Japanese Bombers Attack Darwin

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22202, 20 February 1942, Page 5

Japanese Bombers Attack Darwin

First Direct Blow Against Australia Township and Shipping Raided For an Hour By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. 12.32 A .m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 19. THE FIRST enemy attack on Australia took place 1 this morning when Japanese bombers raided Darwin, the chief town of the Northern Territory. The first announcement of the raid was made by the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin). The Minister for Air (Mr A. S. Drakeford) late this afternoon issued the following communique: “Japanese bombers raided Darwin this morning for one hour. Preliminary reports indicate that the attack was concentrated on the township. Shipping in the harbour was also bombed. There were some casualties and damage to service installations, details of which are not yet known.” The Minister for the Army (Mr F. M. Forde) said this afternoon that the raid apparently began about 10 a.m. local time when the following brief radio message was received: “Air raid on Darwin started. The station is closing down.” Mr Curtin, who is still in hospital but recovering, sent the following message to the people of Australia: “Australia has now experienced the physical contact of war within Australia. As the head of the Australian Government all I need say is that total mobilisation is the Government’s policy, and until the necessary machinery can be put into effect all must voluntarily answer the Government’s call for the complete giving of everything to the nation.” He appealed to Australians to face the facts and act accordingly. Darwin is 600 miles south of Amboina Island (which was recently occupied by the Japanese), about the same distance between London and Berlin.

A Sydney message states that the Minister for Air (Mr A. S. Drakeford) announced that Hudsons of the Royal Australian Air Force and Japanese fighters fought a battle over Rabaul (Ntw Britain) yesterday. One enemy plane was probably destroyed, while Royal Australian Air Force planes continued their reconnaissance without suffering damage or casualties. According to a message from Canberra regulations have been gazetted making it possible for the Australian and New Zealand Air Forces to act together as one fighting unit. Strategists regard this decision between New Zealand and Australia as an Important forward step in the plans to fully mobilise the air power in the Pacific.

The regulations do not give any details of the arrangement. Kieta, the administrative capital of the Solomon Islands, was captured on January 23 by two Japanese airmen armed only with the Japanese flag. This was revealed by a Kieta Government official who reached Port Moresby’ after an eventful voyage of 1000 miles in a mission ketch without charts or navigating instruments, during which the vessel often grounded on the maze of reefs. Kieta was completely undefended. After reconnaissance flights over the town for several days a Japanese seaplane landed in the bay. Two Japanese airmen rowed ashore and planted the I Japanese flag on the beach. There was I no opposition from civilians, who had [evacuated the town.