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194219 February 1942 · Darwin

Bombing of Darwin

The Neptuna exploding and oil-tank smoke rising over Darwin harbour during the first Japanese air raid, 19 February 1942
Archival image: RAN Historical Collection. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Four days after Singapore fell, Japanese aircraft from the carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor struck Darwin in two raids, sinking ships in the harbour and killing at least 235 people. It was the largest single attack ever made on Australia, and raids on the north continued until late 1943. Oil storage tunnels and coastal gun emplacements survive around the city.

Sites

  1. Site 1: Darwin Cenotaph and Bicentennial ParkMemorials above the harbour where ships were sunk.Map ↗
  2. Site 2: WWII Oil Storage TunnelsTunnels cut into the cliff to protect fuel from air raids.Map ↗
  3. Site 3: East Point military precinctCoastal gun emplacements beside the Darwin Military Museum.Map ↗

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More from the Second World War

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