On 19 February 1942, mainland Australia was attacked for the first time when Japanese forces launched two air raids on Darwin. The first attack, which occurred just before 10am and lasted 25 minutes, involved hits on shipping, infrastructure, military and civil aerodromes and the city of Darwin. In the second raid, which began around 11.45am, the Royal Australian Air Force base was bombed. The attacks killed at least 250 allied personnel and civilians and several hundred were wounded.
This pre-stamped envelope, released 17 February 2017, commemorates these grave events. The photographs used are from the Australian War Memorial collection. The larger image shows smoke billowing from MV Neptuna, as viewed from HMAS Platypus, Darwin ( AWM P03707.001) and the smaller image, used in the pre-stamped area, depicts members of Royal Australian Engineers inspecting a Japanese mine at Mendil Beach, Darwin (AWM P04079.002).
Following the bombings, many of Darwin’s civilian population fled, fearing imminent invasion. However, it was not Japan’s intention to invade, only to destroy Darwin’s potential as a base for a counter-offensive in the event of their invasion of Timor. During the 1930s, Darwin was seen as an important defence against the Japanese Empire, which is what had led to the development of its port, airfield and costal defence batteries.
In the months following the initial raids, there were 97 air attacks on northern Australia, including 64 on Darwin, the last of which occurred on 12 November 1943. Other towns attacked include Port Hedland and Derby in Western Australia, Katherine in the Northern Territory and Townsville in Queensland. Air inspections continued over northern Australia during much of 1944.
The 75th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin PSE is available from 17 February 2017 online, at participating Post Offices, and via mail order on 1800 331 794, while stocks last.
*This article was produced at the time of publication and will not be updated.
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