Royal Australian Artillery, Air Force, and Navy simulate Bombing of Darwin
Top End regiments of the Australian Defence Force are set to simulate a ‘sombre’ attack on the city during the 81st Bombing of Darwin commemoration. Watch the dress rehearsal here.
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Thousands of Territorians will gather at The Cenotaph to commemorate the 81st Bombing of Darwin on Sunday
Royal Australian Artillery 8th/12th Regiment Gunner Mia Johns said it would be “an honour” to take part in the day’s military demonstration.
Gunner Johns said she had been posted in Darwin for just over a year and it would be her first time being involved in the display.
“It’s definitely an absolute honour to be able to do this, especially being so young as well,” she said.
“I am a gun member, so I will be firing on the day.”
Gunner Johns said the first time she fired an M2A2 Howitz – the ceremonial guns used in the demonstration – was amazing.
“It was so loud,” she said.
“Sometimes you can get more charges, so you can actually feel the vibrations through your body, so it’s kind of cool.”
Commanding Officer of the 8th/12th Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Sam Colclough said the gunners would be part of a “simulation of what the attack on the city would have been like”.
Mr Colclough said the guns used were “purely ceremonial” but some of them had once seen active duty in Vietnam.
“They’re not the ones we use when we deploy operationally.” he said.
“They fire a blank cartridge, so you’ll get the full noise and the smoke and the experience with none of the danger or nasty side effects.”
Lt Colclough said the gunners would be joined by Joint Strike Fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force and a Navy patrol boat to show “at least part of what it would have been like on the day, all those years ago”.
Lt Colclough said it would be a “very sombre day”.
“It’s hard not to get emotional about it when you think about the suffering people have gone through,” he said.
“But it always ends on a positive note because all the bad things this country goes through.
“It binds together, Australians dig deep and give freely, and we always come out of it stronger.”
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Originally published as Royal Australian Artillery, Air Force, and Navy simulate Bombing of Darwin
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