Mildura commemorates bombing of Darwin

2018 Feb 19 Mildura John Serle cropped

19 February 2018 was the 76th anniversary of the first bombing of Darwin in 1942 and the first time war came to Australian shores.  This raid was followed by another later the same day and then 62 raid across northern Australia over 21 months. The last raid was on 12 November 1943, targetting Darwin, Batchelor and Adelaide River.

The Mildura RSL commemorates this event with a service held every year at Mildura's Cenotaph.  7th Battalion veterans Lyall Butling (Past President) and Laurie Andriske OAM attended.

John Serle gave this address and pilots Peter Guest, flying a Mustang, and John Waters flying a Spitfire provided a spectacular flypast at 9:58, the exact time the first Japanese planes reached Darwin.

 

2018 Feb 19 Mildura Laurie Andriske Lyall Butling                                  2018 Feb 19 Peter Guest John Waters pilots
                        
Above:  Laurie Andriske (Left), Lyall Butling (Right)                                    Above:  Pilots Peter Guest (Left) and John Waters (Right)