Page "Darwin, Northern Territory" Paragraph 10

Around 10, 000 Allied troops arrived in Darwin in the early 1940s at the outset of World War II, in order to defend Australia's northern coastline.

On 19 February 1942 at 0957, 188 Japanese warplanes attacked Darwin in two waves.

It was the same fleet that had bombed Pearl Harbor, though a considerably larger number of bombs were dropped on Darwin than on Pearl Harbor.

The attack killed at least 243 people and caused immense damage to the town.

These were by far the most serious attacks on Australia in time of war, in terms of fatalities and damage.

They were the first of many raids on Darwin.