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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.
Yep read The Knights of Bushido By Lord Russell of Liverpool there is stuff written in there that really defies barbarism I own copy and its mate The Scourge of The Swastika by the same author the Germans paled away against the japanese.
No wonder the Ausie POW's hated the japanese, if you have a good imagination your stomach will turn a bit if you picture the inhumanity of it.
I have it.
This is the one I would recommend https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Zqz2k4Xf-1.jpg
The author had unparalleled access and rarely equalled qualifications. Of course the reality was too stark for the various "______ophiles" who usually make up academic "expertise" on any given country, and his conclusions so unlike their comfortable party line that they all pretended not to notice!:rolleyes:
Even worse, he wasn't even a proper academic!:eek:
The US sovereign territory was also bombed and INVADED in the Aleutians. Written about in the book "The Thousand-Mile War" by Brian GarfieldQuote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Lets not forget the Jap midget subs that attacked Sydney Harbour.
Japanese Midget Submarine Attack on Sydney Harbour | Royal Australian Navy
One of them was salvaged and hangs in the Australian War Memorial
There's also a centre section of one of the Japanese submarines in small museum on the grounds of HMAS Kuttabul / Garden Island in Sydney. If I recall correctly the museum isn't open to the public (except by appointment). Its on the water below the drydock, adjacent to some of the maintenance workshops.Quote:
Originally Posted by RogueAussie
I was lucky enough to be able to visit while I was in Sydney for work in 2016. It was, coincidentally, at the same time that the a few ships and, I think, a submarine of the Japanese navy was visiting. It was right before Australia announced the winner of the submarine recapitalization competition. First time the Japanese navy had visited, I think, since 1942!
Here's a little info on the attacks that did occur to Australia during 1942-45 courtesy of Emperor Hirohito and his Service Leaders:
Attachment 107405
One of the chilling attacks that shook contemporary Australia to the bone was the Jap midget subs that attacked inside Sydney Harbour and sank the former Sydney Ferry HMAS Kuttabul, for the loss of 19 RAN and RN sailors on board. Darwin's repeated attacks were less of a 'concern' as the communications in those days isolated the population. But the Sydney attack was a real wake up call. We got one of the subs, sans crew, and the remains are displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Brave Jap sailors who came in to terrorise us, they did thier job well.
Here is another good read for you all there was plenty happening on the Eastern Sea Board as well a very worrying time for all in Australia along with that threat from the N.G
I may have that book, not sure. I just bought one on the subject a few months ago and promptly put it in the future reads stack and forgot about it. I'll have to check.Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
And then there's the question of who sank the Sydney, and how there were no survivors.
Yep you'll be chasing red herrings there Surpmil I feel.
I thought we had stopped deporting undesirables a long time before that Ron!😀Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
Our usual ANZAC commemoration couldn't happen this year for obvious reasons, but the flag has been hoisted over the Market House in the centre of town today....
John lorelli's The Battle of the Komandorski Islands and Ken Coates and w. Morrison's The Alaska Highway in World War II make good company with Garfield's classic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Found the book. It's none of those you mentioned. It's called "The Storm on our Shores" by Mark Obmascik. It's not a traditional book on the subject. It's about a diary written by one of the Japanese soldiers who died there, a doctor actually. and the US soldier who found it. The doctor was actually an Americanized Japanese man who was forced into service when he returned to Japan from medical school in the US. I can't recommend it one way or the other as I've only read the preface and first chapter and that was two months ago. So it's much more personal than the actual battle books.
I'm still thinking I have another book on the Aleutians around here somewhere. May have to keep looking.
I don't have that one but I read the review it in the January edition of the journal of military history. It does sound interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
All depends on the size of the mesh in one's "head-net" Cinders. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS