Darwin commemorates WWII bombing

Discussion in 'World War 2' started by spidge, Oct 21, 2007.

  1. spidge

    spidge Active Member

    This is a little old how ever it has some figures on the Darwin casualties.

    Darwin commemorates WWII bombing

    Posted Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:00am AEDT
    Updated Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:43am AEDT
    Hundreds of people are expected to gather at the Darwin Cenotaph this morning to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin.
    From February 19, 1942 to November 1943 the sound of air-raid sirens regularly echoed around the city of Darwin.
    Sixty-five years on a large crowd is expected to attend a ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph to mark the occasion Japanese forces attacked.
    It was also the first time Australia had been attacked on home soil by an enemy.
    Bombs fell from the Darwin skies for about 40 minutes and a second attack was launched half an hour later.
    In total 243 people were killed during the raids.
    Experts estimate about 400 others were injured.
    A siren will be sounded at two minutes to 10:00am ACST at the Cenotaph - the exact time the first bomb struck.
    The curator of the Australian War Memorial Chris Goddard says for the survivors the constant sound of air raids can still be heard.
    "They lived on adrenaline and wits and in a lot of cases they still do. It's going to be a very emotional day," he said.
     

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