The Bombing of Darwin Australia

[Flying10uk]

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.

Information

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[USGI]

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

[CINDERS]

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.

[mrclark303]

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.

I can't argue with that Ron, the surrender at Singapore put many British, Australian and NZ troops directly into Japanese hands.

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.

[BEAR]

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.

The US sovereign territory was also bombed and INVADED in the Aleutians. Written about in the book "The Thousand-Mile War" by Brian Garfield

[Aragorn243]

The US sovereign territory was also bombed and INVADED in the Aleutians. Written about in the book "The Thousand-Mile War" by Brian Garfield

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.

[Surpmil]

And then there's the question of who sank the Sydney, and how there were no survivors.

[StratA]

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.

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.

[Surpmil]

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.