Please do not mix the invasion of Australia to mean an attempt of taking over the entire continent. This was only discussed by the naval command as part of their "outer perimeter" however it was shelved as they would not have been able to supply the merchant shipping. They were not going to track over 2,000km of desert. When their confidence was at a peak their ambitions were like a drug. They came very close to achieving their goal of Port Moresby. What was the scenario if Port Moresby fell? What was the scenario if Guadalcanal was lost? The Americans only had one serviceable carrier in the Pacific through those months of July, August, September 1942. The Japanese aim in Australia was not oil and rubber it was land and naval bases and as a further outer perimeter covering their northern land conquests and direct access to the South Pacific. Australia was prepared to give up its north and it may have had no option if there were losses at Milne Bay and Guadalcanal. The Pacific war would have been very different had this been realised.
Point to note on the expansion of Japanese ideas. The Japanes even invaded the American Islands off the Alaskain mainland. The Aluetian Islands. Aleutian Islands Campaign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One of the major events of the bombing of Darwin was that a considerable number of US warships were destroyed in Darwin Harbour. This was partly because the Americans insisted in tying them together instead of distributing them around the harbour. They had the same policy wrt their planes. With the same result. Together with three Catalinas destroyed, only two USN ships were sunk that fateful day: The Peary, a four-stack destroyer, and the Meigs, an Army transport ship. The USAAC had it rougher, with almost all of the P-40 squadron defending the harbor wiped out in the ground after returning from dawn patrol, plus a Liberator and three C-45 transports.
Drew5233 Point to note on the expansion of Japanese ideas. The Japanes even invaded the American Islands off the Alaskain mainland. The Aluetian Islands. Japan in trying to hold everything could hold nothing.
Not sure of the date, but the jap Chiefs of Staff looked very closely at the proposal to invade Australia, but in the end decided that they would have to take far too many men from China to do the job. As pointed out they would have failed anyway. And further, the so-called "Brisbane line" was a perfectly sensible strategic policy, even though it is probable that it never reached that level of decision. The imaginary line from a bit north of Brisbane to about Port Augusta to include our main iron ore source at that time of Iron Knob, included about 80% of Australia's population. All the rest is 2000kms of desert. The live-stock were moved and a lot of civilians were too, but the need for such a 'line' soon passed. There are STILL dozens of airfields across the 'Top-End', some still in use by the SAS etc regularly. Fenton Airstrip is 7000' long, 150' wide, and 9" thick, and still in near perfect condition. Gorrie Field is not quite as good, but could be repaired easily with a 4" top on it. Batchelor by the way was the strip where MacArthur landed whilst Darwin was enduring yet another raid. John.
I seen it the other day, while i was waiting to get tea at the pub... looks a bit like pearl harbour, but it's mainly about a cattle hearding thinggy which is at the same time as the bombings.
