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On a recent documentary program it was mentioned that Darwin, Australia was attacked during WW2 by the Japanese. Although I was aware that Japan had made some attempts to attack Australia during WW2, I wasn't aware that Darwin had actually been bombed. However, I do know that for a time during WW2 Japan got close, with it's empire, to Australia.
Bombing of Darwin - YouTube
We had attacks here in the US, at least in my state of Oregon. The war was over before I was born, but I remember the folks talking about it. I believe it was primarily with balloons capable of setting fire to our forests. There may have been a shelling of some type along the coast, too - miniature submarines (1 or 2 man) had some kind of involvement. I should look it up, but maybe someone else can add information about it. There might have been at least one death in the South-Western part of the state. - Bob
Broome got bombed as well, the balloons Japan released into the jet stream caused I think only one US casualty which I from memory think was a woman investigating it.
The Japs had the Fugu plan whilst we in Australia had the Brisbane line if it was not for the 39th Militia the outcome for us may have been vastly different after all the Brits dropped us right in the sh*t when they renegged on the Singapore deal plus allot of our regular troops were in Africa leaving Australia very weak indeed, the 39th inflicted the first defeat the IJA had suffered in WWII on land.
A pregnant woman and 5 child members of a Sunday School class were killed after they found a strange balloon while looking for a picnic spot on Gearhart Mountain in southern Oregon, May 5, 1945.
Fortunately Gen. Yamashita who wanted to invade Australia after Malaya, had enemies/rivals in the high command and was not given the chance.
Percival should have been court martialed, and a few others as well.
I can't argue with that Ron, the surrender at Singapore put many British, Australian and NZ troops directly into Japanese hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
Many never survived their brutal captivity.
It was a very wrong decision and that can't be denied.
The fighting that took place in Papua New Guinea was crucial, horrific and often overlooked.
Commonwealth troops stopped the Japanese advance towards Australia at huge cost.
It must have been hell on earth fighting there.
I take the view that there were many who must take some responsibility for the fall of Singapore, to Japan, but of those some should take a greater responsibility than others.
I once read that Singapore could only really be effectively defended from mainland Malaya.
We were shelled here in BC, Estevan lighthouse was shelled at a very wee hour. The sub fired just less than 20 rds from her deck gun as I recall, and UXO was found at the low water line after a very low tide in about 1978. We too had balloons lodge in trees in the forest. No casualties from any of it...
Grab this book "The Great Betrayal." its pretty cheap but there is another book called Singapore The Japanese Version By Masonabu Tsuji I have it next to David Days book yet to read the japanese version but the former book is pretty well lets say "We called you did not answer!"
I am not beating on the Brits why would as I am half one from my fathers side he was born in Portsmouth.
Sydney copped a few rounds into suburbia as well at one point.
That photo must have been taken just before the white flag was dropped.
Tsuji was a right wing member of the Diet when he disappeared in the early 1960s. It is suggested that he want to North Vietnam to help them plan their campaigns. He was also something of an Imperial favourite. When not planning world mastery, other hobbies were cannibalism and sexual inversion.
Easy-going (lazy) Western minds, inclined to forgiveness rather than "47 ronin" sort of thinking, forget that former enemies at least among the leadership classes, do not generally change their opinions because they are defeated; they are much more likely to redirect and redouble their efforts to achieve similar goals by different means.