The Royal Australian Air Force has commemorated the Bombing of Darwin 2025 with two new memorials

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. See the memorials.

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin 83 years ago have been unveiled.

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 Royal Australian Air Force personnel, dignitaries, politicians, historians and staff made their way to the Darwin RAAF base to pay their respects to those who died and to acknowledge two new memorials.

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Of the two memorials, the first – a brick wall that reads ‘For your tomorrow we gave our today’ – aims to ensure the fallen aviators are remembered as more than just a number.

The second memorial stands to recognise the known location where Wing Commander Archibald Robert Tindal died, and seeks to mirror a similar plaque seen at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, where the seven fallen aviators eternally rest.

Tindal is believed to be the first RAAF aviator killed in action on mainland Australia; he was manning a Lewis gun in the same spot as his memorial.

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said the memorials were deserved.

“They died defending his post, his mates and his home,” he said.

“These aviators epitomised what it means to serve the Australian Defence Force and what it means to put yourself in harm’s way to defend your country.”

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Flight lieutenant Fiona Earl said a memorial for these seven aviators was well overdue.

“The first seven aviators to die on the mainland during the bombing of Darwin happened here on the RAAF base, and it’s time the memorial was had for them,” she said.

Two memorials seeking to commemorate the seven brave aviators who lost their lives in the Bombing of Darwin more than 83 years ago have been unveiled. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The project started two years ago when we started investigating when Tindal died on base during the bombing of Darwin.

“It took two years and a lot of very passionate people and it’s a great project because there’s a lot of local aviators from RAAF base Darwin trying to find a way to remember those who served in 1942.”

Originally published as The Royal Australian Air Force has commemorated the Bombing of Darwin 2025 with two new memorials