War raid replayed
The day Darwin was attacked

 

INTO ACTION: In commemoration of the 63rd Anniversary of the bombing of Darwin, 8th/12th Medium Regiment leapt into action during a re-enactment of the first line of defence against of the bombing of Darwin by Japanese aircraft.

Photo: LSPH Kaye Adams

By LSPH Kaye Adams

The shrill sound of an air raid siren at 9.58am on February 19, marked the day that war came to Australian shores in 1942.

On the same date and time in 2005, this siren was repeated as part of the commemoration of the anniversary of the bombing of Darwin.

The siren was followed by two low flying F/A-18 Hornets which triggered soldiers from 8/12 Medium Regiment into action, who were dressed for the re-enactment in period uniforms from WWII.

They ran to their stations to man four M2A2 cannons, firing 20 rounds of blank powder cartridges and pink smoke grenades over the harbour Standing in the crowd, hearing the sounds of machine guns, the explosive roar of the cannons and watching smoke fill over the harbour,

you couldn’t help but start to feel some of the reality of what it might have been like to stand there on that very day.

Over 1300 people gathered at the Darwin Cenotaph to remember this day, and those lost during the Darwin attack 63 years ago.

Survivors travelled from around Australia and as far as America, to take part in the ceremony in Darwin.

They all remembered that day well, and many of them recalled how they first thought that the aircraft above were Allied aircraft.

It was only as they saw the colours on the Zeroes that they realised the danger, and then the bombs began to fall.

The attack from the Japanese was well organised and deadly.

The plan was to take out the North of Australia to disable communications and disconnect the country from our Allies. They could then use Australian shores to base their own aircraft.

The attack from the Japanese was well organised and deadly Two hundred and forty three people died that day.

A Japanese strike force of 188 aircraft launched from four carriers about 350kms Northwest of Darwin over two separate attacks.

Within only 20 minutes, 21 ships were sunk.

Zeroes attacked Coonawarra Naval Base as well as the Air Force base, debilitating the aircraft fleet before it could even begin to start a counter attack.

The hospital ship, HMAS Manunda was hit and lost 12 people.

The township of Darwin was also under attack, and 11 civilians lost their lives when the post office was bombed. The Japanese organised their surprise attack by coming up through the groves rather than from the sea.

HMAS Warrego was the first ship to return fire. Luckily, their gunners were out on deck practising, and as soon as they realised the aircraft were Japanese, they started firing, bringing down several planes.

There were eyewitness reports that told of the USS Peary sinking with the gun on her stern still firing as she went under.

On the Darwin Esplanade facing the harbour, now rests the 4-inch gun from USS Peary, which was recovered and restored by the RAN, as a tribute to the 91 American sailors lost of the 144 crew.

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