The Bombing of Darwin memorial plaque and information sign in Darwin Northern Territory

The Bombing of Darwin

Aerial perspective of Northern Territory coastline near Darwin Northern Territory river snaking through to the ocean one town at a timeAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrain

A mirage from the plane window.

Outback Australia from the sky giving off an illusion of an ocean of red dirt.

Aerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrain

Historical image from the 1800's of a Miners Head in Bendigo Victoria during the Gold Rush GOLD RUSH STORIES - PART 11 - CONJECTURE SURROUNDING THE GOLD DISCOVERY

Aerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrain

Darwin Military Museum Military Jeep

On the 19th February 1942, a military force attacked mainland Australia for the first time when Darwin was the target of two devastating air raids.

Shortly before 9am that day a strike force of 188 Japanese aircraft was launched from four aircraft carriers located midway between Timor and Darwin. The same force had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ten weeks before - but it would drop more than twice the amount on Darwin.

Aerial view of Darwin PortAerial view of Darwin PortAerial view of Darwin and Coastline Northern Territory Australia

Darwin was caught unprepared, when the first bombs fell at 9.58am destroying a section of the main wharf at Stokes Hill and killing 21 waterside workers.

In the next 20 mins the attacks sank or disabled 21 ships, destroying most of the waterfront facilities and wrecked of the town area. Two hours later, a second force of 54 bombers attacked and severely damaged Darwin RAAF base.

Darwin Beach and Convention centre wharf with boats in harbor

Darwin Military MuseumDarwin Military MuseumAt least 292 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded during the two raids. Military and civilian administration were badly disrupted by the action. Fearing possible invasion some people left Darwin.

The Darwin region sustained at least 60 more air raids up until 12 November 1943, but none was more destructive than the first two. 

The Bombing of Darwin Historical Memorial Information sign

Darwin Military Museum 25 Pounder Field Gun
Darwin Military Museum 25 Pounder Field Gun
Darwin Military Museum 25 Pounder Field Gun

Aerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrain 

Government House was bombed and repeatedly strafed during the first air raid. The Administrators office which was located at the front of the house, was destroyed.

The Australian flag flying in front of government house was damaged by machine gun fire. It is now displayed in the Australian War Memorial.

Aerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainThe Iris Eye of Magenta Colllection Designer Jewelry Circle Gold Ring Rainbow fractal design

@kieran.wicks #OneTownataTime #Darwin #Historian #WW2 #Australia #ForgottenHistory #PearlHarbour #NorthernTerritory ♬ original sound - Kieran.Wicks

Dusk Eye of Magenta Colllection Designer Jewelry Circle Gold Stainless Steel Circle Pendant Love Pendant Sunset Orange designAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainAerial view of Darwin Northern TerritoryAerial view of Darwin Northern TerritoryAerial photography of Outback Australia Northern Territory near Darwin. Red Earth, scrub fires, rivers and raods carving through desolote terrainWhat's the best thing to do in Darwin?Sticking to My Guns Album Cover by Kieran WicksTourism and the Arts - Deloraine, North West Tasmania Bronze statue of acrobats in jester hatCrocodile Skeleton fossil Darwin Museum NT Crocodylus Parkv

 

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A polymathic touring musician, film maker, historian and producer, for the past 8 years Kieran Wicks has navigated the Great Southern Land of Australia performing hundreds of shows to ravenous audiences, whilst simultaneously developing a vast catalogue of interviews, images and videos in the production of multiple formative docuseries including 'One Town at a Time', which records his musical journey, immersed in poignant, forgotten Australian history and poetry, in archives such as 'Gold Rush Stories' and 'Poetry of the Pioneers'.

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