Bombing of Darwin commemoration ceremonies held in Darwin

A SOLEMN group gathered on The Esplanade in Darwin early Friday morning to remember the crew of the USS Peary, which sunk during the Bombing of Darwin in 1942

IT has been 74 years but Darwin still gathers to remember the Bombing of Darwin.

On 19 February 1942 war came to Australia on the wings on 188 Japanese aircraft resulting in more than 250 deaths and the destruction of much of Darwin.

More than 2700 people attended the Bombing of Darwin commemorative service at the Darwin cenotaph on Friday to pay their respects.

Darwin Lord Mayor, Katrina Fong Lim said the Bombing of Darwin was an unprecedented foreign attack on Australian soil.

“Today is a day to reflect on our past and pay respect to the servicemen, servicewomen and civilians who were there,” she said.

“And in commemorating this day we also pass on the story to the next generation.”

During the service, gunners from the 101st Battery of the 8th/12th Regiment manned Howitzers and machine guns for an artillery re-enactment while a AP-3C Orion flew over The Esplanade.

Earlier Friday morning, a solemn group gathered on The Esplanade to remember the crew of the USS Peary, which sunk during the Bombing of Darwin in 1942.

US Marines, dignitaries, veterans and locals came together to pay their respects and lay wreaths.

It has been 74 years since the American ship went down fighting but the bravery of the crew lives on.

USS Peary was hit with five bombs and 91 sailors were killed but the crew continued to fire at attacking Japanese planes even as their ship was sinking.