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Darwin Defenders Memorial Print Page Print this page

28-August-2013
28-August-2013

Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders / Chris McLaughlin

The memorial commemorates the 66th anniversary of the first air attack by the Japanese on Australia during World War Two. 

On February 19, 1942 at 11.57am the second raid on Darwin by 54 Japanese heavy bombers began. In two raids, up to 1500 people died, 23 Australian aircraft were destroyed.

The United States Air Force lost 10 P40 Kittyhawks, one B24 bomber, three Beechcraft and three Catalina amphibians. The Royal Australian Air Force lost six Hudsons, eight ships were sunk and 15 were damaged with the Japanese losing 12 aircraft in the attack.

Location

Address:Memorial Drive, Sawyer Park Cenotaph, Horsham, 3400
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -36.722716
Long: 142.202313
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:19-February-1942
Actual Event End Date:19-February-1942
Link:http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/…

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Tuesday 19th February, 2008
Front Inscription

Darwin Defenders Memorial 

This memorial was erected to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the first Air Attack on Australia (Darwin)

19th February 2008

Regional personnel service units in Darwin included :
19th (Aust) Machine Gun Battalion
236 Light Aid Detachment
112 (LAA) Light Anti Aircraft Regiment
8th (Aust) Infantry Battalion

When war came to Australia

 

Source: MA, VWHI
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au