Australia’s Pearl Harbor
On February 19, 1942 Japanese aircraft attacked the Australian port city of Darwin for the first time. Some 243 civilians and military personnel died in the attacks. The city's air defenses were virtually nonexistent and the Japanese bombers and fighters inflicted heavy damage, sinking a total of eight ships in the crowded harbor. More attacks followed continuing until November 1943.
During World War II, the Japanese flew sixty-four raids on Darwin and thirty-three raids on other targets in Northern Australia.
From the first raid on 19 February 1942 until the last on 12 November 1943, Australia and its allies lost about 900 people, 77 aircraft and several ships. Many military and civilian facilities were destroyed. The Japanese lost about 131 aircraft in total during the attacks.
While, at the time, there were many rumours alluding to the Australian government's suppression of information about the bombings, the Australian War Memorial's Principal Historian, Dr Peter Stanley, explains that while reports of casualties were intentionally diminished to maintain national morale, at no time was information actually suppressed. Read the transcript of Dr Peter Stanley's Remembering 1942 talk about the bombing of Darwin on the Australian War Memorial website.
Not much is mentioned about these attacks here in the United States, even though two American ships were sunk in the attacks of February 19. Three years to the day after the attacks, American forces began the invasion of Iwo Jima.
By NortonPete, Tuesday, 19 February , 2008 @ 11:13 am
This is certainly food for thought. Hawaii was attacked and the nation without hesitation went to war. Without a great deal of preparation against multiple enemies and succeeded.
Now fast forward 60 years, the embassy bombings in Africa were largely ignored. I wonder what would have happened if Al Queda had attacked some hotels in Hawaii instead of NYC? After all they would be so far away, and about 35% of the country would argue that perhaps it is just a problem for Hawaii.
When I think of the difference between our national resolve 60 years ago and today, I wonder if we will make it long term.