Bombing of Darwin 75th anniversary: Japanese attack changed NT and Australia forever

It was the moment World War II came to our shores and changed the Northern Territory and Australia forever

The USS Peary was sunk in the Japanese bombing raid of Darwin on February 19, 1942.

It was the moment World War II came to our shores and changed the Northern Territory and Australia forever.

On February 19, 1942, Japan launched air raids on Darwin — the first such attack on Australian soil.

The first bombs landed just before 10am, targeting the harbour and city. The second wave began an hour later and involved high altitude bombing of the Royal Australian Air Force base at Parap.

More than 260 Japanese planes attacked US and Australian ships, sinking eight in the harbour. Twenty military aircraft were also destroyed

Eight ships were sunk in Darwin harbour in the Japanese bombing raid on February 19, 1942.

The attacks were part of Japan’s efforts to demoralise Australia and disrupt Darwin’s operations as a major Allied military base, with the ultimate goal of securing Timor.

Whereas most people associate the attack on Pearl Harbor as being one of the most pivotal and devastating events at the height of World War II, many remain unaware of how much Darwin and its civilians were impacted 10 weeks later.

At least 243 people were killed and up to 400 injured in the February 19 attack.

The wreckage of a Darwin home after the Japanese bombing raid.

This year marks 75 years since the bombing. To commemorate the occasion, the NT News will publish a 56-page 75th Anniversary Remembrance Magazine.

Filled with in-depth features, vivid historic photographs, maps and amazing stories of survival, the magazine will explore the bombing in detail and how it changed the Northern Territory and Australia.

Get your special edition Bombing of Darwin magazine in stores on February 19.

Originally published as Bombing of Darwin 75th anniversary: Japanese attack changed NT and Australia forever