Bombing of Darwin 75th anniversary: Former soldier recalls shrapnel falling like rain

Barry Greenwood will never forget the sounds of bombs falling on Darwin

BARRY Greenwood will never forget the sounds of bombs falling on Darwin.

The former signals operator was stationed in the Northern Territory capital during the Japanese attacks, which began with the raid that killed at least 243 people on February 19, 1942.

Mr Greenwood said the attacks were frightening.

“I remember one night when the bombs were going off all night long, and by this time we weren’t at Berrimah Road, but we had shifted right into Darwin,” he said.

“And the whole house that we were in was shaking and the plaster came down off the wall in powder form.”

Mr Greenwood said the fighting was fierce between anti-aircraft guns and Japanese planes.

“The shrapnel used to come down through the trees from the exploding shells up in the sky and it was just coming down like rain,” he said.

“You keep your fingers crossed a bomb won’t come close to you if it’s going to fall in your area.”

Soldiers survey damage to a Darwin house after it was hit during a Japanese bombing raid.

On February 19, the Northern Territory will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.

To recognise the significant 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: Former soldier recalls shrapnel falling like rain