Darwin in WW2 History | World War II Database

24 May 1930

Australia

Amy Johnson landed her de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth aircraft in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, becoming the first person to complete this route. ww2dbase [Amy Johnson | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

7 Nov 1938

Australia

Two of the three Wellesley aircraft that had taken off from Ismailia, Egypt two days prior reached Darwin, Australia, breaking the world's absolute distance record. ww2dbase [Wellesley | Darwin, Northern Territory | AC]

28 Dec 1941

Australia

George Brett arrived in Darwin, Australia. ww2dbase [George Brett | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

14 Jan 1942

Australia

USS Skipjack arrived at Darwin, Australia, ending her first war patrol. ww2dbase [Skipjack | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

15 Feb 1942

Australia

An Allied troop convoy consisted of four transports (with Australian and American troops aboard) departed from Darwin, Australia for Timor, escorted by cruiser USS Houston, destroyer USS Peary, sloop HMAS Swan, and sloop HMAS Warrego. ww2dbase [Dutch East Indies Campaign, Java | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

19 Feb 1942

Australia

Japanese carriers launched 152 bombers and 36 fighters at 0845 hours. The attack force reached Darwin, Australia at 0958 hours and attacked the port city for the subsequent 42 minutes, sinking US destroyer USS Peary (93 killed, 49 survived), US transport USAT Meigs, merchant ship Zealandia, US merchant ship Mauna Loa, British freighter Neptuna, British tanker British Motorist, and coal storage hulk Kelat. 7 Japanese aircraft were lost in this first raid, while 7 American P-40 fighters were destroyed (4 in combat, 3 on the ground). Later in the day, 54 land-based bombers based in Kendari, Celebes, Dutch East Indies arrived for a second raid, destroying 6 Australian Hudson light bombers, 1 US B-24 Liberator bomber, and 2 US P-40 fighters. ww2dbase [Attack on Darwin | Darwin, Northern Territory | TH, CPC]

11 Mar 1942

Australia

George Brett dispatched 4 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, with skeleton crew, from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, via Daly Waters, Northern Territory; these aircraft were meant to be used to evacuate Douglas MacArthur and his family and staff from the Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [George Brett | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

25 Apr 1942

Australia

27 Japanese bombers, escorted by 15 fighters, attacked the airfield near Darwin, Australia; fighters of the US 49th Pursuit Group, flying P-40 Warhawk fighters, shot down 10 bombers and 2 fighters without any losses. ww2dbase [Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

27 Apr 1942

Australia

Japanese aircraft attacked the airfield near Darwin, Australia; 3 Japanese bombers and 4 escorting fighters were shot down by the US fighters assigned to the airfield, while the Americans lost 4 P-40 fighters. ww2dbase [Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

13 Jun 1942

Australia

27 aircraft of Japanese 23rd Air Flotilla from Kendari, Celebes, Dutch East Indies attacked Darwin, Australia. ww2dbase [Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

23 Aug 1942

Australia

Japanese and American aircraft engaged in combat over Darwin, Australia between 1200 and 1245 hours; 7 Japanese bombers, 8 Japanese Zero fighters were shot down by P-40 Warhawk fighters of US 49th Fighter Group. This was to be the last Japanese attempt to raid Darwin. ww2dbase [Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

22 Sep 1942

Australia

Australian destroyer HMAS Voyager departed Darwin, Australia with 400 men of Australian 2/4th Independent Company, sailing for the island of Timor to evacuate troops of Australian 2/2nd Independent Company and Portuguese civilians. ww2dbase [Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

18 Sep 1943

Australia

USS Cisco arrived at Darwin, Australia. ww2dbase [Cisco | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

20 Sep 1943

Australia

USS Cisco departed Darwin, Australia for her first and only war patrol. ww2dbase [Cisco | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

10 Dec 1943

Australia

Submarine USS Tinosa stopped at Darwin, Australia where she took on 39,000 gallons of fuel oil before pressing on toward Fremantle. ww2dbase [Tinosa | Darwin | DS]

24 Jan 1944

Australia

Submarine USS Bowfin returned to Australia early for replacement torpedoes after several malfunctions. She put into Darwin where Rear Admiral Ralph Christie, submarine commander for the aera, came aboard to sail with Bowfin and watch the torpedo performance first hand. ww2dbase [Bowfin | Darwin | DS]

21 Jun 1944

Australia

USS Harder arrived at Darwin, Australia and took on additional torpedoes. ww2dbase [Harder | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

3 Jul 1944

Australia

USS Harder arrived at Darwin, Australia, ending her fifth war patrol. ww2dbase [Harder | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

19 Sep 1944

Australia

USS Cero departed Darwin, Australia for her sixth war patrol. ww2dbase [Cero | Darwin, Northern Territory | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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