Apparently, at one stage in WW2 the area above the Tropic of Capricorn had 300,000 troops based throughout the place, and it was well into 1944 before MacArthur had more Americans than Australians under his command in the SWPA. His HQ was in Brisbane. His HQ still is in Brisbane.. well, sort of The Macarthur Museum Brisbane occupies the 8th floor in the original building, Macarthur Chambers (corner of Edward and Queen). Perhaps not as grandiose as some other museums, I've enjoyed a couple of visits. They've done quite a nice job of capturing the ambience of the war years in Brisbane and volunteers, some possibly diggers, are on hand to answer any questions. His actual office is there, complete with desk (though not sure if the latter is the original). Also has some info on the Battle of Brisbane, if I recall rightly, though that's another topic/thread! http://www.macarthurmuseumbrisbane.org regards, Martin
Together with three Catalinas destroyed, only two USN ships were sunk that fateful day: The Peary, a four-stack destroyer, and the Meigs, an Army transport ship. The USAAC had it rougher, with almost all of the P-40 squadron defending the harbor wiped out in the ground after returning from dawn patrol, plus a Liberator and three C-45 transports. On the 19 of Feburary the first attack on Darwin destroyed more then that, 20 military aircraft were destoryed, 8 ships at berth were sunk. The two USN ships you mentioned as well as two Australian Passanger ships being used as troops ships called the MV Neptune and the SS Zealandia. HMAS Mavie, an Australian Patrol boat, SS Mauna Loa a US Freighter, British Motorist, a UK merhanct ship and finally the Kelat which was a coal storage hull. The Japanese bombing of Darwin and northern Australia - Australia's Culture Portal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Darwin_(February_1942)#Casualties.2C_damage_and_consequences
Was interesting to see the film the other night. Some of the scenes were shot on the wharf in Darwin but a lot of filming was done in Bowen in Queensland because that now looks more like the old wharf area than Darwin does today. Wonder where that island was where they helped the children escape from the Japanese. Still I don't suppose you should stuff up a good movie by sticking to closely to the facts Was interesting anyway and we enjoyed it. Cheers Rob PS Those wrecks in the harbour now provide diving and fishing sites
Was interesting to see the film the other night. Some of the scenes were shot on the wharf in Darwin but a lot of filming was done in Bowen in Queensland because that now looks more like the old wharf area than Darwin does today. Wonder where that island was where they helped the children escape from the Japanese. Still I don't suppose you should stuff up a good movie by sticking to closely to the facts Was interesting anyway and we enjoyed it. Cheers Rob PS Those wrecks in the harbour now provide diving and fishing sites They should make war movies historical with not so much lovey dovey stories to go along with them. War in itself is interesting and exciting to watch on the big screen they don't have to do what they did to pearl Harbour and Australia, even Kokoda was rubbish.
On the 19 of Feburary the first attack on Darwin destroyed more then that, 20 military aircraft were destoryed, 8 ships at berth were sunk. The two USN ships you mentioned as well as two Australian Passanger ships being used as troops ships called the MV Neptune and the SS Zealandia. HMAS Mavie, an Australian Patrol boat, SS Mauna Loa a US Freighter, British Motorist, a UK merhanct ship and finally the Kelat which was a coal storage hull. The Japanese bombing of Darwin and northern Australia - Australia's Culture Portal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Darwin_(February_1942)#Casualties.2C_damage_and_consequences The place sure was a cauldron in those hectic days, but I was referring to US losses only. That post was a reply to what Herakles wrote in his
Interesting.....But they did use Torpedoes at Pearl as well Yep, they modified them so they would not crash into the bottom of the shallow harbour.
G'day All, The 19th of Feburary marks the anniversary of the bombing of Darwin in 1942. There were two raids that day involving 54 land based bombers and about 190 attack type aircraft from 4 aircraft carriers in the Timor sea. The two raids killed at least 243 people, including all the staff at the PO and 300 to 400 were wounded. 20 aircraft were destroyed and 8 ships were sunk. The air attacks continued till November 1943 and Darwin had been bombed 64 times with most civil and military facilities destroyed. There is a memorial service at the Cenotaph and remberance displays around the city with the military museum having an open day. Cheers Rob Lest we forget
For those interested there is a new book out from the AWM Australia Under Attack: Darwin and the Northern Territory 1942-1945 (AUD9.95) Also a sister book Australia Under Attack: Sydney and the Midget Submarines 1942 From Vetaffairs March 2009 Spider
Darwin and the Northern Territory 1942-1945. Cover of the new DVA book. Brief overview and photos. Spider
At 10 o'clock several of the restored war time warning sirens are sounded to remind us of the first Japanese air raid on Australian soil. A memorial service is held at the Cenotaph to remember the 240 killed that day, the ships, aircraft and city that was destroyed. Lest We Forget Them Cheers Rob
What a great way to commemorate. I lived in Darwin between 1956-57 and even then 11 years after the war ended there were vast piles of ww2 detrius around the place. Many sunken ships in the harbour, there were great part time jobs going loading scrap - bound for Japan - where else, trouble all our pay went at evening visit to the pub. David
