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Darwin Defenders Memorial Print Page 
The memorial commemorates the 66th anniversary of the first air attack by the Japanese on Australia during World War Two.
On February 19, 1942 at 11.57am the second raid on Darwin by 54 Japanese heavy bombers began. In two raids, up to 1500 people died, 23 Australian aircraft were destroyed.
The United States Air Force lost 10 P40 Kittyhawks, one B24 bomber, three Beechcraft and three Catalina amphibians. The Royal Australian Air Force lost six Hudsons, eight ships were sunk and 15 were damaged with the Japanese losing 12 aircraft in the attack.
Location
| Address: | Memorial Drive, Sawyer Park Cenotaph, Horsham, 3400 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.722716 Long: 142.202313 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
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| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 19-February-1942 |
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| Actual Event End Date: | 19-February-1942 |
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| Link: | http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/… |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Tuesday 19th February, 2008 |
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| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: |
Darwin Defenders Memorial
This memorial was erected to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the first Air Attack on Australia (Darwin)
19th February 2008
Regional personnel service units in Darwin included :
19th (Aust) Machine Gun Battalion
236 Light Aid Detachment
112 (LAA) Light Anti Aircraft Regiment
8th (Aust) Infantry Battalion
When war came to Australia
