- Peter Grose.
Despite being struck by five bombs and ablaze from bow to stern, USS Peary continued firing in reply until the raid was over before finally succumbing to the fires.
USS Peary Memorial, Darwin.
Lest We Forget
Posted on 02/18/2012 3:31:52 PM PST by naturalman1975
Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says a commemorative plaque to be placed in Darwin Harbour acknowledges the ongoing military ties between Australia and the United States.
The plaque will be lowered to the seabed near the wreck of the USS Peary.
It is in memory of more than 90 US servicemen killed on the ship during the first wave of Japanese bombing of Darwin on February 19, 1942.
Mr Henderson says, 70 years on, links between the Top End and the US remain strong.
"The plaque is a commemoration and a testament to the enduring friendship between the people of Darwin and the people of the United States," he said.
He says it also acknowledges the sacrifice made by US naval personnel in the defence of Darwin.
The USS Peary took five direct hits during the bombing raid and sank in about 30 metres of water.
The wreck remains a proclaimed site in Darwin Harbour.
Territory Administrator Sally Thomas says the plaque will be her gift to US President Barack Obama, who visited Darwin in November.
It is sometimes little known outside Australia (and even within Australia for that matter), how many direct attacks were made on Australia during the Second World War. There were at least 97 Japanese air raids on northern Australia between the 19th February 1942 and 12th November 1943. Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales were shelled by Japanese submarines, and on the 31st May 1942, Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour, attacked the USS Chicago at anchor, and sank an Australian depot ship, HMAS Kuttabull killing 21 sailors of the Royal Australian Navy.
In addition to all of this, the Australian Territories of New Guinea and Papua were invaded by the Japanese and fierce battles for control of the islands of New Guinea occurred from January 1942 until the end of the war.
Throughout all of this, Americans were fighting alongside Australians, and those of us who know our history will never forget that.
Despite being struck by five bombs and ablaze from bow to stern, USS Peary continued firing in reply until the raid was over before finally succumbing to the fires.
USS Peary Memorial, Darwin.
Lest We Forget
The Aussies I knew while I was in Corps were top-notch. I’m proud to call Australia a friend and an ally. Vegamite...well, I guess it’s gotta grow on you.
:-)
Australians and Americans....brothers and sisters in arms.
My uncle was in the first group of US Army Air Corp troops in Darwin in 42...he recall these bombing very well..
A green 18 year old right from the sticks...
I second sergeantdave’s post...
It seems like if every other country in the world wants to stick a knife in our back, Australia always seems to be there with us.
I’d trust ou guis with MY back anytime.
Thank you.
Six years in an Australian boarding school means I view Vegemite as something similar to a chemical weapon.
Beat me to it, I was just going to post that picture with a caption like that.
In America we have an antidote for that:
I have a picture somewhere of me at that gun. I went to Darwin four times between ‘98 and ‘01, including once on this anniversary. I know I was surprised the first time I saw how many times Darwin had been bombed. All I knew about before I went there was the carrier raid.
Lots of great history, from the old China Station to the Java campaigns. Many were converted to seaplane tenders and served until wars end.
If you can ever track it down, there's a 1931 movie called "Suicide Fleet" which featured the USS Preble and the USS Noa, plus the sub cruiser Argonaut. Great Nautical eye candy as part of the scenes were on an old sailing ship and they had the actors/stuntmen actually swimming in the Atlantic.
Check the specifics HERE.
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