Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Australian caretaker PM Scott Morrison at bombing of Darwin remembrance ceremony on November 16, 2018 (Photo courtesy Australia’s ABC News).
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, on November 16, 2018, to honour those killed during the Japanese bombing raids on Darwin in World War II. Prime Minister Abe and his Australian counterpart, (current until May 2019) Prime Minister Morrison, laid wreaths for those killed.
The largest Japanese air raids on Darwin were on February 19, 1942. The 2 raids that day, consisted of 242 Japanese aircraft launched from land and from 4 aircraft carriers. The February 19 raids killed 243 civilians and military as well as destroying several navy and civilian ships, allied aircraft and much of Darwin. Darwin is a city now, but was a town of less than 10,000 in 1942.
Carrier Force
The aircraft carrier force, that bombed Darwin, consisted of Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū and a powerful escort, including the battleships/cruisers Hiei, Kirishima, Tone and Chikuma. All four carriers had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor at the start of the Pacific War. All 4 aircraft carriers were destroyed 4 months later at the Battle of Midway on June 4 and 5, 1942.
Japanese aircraft later bombed Darwin, Broome and Townsville about 100 times total, up until November 1943.
On November 16, 2018 Abe and Morrison also discussed closer military ties and strategic partnerships.
Pete