During World War II the threat of invasion in Australia from the Japanese was very real.

Australia was at risk of becoming a Japanese colony during World War II. Japan’s plan was to dominate the Pacific and ultimately the world. Australia was both a target and a stepping stone. The issues regarding the potential invasion will be addressed attack on Darwin. Other topics to be examined will be: the damage to Darwin and the response to the attack, the weapons and strategies both sides employed, the risk of failure for both countries and reflects on the Japanese loss.

The Japanese instigated the Pacific theatre of war through the attack on the US base at Pearl Harbour. They were aiming to dominate East Asia and maintain a peaceful reign there. “Japan’s offensive plans thus called simply for the occupation of an area they designated the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere…” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1959, Vol. 23, p.792W). In successive raids in the Pacific, they quickly dominated the Philippines, Indonesia, Maylasia, Vietnam, Burma, the British naval base at Singapore, and a section of New Guinea. (See Fig 1.) They accomplished this in under a year. After Pearl Harbour, Australian troops joined with the United States. As Australia’s PM John Curtin said: “Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom.” (Ralph, B, 2000, p.37), and the battles of the Coral Sea commenced. Then, on January 4th, 1942, Rabaul, and island off the east coast of New Guinea was attacked and dominated by the Japanese. This marked the advance to Australia. The Japanese were looking to dominate the Pacific and they invaded Timor to establish their southern flank. From there, it was one step to Australian shores.

On February 19th, 1942, up to 188 Japanese aircraft flew over Bathurst Island, jamming communications. Australia was unaware and unprepared for this attack. When the Japanese dropped 683 bombs the Australians realised the seriousness of the situation. During the first raid, the damages were immense. Eight merchant ships, the US ‘Peary’ and the ‘Neptuna’ were sunk, the airstrip was destroyed along with 23 aircraft, leaving one Kittyhawk aircraft intact. The total deaths were 250, with 300-400 injured. The Japanese successfully shook Darwin’s resolve that Australia was safe as only five enemy planes were shot down.

The Australians were unprepared for the devastation caused at Darwin. After Pearl Harbour, PM Curtain turned to the US for support. US General Macarthur was placed in charge of the Allied troops. These were the American, New Zealand and Australian troops. He strengthened the defence in Malaya and the East Indies, as these were important economically to the Great East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. As the Japanese advanced closer to Australia, the majority of civilians were evacuated from Darwin. After the attack, Curtain placed an immediate on the reporting of the raid, deciding the country should not be subjected to ...