Between February 1942 and November 1943, during the Pacific War

Pacific War

The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...

, the Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n mainland, domestic airspace, offshore islands and coastal shipping were attacked at least 97 times by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...

 and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. These attacks came in various forms; from large-scale raids by medium bomber

Medium bomber

A medium bomber is a bomber aircraft designed to operate with medium bombloads over medium distances; the name serves to distinguish them from the larger heavy bombers and smaller light bombers...

s, to torpedo

Torpedo

The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...

 attacks on ships, and to strafing runs by fighter

Fighter aircraft

A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...

s.

In the first and deadliest attacks, 242 aircraft hit Darwin

Darwin, Northern Territory

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...

 on the morning of 19 February 1942. Killing at least 243 people and causing immense damage, the attacks made hundreds of people homeless and resulted in the abandonment of Darwin as a major naval base. (See the main article: Bombing of Darwin.)

These attacks were opposed by, and often aimed at, units and personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

 (RAAF), Australian Army

Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...

, Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

, United States Army Air Forces

United States Army Air Forces

The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....

, United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

, British Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 and Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force. Japanese aircrews also targeted civil infrastructure

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...

, including harbours, civil airfields, railways and fuel tanks. Some civilians were also killed.

Early Japanese air raids

The Japanese conducted a series of air raids on Australia during February and March 1942. These raids sought to prevent the Allies from using bases in northern Australia

Northern Australia

The term northern Australia is generally known to include two State and Territories, being Queensland and the Northern Territory . The part of Western Australia north of latitude 26° south—a definition widely used in law and State government policy—is also usually included...

 to contest the conquest of the Netherlands East Indies.

The first air raid on Darwin

The bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 was both the first and the largest attack mounted by Japan against mainland Australia, when four Japanese aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

s launched a total of 188 aircraft from a position in the Timor Sea

Timor Sea

The Timor Sea is a relatively shallow sea bounded to the north by the island of Timor, to the east by the Arafura Sea, to the south by Australia and to the west by the Indian Ocean....

. These 188 naval aircraft inflicted heavy damage on Darwin and sank nine ships. A raid conducted by 54 land-based bombers later the same day inflicted further damage on the town and RAAF Base Darwin

RAAF Base Darwin

RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...

 and resulted in the destruction of 20 military aircraft. Allied casualties were 251 killed and between 300 and 400 wounded, the majority of whom were non-Australian Allied sailors. Only four Japanese aircraft were confirmed to have been destroyed by Darwin's defenders.

The attack on Broome

On 3 March 1942, nine Japanese A6M3 Zero fighter

Fighter aircraft

A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...

s attacked the town of Broome

Attack on Broome

The town of Broome, Western Australia was attacked by Japanese fighter planes on 3 March 1942, during World War II. At least 88 people were killed....

, in northern Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. Although Broome

Broome, Western Australia

Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...

 was a small town, it had become a significant air base and route of escape for refugees and retreating military personnel, following the Japanese invasion of Java

Battle of Java (1942)

The Battle of Java was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred on the island of Java from 28 February-12 March 1942. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and Allied personnel...

. During the attack, which consisted of strafing runs only by the Zeros, at least 88 Allied civilians and military personnel were killed and 25 aircraft were lost. As Broome was almost undefended, Japanese losses were light, with only a single Zero being shot down over Broome and another one failing to reach its base.

Attacks on north Queensland, July 1942

Japanese naval flying boats conducted four small air raids on the north Queensland

North Queensland

North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...

 towns of Townsville

Townsville, Queensland

Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...

 and Mossman

Mossman, Queensland

For the collection of Horsedrawn Carriages see Mossman CollectionMossman is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, on the Mossman River...

 in late July 1942. Townsville, which was an important military base, was raided by Japanese Kawanishi H6K

Kawanishi H6K

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Doubilet, David. "The Flying Boat". Sport Diver Magazine. Volume 15, Number 8, September 2007.* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995.* Green, William. Warplanes of the Second...

5 "Mavis" flying boat

Flying boat

A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...

s operating from Rabaul on three nights in late July 1942. On the night of 25/26 July, the town was attacked by three flying boats but did not suffer any damage as the six bombs dropped by these aircraft fell into the sea. Townsville was attacked for the second time in the early hours of 28 July when a single flying boat dropped eight bombs which landed in bushland outside the town. Six P-39 Airacobras unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the Japanese aircraft. The third raid on Townsville occurred in the early hours of 29 July when a single flying boat again attacked the town, dropping seven bombs into the sea and an eighth which fell on an agricultural research station at Oonoonba

Oonoonba, Queensland

Oonoonba is a suburb of Townsville, Queensland, Australia that is approximately 6 km from the centre of the central Townsville business district. It is predominantly a residential area that was once considered isolated from Townsville city...

, damaging a coconut plantation. This aircraft was intercepted by four Airacobras and was damaged. The fourth raid on north Queensland occurred on the night of 31 July when a single flying boat dropped a bomb which exploded near a house outside of Mossman, injuring a child.

February

19: (10:00) Darwin

Darwin, Northern Territory

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...

, Northern Territory

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...

