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 raids 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 at Mildura's Cenotaph, most years. 7th Battalion veterans Lyall Butling (Association Past President) and Laurie Andriske OAM attended the 2018 commemoration.
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.
Above: Laurie Andriske (Left), Lyall Butling (Right) Above: Pilots Peter Guest (Left) and John Waters (Right)