Australia
Australia
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2 May 1943: The Japanese sent a force of 25 bombers escorted by 27 Zero fighters to bomb Darwin, Australia.
1 RAAF Fighter Wing sent up 33 Spitfires to attack the Japanese on their return flight. The Aussie pilots and antiaircraft gunners claimed 6-10 planes shot down and another 8 damaged. The Japanese destroyed or damaged 14 Spitfires. One Aussie soldier was killed on the ground and two pilots died. The bombers caused light damage to buildings in the Darwin area.
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) A pair of 1 RAAF Wing Spitfire Vcs fly over Darwin after the 2 May Japanese air raid. (2) A 1 RAAF Wing Spitfire Vc pilot flames an A6M2 Zero participating in the 2 May raid on Darwin. (3) Wing Cdr. Clive R. Caldwell and five other pilots in Spitfire Vcs tangle with a formation of A6M2 Zeroes following the 2 May Japanese attack on Darwin.
1 RAAF Fighter Wing sent up 33 Spitfires to attack the Japanese on their return flight. The Aussie pilots and antiaircraft gunners claimed 6-10 planes shot down and another 8 damaged. The Japanese destroyed or damaged 14 Spitfires. One Aussie soldier was killed on the ground and two pilots died. The bombers caused light damage to buildings in the Darwin area.
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) A pair of 1 RAAF Wing Spitfire Vcs fly over Darwin after the 2 May Japanese air raid. (2) A 1 RAAF Wing Spitfire Vc pilot flames an A6M2 Zero participating in the 2 May raid on Darwin. (3) Wing Cdr. Clive R. Caldwell and five other pilots in Spitfire Vcs tangle with a formation of A6M2 Zeroes following the 2 May Japanese attack on Darwin.
WWII World War Two
Japan
Australia
Edited 26 d ago
Posted 26 d ago
Responses: 5
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
They actually had a guy who was better than Rickenbacker in Clive Caldwell. He shot down 33 German and Japanese aircraft . . .
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Thanks, excellent post. Sounds like a rough day. The Japanese still had many good pilots left in 43
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I almost forgot that Australia was attacked by the Japenese during WW2. Australia had its own Pearl Harbour when the Japenses bombed Darwin and killed over 230 people, destroyed ships, buildings and infrastructure. Similar to Pearl Harbor, on 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese aircraft appeared over Darwin. The aircraft had taken off from four aircraft carriers in the Timor Sea. They sank six large vessels and damaged 14 ships. The MV Neptuna exploded at the wharf causing massive damage. The greatest loss of life occurred when the destroyer USS Peary sank killing 88 people. Almost unbelieavable, the attack was led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, who had also led the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbour.
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1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
Just in case you did not notice the previous post comment on the USS Peary... It was an American Destroyer... The USS Peary was a US destroyer sunk by enemy air attack in Darwin Harbour on the 19 February 1942. 92 servicemen died aboard the ship, the greatest loss of life on any of the ships sunk in the attack. Today visiting US naval ships still pay tribute to its fallen. Survivors have their ashes scattered over the wreck, finally returning to their ship and fallen comrades.
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