Bombing of Darwin survivor Brian Winspear dies

World War II veteran and Bombing of Darwin survivor Brian Winspear AM has died peacefully aged 104.

Bombing of Darwin veteran Brian Winspear has passed away aged 104.

World War II veteran and Bombing of Darwin survivor Brian Winspear AM has died peacefully aged 104.

The former air force pilot, navigator and gunner died in Hobart over the Anzac Day weekend, with Tasmanians and Territorians alike paying tribute to the highly respected war hero.

Brian was just 20 years old when Darwin was bombed in 1942 and was in one of the last aircraft to fly into the city on that fateful day.

Of note, one of Brian’s duties after the raid was to guard Hajime Toyoshima, a Japanese Zero pilot who was captured by local Aboriginal man Matthias.

Toyoshima would eventually play a role in the massive prison breakout in Cowra in 1944.

Brian was ultimately recommended for officer training and retrained as a navigator.

He would spend the rest of the war flying out of New Guinea and conducting anti-submarine patrols around Australia’s coastline.

Post-war, Brian became a successful businessman and married Shirley, who he had a family with.

Brian Winspear at Adelaide River War Cemetary.

Awarded an Order of Australia in 1993 for services to tourism and community, Brian was a regular attendee at the Bombing of Darwin commemoration.

He later also wrote about his experiences in Tasmanians in the Air and My Back-Seat War.

Speaking to NT News sister publication The Mercury in Hobart earlier this year, Mr Winspear spoke about his experiences of the 200 hours he spent flying Diane, one of the planes of the No.12 Squadron.

“There were 12 planes all flying vertically, and they couldn’t see the targets so between the pilots’ legs there was a trap door and you could look down at the bombing,” he said.

In 2022, after flying to the Northern Territory as the guest of honour at an 80th anniversary commemoration of the Japanese raids on Darwin, the then-101-year-old said he still had vivid memories of the attack, during which he suffered shrapnel injuries to his hands and eye.

“We were in a trench, about fifty yards from the aerodrome and you could see the Japanese in their cockpits,” the veteran said.

“I looked up and the sun glinted on the bombs as they were falling, and it was just like confetti.

“They started bombing the hell out of the aerodrome and the bay.

“They sank about 12 ships, it was a pretty scary time.”

Military historian Dr Tom Lewis paid tribute to Brian.

“Brian signed up for the war from Tasmania in 1939 – he said later he was sure the blue uniform of the Royal Australian Air Force would impress his girlfriends, a comment typical of a man who went through life with a sense of humour that carried him through some very dark hours,” he said.

“For Brian was a gunner in bombers, an extremely hazardous profession that saw the personnel of many Australian squadrons die in their hundreds.”

Dr Lewis said Brian championed the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Brian kept a long list of those who died in his units, and he was later tireless in having a memorial plaque placed on Darwin’s Esplanade to his fallen comrades.”

Solomon MP Luke Gosling also took to social media on Tuesday morning to pay tribute to Brian.

“Rest in peace Brian. Thank you for your service,” he said.

“Lest We Forget.”

The Tasmanian Government is considering honouring the state’s oldest war veteran with a State Funeral.

Originally published as Bombing of Darwin survivor Brian Winspear dies