Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Damian Hale, MP
Member for Solomon
VA007
Thursday, 19 February 2009
REMEMBERING THE BOMBING OF DARWIN
On the 67th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin and the
Member for Solomon, Damian Hale, encouraged Australians to take the time to reflect on a moment
in history when Australia faced its gravest threat.
Attending a commemorative service in Darwin marking the 67th anniversary, Minister Griffin said the
bombing of Darwin had a huge impact on the psyche of the nation at the time, but hasn’t had the
recognition it deserves in recent years.
“As Australia mourns the loss of 201 people in the devastating Victorian bushfires, it is important to
remember the immense losses sustained when the war came to our shores,” Mr Griffin said.
“More than 250 were killed, and hundreds more were injured.
“Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships sunk and many more buildings destroyed,
leaving Darwin in ruins.
“The impact of these attacks on a young country should not be forgotten.
“For all Australians at the time, the bombings brought home their vulnerability and the realisation
that the war was having a very real impact at home.
“As we see the country pulling together now, that same spirit was evident after the Japanese
attacks, when the entire Australian economy was directed towards the war effort.”
Damian Hale said that the bombings of Darwin were not unexpected.
“The Japanese, from their first landings in Malaya on 6 December 1941, quickly swept through large
parts of south-east Asia and captured Singapore. Just four days later, the bombs began to fall on
Darwin and many held real fears for the safety of the nation,” Mr Hale said.
“Darwin came under attack twice on 19 February 1942 by 54 land-based bombers and
approximately 188 attack aircraft launched from Japanese aircraft carriers in the Timor Sea.
“Between 19 February 1942 and 12 November 1943 when the last Japanese attack was launched,
Darwin and other North Australian sites endured some 70 air raids.”
The bombing of Darwin is one of the many wartime events which are also commemorated on Battle
for Australia Day on the first Wednesday in September every year.
Media inquiries:
Darren Loasby (Alan Griffin) 0419 004 876
Sheena Dunne (Damian Hale) 0406 696 680
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
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