AIR RAIDS ON DARWIN

Southland Times, Issue 24675, 21 February 1942, Page 5

AIR RAIDS ON DARWIN

REPORT OF DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES ALERT YESTERDAY (Rec. 11 p.m.) CANBERRA, Feb. 20. An announcement of a third raid on Darwin today was corrected by a statement that the alert was sounded but no raid eventuated. The raid on Darwin yesterday morning was followed by a second in the afternoon. The first raid was carried out by 72 twin-engine bombers accompanied by fighters and the second by 21 twin-engined bombers unsupported by fighters. The casualties in the raids were 15 killed and 24 wounded. Several hospitals were bombed and mach-ine-gunned and some of the patients wounded. Some aircraft were damaged on the ground. Six Japanese planes were shot down. The main casualties in yesterday’s raids were at the Post Office at Darwin, where nine people were killed and 11 injured, including the postmaster, Mr H. C. Bald, his wife, daughter and three telephonists. They were in a trench shelter which received a direct hit. Six patients in one hospital were injured, one of whom died. Several ships in Darwin harbour were hit by bombs and damage was done to wharves and buildings. SECOND RAID The afternoon raid was directed against air force installations. The damage at the aerodrome was not serious, but there were four casualties among the service personnel. Some aircraft were damaged on the ground. At least six enemy aircraft were shot down, but whether by fighters or antiaircraft fire is not yet revealed. The first raid, which began at 10.35 a.m. (local time) interrupted the telephone and telegraph services, but immediately the raid ended emergency services were established some distance from the town. These operated for a considerable time until similai- arrangements were made still farther away. The Minister of Air, Mr A. S. Drakeford, states there is little doubt that some of the enemy aircraft came from a carrier, one of which was seen on February 8 north of Darwin. This led to an alert on that occasion. The twin-engined bombers, with a range of 1500 miles, obviously came from a land base on islands recently acquired by the Japanese. The nearest is Amboina, 580 miles distant. It is estimated that 50 tons of bombs were rained on Darwin yesterday. NEW ZEALAND’S SYMPATHY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, has sent the following message to the Australian Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin: “Please allow me on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to express to you, and through you to the Administrator and people of Darwin, our sympathy with them in their ordeal. We here well know the courage and competence with which the whole of Australia will meet the attack. Kind regards.”