68th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin

[BSHEVLIN]

68th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin
Date: 19 February 2010

Venue: The Cenotaph, Bicentennial Park, The Esplanade

Contact Details: Darwin City Council

Telephone +61 (8) 8930 0684

Fax +61 (8) 8930 0669

Free Entry

The 68th Commemoration Ceremony of The Bombing of Darwin on 19th February, 1942 will take place at the Cenotaph in Bicentennial Park at 9.30am, with the sounding of the WWII air raid siren at 9.58am. This is the same time it sounded when waves of Japanese bombers flew over the city, claiming more than 240 lives and devastating a large part of the city. There were 8 ships sunk and 11 damaged. A section of the wharf was destroyed, killing 22 waterside workers. Over the next 21 months, Darwin, Adelaide River, Katherine and Milingimbi in Arnhem Land were bombed 64 times.

A number of regiments, based in Darwin today, re-enact anti-aircraft ground fire and just before 10am there will be an RAAF low level 'fly by' to signify the historic attack, which is first time that war had come to the Australian mainland. A wreath laying ceremony will take place to honour a nd remember the men and women, military and civilian who came to the defence of Darwin on this most important day in the Northern Territory Calendar.


When: 9.30am

Where: Cenotaph, Bicentennial Park, The Esplanade, Darwin.

Road closures will be minimal - Herbert to Knuckey Streets onto the Esplanade


Their is also a military vehicle display & the East Point Military Museum will be having a open day as well as a historic vehicle display at the old 1940's Qantas Hanger. good week to be in Darwin if interested in Australia's involvement in ww2