Source Analysis: BOMBING OF DARWIN.
The day after the first bombing of Darwin the southern newspapers claimed that 15 people were killed and twenty four hurt. The later Royal Commission came up with an official death toll of 243 killed and 300 wounded. Some of those who were in Darwin on the day claim that the death toll was much higher.
The newspapers also claimed that 93 planes were used in the attack. There were in fact 188 carrier borne aircraft and 54 land based bombers from Ambon. It was the same force, with the same commander that had previously bombed Pearl Harbor.
Read Chief Officer Tom Minto’s account of the raid. The first air raids on Darwin were over by 12.40 p.m. on 19th February 1942. At least 292 people were dead or dying – 22 on the Darwin Wharf, 17 in the town area, 177 on the harbour, seven at the RAAF base, four in the air, six other service personnel, 18 on the Florence D and Don Isidro, and 41 others either on the Manunda or in unclear circumstances. We will never know how many people may have died but were not taken into account.
Eight days later, the Manunda berthed in Fremantle. There Chief Officer Tom Minto heard Prime Minister Curtin’s announcement that Darwin had been bombed and 35 people were injured during the two raids. “Funny thing that.” Tom Minto thought. “We had 200 wounded on board the Manunda.” Curtin also said “the results of the raid were not such as to give any satisfaction to the enemy”. “Well the enemy must have been very hard to please”, Tom Minto mused.
Forrest, Peter and Sheila (2001) Federation Frontline. A people’s history of World War II in the Northern Territory. Centenary of Federation Northern Territory, Darwin, p 60.
Source Analysis Examine the sources of information provided, then answer the following questions.
Knowledge 1. What messages were the Australian public, not in Darwin, being given about the bombing of Darwin? Comprehension 2. Why do you think they were being given this information? Synthesis 3. Imagine you are one of the people who were under fi re. Explain how you feel about the information being given to everyone about your experiences? Evaluation 4. Do you think such a distortion of the truth was justifi ed? Evaluation 5. Do you think propaganda in war is essential? Why?