 (NT)

19: (11:55) Darwin, NT

19: Bathurst Island

Bathurst Island, Northern Territory

Bathurst Island is one of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory off the northern coast of Australia along with Melville Island.-Description:...

, NT


20: 11:30 Off Cape Londonderry, Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

 (WA). MV Koolama

Koolama

The Koolama was an Australian merchant vessel which sank as a result of several attacks by Japanese aircraft in February-March 1942. It was also the centre of the Koolama Incident, an alleged mutiny resulting from these attacks....

damaged by a Kawanishi H6K

Kawanishi H6K

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Doubilet, David. "The Flying Boat". Sport Diver Magazine. Volume 15, Number 8, September 2007.* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995.* Green, William. Warplanes of the Second...

5 flying boat. Attacked again at 13:30 and severely damaged, with injuries to three passengers.


21: Rulhieres Bay, WA (later known as Koolama Bay) Koolama attacked again, no damage or injuries.

March

3: (09:20) Broome

Broome, Western Australia

Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...

, WA. Attack on Broome

Attack on Broome

The town of Broome, Western Australia was attacked by Japanese fighter planes on 3 March 1942, during World War II. At least 88 people were killed....

: a strafing raid by nine A6M3 Zeros. At least 88 people were killed and 24 Allied aircraft were destroyed.

3: (~10:30) Carnot Bay, WA. PK-AFV

PK-AFV

On 3 March 1942, PK-AFV a Douglas DC-3 airliner, operated by KNILM was shot down over Australia by Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service fighter aircraft, resulting in the deaths of four passengers and the loss of diamonds worth an estimated A£150,000–300,000...

 (Pelikaan)—a Douglas DC-3

Douglas DC-3

The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...

 airliner owned by KLM—was shot down by Zeros returning from the attack on Broome. It crash-landed 50 mi (80.5 km) north of Broome. Four passengers were killed. Diamond

Diamond

In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...

s worth £

Australian pound

The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...

150,000–300,000 were lost or stolen following the crash.

3: Wyndham

Wyndham, Western Australia

Wyndham is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway, northeast of Perth. It was established in 1885 as a result of a gold rush at Halls Creek, and it is now a port and service centre for the east Kimberley with a...

, WA. Strafing attack by Zeroes. No casualties. Koolama, which is in port by this time (see above), sinks as an indirect result of the attack.

3: Wyndham Airfield, WA


4: Wreckage and passengers from PK-AFV attacked again by a Kawanishi H6K

Kawanishi H6K

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Doubilet, David. "The Flying Boat". Sport Diver Magazine. Volume 15, Number 8, September 2007.* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995.* Green, William. Warplanes of the Second...

5 flying boat, no damage or casualties.

4: (14:00) Darwin RAAF Airfield

RAAF Base Darwin

RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...

, NT


14: Horn Island, Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

 (Qld)


16: (13:30) Darwin RAAF Airfield and Bagot, NT


17: Darwin, NT


18: Horn Island, Qld


19: (11:40) Darwin (Myilly Point and Larrakeyah), NT


20: Broome Airfield, WA. Attack by Mitsubishi G4M

Mitsubishi G4M

The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...

2 "Betty" medium bombers. One civilian killed. Minor damage to airfield.

20: Derby

Derby, Western Australia

Derby is a town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Derby had a population of 3,093. Along with Broome and Kununurra, it is one of only three towns in the Kimberley to have a population over 2,000...

, WA


22: (00:51) Darwin, NT

22: Katherine

Katherine, Northern Territory

Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...

, NT (Furthest air raid into the Australian interior - over 200 km from the coast).


23: Darwin, NT

23: Wyndham, WA (two raids)


28: (12:30) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


30: (05:40?) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

30: Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


31: (13:20) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

31: (22:19) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

April

2: (15:30) Darwin (Harvey St, McMinn St, Shell

Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...

 Oil Tanks), NT

2: Sattler Airfield, NT


4: (13:48) Darwin Civil Airfield and Parap Hotel, NT


5: (12:29) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


25: (14:00) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


27: (12:07) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


30: Horn Island, QLD

June

13: (11:52) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

14: (13:14) Darwin (town area), NT

15: (12:20) Darwin (Larrakeyah to Stokes Hill), NT

16: (12:01) Darwin (town area), NT

26: (20:50) Darwin, NT

July

7: Horn Island, Qld

25: (20:50) Darwin (town area), NT


26: Townsville

Townsville, Queensland

Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...

, Qld

26: (21:39–22:54) Darwin (Vesteys

Vestey Group

The Vestey Group is a privately owned UK group of companies, comprising an international food product business and significant cattle ranching and sugar cane farming interests in Brazil and Venezuela.-Business origins:William...

 Meatworks), NT


27: (22:27) Knuckey's Lagoon, Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


28: (00:45) Darwin RAAF airfield, NT

28: Townsville, Qld


29: (00:59) Darwin (town area) and Knuckey's Lagoon, NT.

29: Townsville, Qld


30: (03:58) Darwin (town area) and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

30: Horn Island, Qld

30: Port Hedland

Port Hedland, Western Australia

Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....

, WA.


31: Mossman

Mossman, Queensland

For the collection of Horsedrawn Carriages see Mossman CollectionMossman is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, on the Mossman River...

, Qld

31: (13:33) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

August

1: Horn Island, Qld

21: Wyndham, WA

23: (12:12) Hughes Airfield, NT


24: (21:24) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

24: (22:14) Noonamah

Noonamah, Northern Territory

Noonamah is an outer rural suburban area of Darwin. it is 45km SE of the Darwin CBD. Its Local Government Area is the Litchfield Municipality. The suburb is mostly a rural area, but has been experiencing strong growth in population and development....

, NT


25: (00:05) Darwin and Parap, NT

27: (03:45–05:37) Darwin (Botanical Gardens) and Cox Peninsula, NT

28: (03:35) Darwin (Railway Yards and Port Patterson), NT

30: (02:39) Darwin (town area), NT

31: (05:14) Darwin (town area) and Cox Peninsula), NT

September

25: (03:41) Darwin (town area) and Knuckey's Lagoon, NT

25: (05:48) Darwin (town area and Daly Street Bridge), NT


26: (05:22) Livingstone Airfield, NT


27: (04:56) Bynoe Harbour, NT

27: (05:44) Darwin (town area) (Frances Bay)

October

10: Horn Island, Qld


24: (04:42) Batchelor Airfield

Batchelor Airfield

Batchelor Airfield, is an airport located south of Batchelor, Northern Territory, Australia. Currently, it has no commercial air service and is utilised by the Northern Australian Gliding Club.-History:...

24: (04:52) Pell Airfield

Pell Airfield

Pell Airfield was an airfield southeast of Batchelor Airfield, built near the Stuart Highway in Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.The airfield was constructed in 1942 as an aircraft salvage, repair and servicing facility...

24: (04:57) Cox Peninsula

24: (05:12) Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


25: (05:30) Darwin (town area) and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


26: (04:54) Darwin (town area) and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


27: (02:20) Darwin (town area) and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

November

23: (03:00–04:39) Darwin (town area) and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT

23: Coomalie Creek Airfield

Coomalie Creek Airfield

Coomalie Creek Airfield was a Royal Australian Air Force airfield built in 1942 near Coomalie Creek, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.-History:...

, NT


26: (03:20) Darwin (town area), Strauss Airfield and Hughes Airfield, NT


27: (03:56–04:46) Coomalie Creek, Hughes Airfield and Strauss Airfield, NT

1943

January

20: (22:44–00:15) Searchlight station, AWC Camp, Ironstone, NT

21: (21:54) Darwin (Frances Bay), NT

22: (13:30) sunk, near Wessel Islands, NT.

March

2: (14:34) Coomalie Creek Airfield, NT

15: (11:20) Darwin (oil tanks), NT

May

2: (10:15) Darwin RAAF Airfield and Darwin Floating Dock, NT

Raid on Darwin (2 May 1943)

The Japanese raid on Darwin of 2 May 1943 was a significant battle in the North Western Area Campaign of World War II. During the raid a force of over 20 Japanese bombers and fighters attacked the Australian town of Darwin, Northern Territory, inflicting little damage. The Royal Australian Air...

9: Millingimbi, NT


10: Millingimbi, NT. The cutter  was sunk.


20: Exmouth Gulf

Exmouth Gulf

Exmouth Gulf is a gulf in the north west of Western Australia. It lies between North West Cape and the main coastline of Western Australia. It is considered to be part of the region of the North West Shelf and in the Canning Basin area.-Environment:...

, WA


21: Exmouth Gulf, WA


28: Millingimbi, NT

June

18: Horn Island, Qld


20: (10:43) Winnellie and Darwin RAAF Airfield, NT


28: (11:07) Vesteys, NT


30: (12:30) Fenton Airfield

Fenton Airfield

Fenton Airfield is a World War II military airfield located at Tipperary Station, Hayes Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.Abandoned since 1945, the site is an outstanding example of a World War II heavy bomber airfield construction and layout, and is one of three surviving examples of heavy...

, NT

August

13: (21:45) Fenton Airfield, NT

13: (23:12) Fenton Airfield and Coomalie Creek Airfield, NT

13: (23:42) Coomalie Creek Airfield, NT


14: Long Airfield, NT


17: Port Hedland, WA


21: (00:37) Fenton Airfield and Coomalie Creek Airfield, NT

21: (03:30) Pell Airfield, NT

September

15: (00:25) Fenton Airfield and Long Airfield, NT

15: Onslow

Onslow, Western Australia

Onslow is a coastal town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, north of Perth. It currently has a population of around 573 people and is in the Shire of Ashburton Local Government Area....

, WA. (The southernmost air raid in Australia.)


16: Exmouth Gulf, WA


18: (03:50) Fenton Airfield and Long Airfield, NT


27: Drysdale River Mission (Kalumburu) airfield, WA. One fatality, Father Thomas Gil, the superior of the mission.

November

10: Coomalie Creek Airfield, NT


12: (03:53–05:30) Parap, Adelaide River and Batchelor Airfield, NT