation began its run over the city the population went out to watch, thinking the planes were American.

RAAF planes destroyed at the air base.

Within minutes a torrent of high explosives began dropping from the sky. Japanese aircraft roared in over the town, strafing the harbour and the airfield. After the first attack, which had done most of its damage in the town and the harbour, a second wave swept in just before midday and concentrated on the airfield.

Virtually unopposed, the attackers left Darwin almost completely destroyed. The airfield was a shambles with a large number of RAAF and USAAF aircraft wrecked. In the harbour, Australian troopships had been sunk along with the American destroyer USS Peary and a number of cargo vessels. The death toll stood at 243, more than half of whom had been on the ships in the harbour with 350 wounded.

Darwin burns after the first attack by the Japanese.

Psychologically unprepared for attack, the population understandably panicked. The civilians took to the road in cars, trucks, motor cycles or on foot. But the level of panic among servicemen was deplorable. During the bombing numerous servicemen deserted their posts and took to the road with the civilians. In the town, once the fires had been stopped and the dead and injured attended to, a mood of relief was apparent. Drunken Provost Corps troops took advantage of the swift desertion of the town by looting shops left behind by civilian proprietors.

Japanese air-raids on Darwin.

• 19 Feb 1942 - Raids No. 1 & 2.
  243 killed, 350 wounded.
  Two ships set on fire, one blown up damaging the pier. Six ships sunk and seven more damaged; three Catalina aircraft destroyed and two US vessels destroyed. Post and Telegraph offices destroyed, Police Station, Barracks, Cable Office, and Government offices destroyed and hospital damaged. RAAF hospital, recreation hall, equipment store, many houses and living quarters destroyed..

• 04 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 3.
  Nil casualties.
  One Hudson aircraft destroyed..

• 16 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 4.
  Two airmen killed and . four wounded.
  Officers' Mess and one Hudson damaged.

• 19 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 5.
  Two killed.
  Naval HQ and residential area damaged..

• 22 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 6.
  Nil casualties.
  Sub near Nightcliffs hit..

• 28 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 7.
  Nil casualties.
  Runway and Wirraway hit..

• 30 Mar 1942 - Raid No. 8.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 31 Mar 1942 - Raids No. 9 & 10.
  Nil casualties.
  Bombs dropped in bush..

• 02 Apr 1942 - Raid No. 11.
  Nil casualties.
  Frog's Hollow fuel tank and civilian houses damaged..

• 04 Apr 1942 - Raid No. 12.
  One killed and two wounded.
  Civil aerodrome strafed..

• 05 Apr 1942 - Raid No. 13.
  Nil casualties.
  RAAF aerodrome cratered..

• 25 Apr 1942 - Raid No. 14.
  One killed .
  RAAF aerodrome damaged..

• 27 Apr 1942 - Raid No. 15.
  Four killed.
  RAAF station hit. three wounded.

• 13 Jun 1942 - Raid No. 16.
  Nil casualties.
  Buildings, airfield and fuel stocks hit..

• 14 Jun 1942 - Raid No. 17.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 15 Jun 1942 - Raid No. 18.
  Four killed twelve wounded.
  Two buildings hit..

• 16 Jun 1942 - Raid No. 19.
  Nil casualties.
  Buildings hit..

• 25 Jul 1942 - Raid No. 20.
  Nil casualties.
  Power and water supplies Buildings hit. Power and water supplies damaged..

• 26 Jul 1942 - Raid No. 21.
  Two wounded.
  Three houses destroyed..

• 27 Jul 1942 - Raid No. 22.
  Nil casualties.
  Searchlight station hit.

• 28 Jul 1942 - Raid No. 23.
  Nil casualties.
  Airfields hit..

• 29 Jul 1942 - Raid No. 24.
  Nil casualties.
  Naval repair shop damaged..

• 30 Jul 1942 - Raids No. 25 & 26.
  One killed.
  Fuel dumps, power, water, and telephone lines damaged..

• 23 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 27.
  Nil casualties.
  Hughes Field and aircraft damaged..

• 24 Aug 1942 - Raids No. 28 & 29.
  Nil casualties.
  Bombs fell in swamp..

• 25 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 30.
  Nil casualties.
  Aeradio station and power lines damaged..

• 27 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 31.
  Nil casualties.
  Aeradio station hit..

• 28 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 32.
  Nil casualties.
  Railway damaged..

• 30 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 33.
  Nil casualties.
  Pipe line damaged..

• 31 Aug 1942 - Raid No. 34.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 25 Sep 1942 - Raids No. 35 & 36.
  Nil casualties.
  Power and fuel supplies hit..

• 26 Sep 1942 - Raid No. 37.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 27 Sep 1942 - Raids No. 38 & 39.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 24 Oct 1942 - Raids No. 40, 41, 42 & 43.
  Five wounded.
  Huts and water tanks damaged..

• 25 Oct 1942 - Raid No. 44.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 26 Oct 1942 - Raid No. 45.
  Nil casualties.
  Buildings, power and telegraph lines damaged..

• 27 Oct 1942 - Raid No. 46.
  Nil casualties.
  Power lines damaged..

• 23 Nov 1942 - Raid No. 47.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 26 Nov 1942 - Raid No. 48.
  Nil casualties.
  Darwin and Hughes Field damaged..

• 27 Nov 1942 - Raid No. 49.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 20 Jan 1943 - Raid No. 50.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 21 Jan 1943 - Raid No. 51.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 02 Mar 1943 - Raid No. 52.
  Two wounded.
  Coonallic strip strafed.

• 15 Mar 1943 - Raid No. 53.
  Nil casualties.
  Fuel tanks, pipe lines and railway sheds hit.

• 02 May 1943 - Raid No. 54.
  Nil casualties.
  Buildings damaged.

• 20 Jun 1943 - Raid No. 55.
  Three killed and eleven wounded.
  Winnellie area hit, also RAAF.

• 28 Jun 1943 - Raid No. 56.
  Nil casualties.
  Three huts damaged.

• 30 Jun 1943 - Raid No. 57.
  Two wounded.
  Aircraft and vehicles damaged.

• 06 Jul 1943 - Raid No. 58.
  Nil casualties.
  Four aircraft damaged.

• 13 Aug 1943 - Raids No. 59 & 60.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 21 Aug 1943 - Raid No. 61.
  Nil casualties.
  Fenton, Coonallic and Pell hit.

• 16 Sep 1943 - Raid No. 62.
  Nil casualties.
  Camp hit.

• 19 Sep 1943 - Raid No. 63.
  Nil casualties.
  Nil damage.

• 12 Nov 1943 - Raid No. 64.
  Nil casualties.
  Slight damage around Darwin.

Digger History:  an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces