Bombing of Darwin: An Awkward Truth, The (ATOM Study Guide)

Death and destruction, courage and mateship, desertion, chaos and looting – this is the untold story of what really happened during the bombing of Darwin in February 1942 ... and how the nation would know nothing about it.

Following the fall of Singapore, many feared a Japanese invasion was imminent, but with the bulk of its troops overseas, Australia was unprepared and ill equipped for war on its own doorstep. On 19 February the nation's darkest fears would be realised.

At 9.58am Japanese bombers and fighter planes appeared in the sky over Darwin and began a day of carnage. By its end, the surprise attack would leave over 250 people dead, a town in burning ruins, eight ships sunk and an air-force base carpet-bombed into oblivion.

To this day, it is one of Australia's greatest disasters.

This was an attack led by the same Japanese force that attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941, yet more civilians were killed, more bombs were dropped and more ships were sunk in Darwin. However, the magnitude of this attack and the death and devastation that followed has for decades remained hidden. Why?

Drawing on long-hidden documents, using dramatisations of the Lowe Royal Commission and first person accounts, The Bombing of Darwin: An Awkward Truth reveals the true story surrounding the attack.

Incorporating rarely seen archival footage, re-enactments, eyewitness accounts from survivors and expert commentary, The Bombing of Darwin: An Awkward Truth reveals the little-known facts about the bombing raids on 19 February 1942 and the shocking events that occurred in their aftermath.

Curriculum Relevance:

This study guide is mainly aimed at middle and upper secondary school levels, with relevance to:

• English
• Media and Film Studies
• History
• SOSE/HSIE
• International Politics