From the Archives, 1942: Japan attacks Wyndham and Broome

First published in The Age on March 4, 1942

WYNDHAM AND BROOME

Attack by Enemy Aircraft

NO CASUALTIES

One of the six large aircraft, which included two Flying Fortresses and a Liberator, destroyed during the Japanese air-raid on Broome on March 3, 1942. Credit:Australian War Memorial

The West Australian coastal towns of Wyndham and Broome in the far north were attacked yesterday by Japanese aircraft.

A communique issued in Melbourne early last evening by the Minister of Air (Mr Drakeford) stated that Broome and Wyndham were attacked almost simultaneously. The attacks were directed at aerodromes and grounded aircraft. No bombs were dropped at Wyndham, where the attack was made by machinegun and cannon fire. At Broome bombs were dropped.

Some damage was caused at both towns. There were no casualties at Wyndham. Details of the attack on Broome are not yet complete, but no casualties have been reported.

The Minister of the Army shortly before he left Melbourne for Canberra last evening, said, “I have received information that Wyndham was attacked by Japanese aircraft today, and another message which indicated that Japanese aircraft also raided Broome and bombed the aerodrome.

“For security reasons I cannot give any further information. These raids showed the growing seriousness of the war as it affects Australia.

The remains of one of the six large aircraft which included two flying Fortresses and two Liberators, destroyed on the aerodrome in the Japanese air raid on Broome, on March 3, 1942. Credit:Australian War Memorial

“Bombing attacks on our own soil bring the war nearer to Australian citizens. Three of our towns in the north-west have now been attacked by the Japanese, and we must be prepared to face further attacks. The attacks should make us all the more determined to put every ounce of energy into the war effort.

“Everyone personally should make his maximum contribution to Australia’s war effort, as final victory depends on the combined effort of all sections of the people.”

STRATEGICAL POINTS

CANBERRA, Tuesday — The deep significance of the Japanese attacks on Northern Australia was emphasised by the Prime Minister tonight. “As time passes the enemy comes ever nearer,” said Mr. Curtin. “Darwin, Wyndham and Broome are three important strategical points in the security of Australia as a whole. I have long been impressed with the menace to the populations in our larger capitals which this part of Australia would constitute if the enemy were able to use it as a base.”

Mr. Curtin said that established in the north the enemy’s hitting power at the larger centres of population and of economic activity became all the more inimical. It was with air power that this was done. He had hoped a long while ago that Australia would have looked on air power as among the more formidable arms of its resistance to attack. Now we had to do in a very short time all the organisation and preparation to meet the enemy on our own territory.

Doing this was no petty local defence. It was of major strategical importance to the total war. The enemy knew that failure to hold Australia meant that the ultimate offensive against him would become more difficult. Hence his haste to get in quickly. Hence the double urge on us to prevent this happening.

The Prime Minister said Australia was vital to the united nations in the war against the Axis. To hold it was imperative, and holding it demanded a degree of concentration of energy and totality such as we had not yet displayed.

“The fighting power and the working power of this nation has to be correlated in a mobilisation so complete that every human entity we have, has his or her allotted task,” concluded Mr. Curtin. “I make no bones about this declaration. The nation is at war, and everything in it therefore has to be devoted to the purposes of war.”

18 PLANES OVER PORT MORESBY

Fifteen Japanese bombers, supported by three fighting planes, made a brief raid yesterday afternoon over Port Moresby, capital of Papua. Bombs were dropped from a great height. No details of the attack were available last night.

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