Darwin Australia

Did Japanese attack Darwin Australia several months after attacking Pearl Harbor?

What kind of Japanese aircraft did the Japanese fly in? Is the attack well known as the attack of Pearl Harbor. Why or Why not? Are there any famous photographs of the attack in Australia?

Public Comments

1. The Japanese air raids on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. A little over 2 months later. The Japanese air raids on Darwin, Australia, on 19 February 1942 were the largest attacks mounted by a foreign power against Australia. The raids were the first of about 100 air raids against Australia during 1942–43. This event is often called the "Pearl Harbor of Australia". Although it was a less significant target, a greater number of bombs were dropped on Darwin than were used in the attack on Pearl Harbor. As was the case at Pearl Harbor, the Australian town was unprepared, and although it came under attack from the air another 58 times in 1942 and 1943, the raids on 19 February were massive and devastating by comparison. The Japanese were Zero fighters. A total of 81 Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers then attacked shipping — at least 45 vessels — in the harbour, while 71 Aichi D3A "Val" dive-bombers, escorted by 36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter planes attacked Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases, civil airfields, and a hospital. The second raid concentrated on the Darwin RAAF Airfield: 27 Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bombers flew from Ambon and 27 Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" from Kendari, Sulawesi. American ships were also sank in Darwin Harbor. Australia was just over-shawdowed by the other horrible incidents happening at the time. The US had just lost most of its Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The Nazis were bombing Buckingham Palace in downtown London. Austrailia wasn't being ignored, just over-shadowed. There was just so much going on at the time.