Darwin bombing

[Mike Kelly]

Going through the N.T. library pics there are some vivid scenes of the 19th Feb, bombing raid on Darwin.

I found my fathers records in the NAA system , looks like he was a stoker on HMAS Platypus from the 28th Feb. 1941 until the 30th Sept. 1942 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...438066&T=P&S=2

Father never said much of his time in Darwin except to mention only on one occassion: during the 19th Feb. raid he said he helped rescue people trapped in the water, he mentioned finding a dead nurse who was covered in blood. The Platypus was targeted by dive bombers but both bombs just missed the ship.

He said on one other occasion he and friends went to inspect a crashed aircraft, walking around the wreckage he found a human finger with a ring still on the finger.

He said an American pilot took him for a flight over Darwin in a light aircraft.

Lots of beer drinking of course. Most of his pics of Darwin have been lost over the years , some pics were of bomb damaged buildings.

Pics

https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/323501

https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/313184

https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/721225

https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/315512

While in Port Moresby he said he tried to drive a Jeep but he said was not familiar with cars or driving , owning a car back then was for relatively rich people.