TOURIST INFORMATION DISTRIBUTORS AUSTRALIA PO Box 38, Balhannah, South Australia 5242 Phone 08 8388 4844 Mobile 0418 446 444 Fax 08 8180 1710 Email: PROOF SHEET Darwin Aviation Museum 557 Stuart Highway WINNELLIE NT 0821 Airman Delaney and Friend [email protected] HERE IS A REPRESENTATION OF YOUR ADVERT TO APPEAR IN THE AUSTRALIA’S EXPLORERS’ WAY BOOK A convoy of ships, led by USS Peary and USS Houston had set out from Darwin, with Australian and American troops to reinforce Timor. Two American Kittyhawk fighter escorts were dispatched to protect the convoy. Enemy resistance was too strong however, and the convoy was forced back. Lieutenant Buel attacked a Japanese flying boat and was shot down. The flying boat also crashed into the sea. DATE On the morning of the 19th February, as the Japanese assault force became airborne on route for Darwin, ten U.S.AF Kittyhawks took off as fighter escort to a B-17 Liberator bomber bound for Timor. But due to a storm the mission was abandoned and the planes turned back. On route, the Japanese planes shot down a Catalina flying boat. The assault force was spotted by Father McGrath, a Catholic Priest on Bathurst Island. The Japanese attack force passed the Tiwi Islands. Then, instead of heading direct to Darwin, they turned east, circled and approached Darwin from the east, obscured by the sun. Meanwhile the returning Kittyhawks too were approaching Darwin. Major Pell directed Lieutenant Oestreicher, the leader of the number two flight of five Kittyhawks, to maintain a patrol, while Pell and his flight of four Kittyhawks were to land and refuel. Japanese Zero fighters split from their main formation to engage the Kittyhawks on patrol over Shoal Bay. The Kittyhawks sped away as the Zeros, attacked from above with the sun behind them. Lieutenant Oestreicher shouted a warning into his wireless transmitter. Pell’s flight now taxiing on the ground near the Stuart Highway end of runway 3-6 heard the warning, prompting a flurry of frantic activity. As the Kittyhawks were becoming airborn, the strafing Japanese aircraft were upon them. Major Pell, Jack Peres, Lieutenant Hughes and Lieutenant Perry were killed. Lieutenant Glover, fired on when barely off the ground crashed into trees and was rescued. CODE 356 URGENT APPROVAL REQUIRED Please check: • Names & Addresses • Telephone Numbers • Spelling. Please be so kind as to send by return mail for any alterations to your proof. We will assume proof is OK if not received by us within 7 days. It is important that this be done so as to avoid the chance of your space appearing incorrectly. PLEASE TICK BOX Changes Required (please inform) Proof O.K. SIGNED From SPITFIRE to B52 BOMBER an exciting experience in Territory Aviation Heriatage DARWIN’S AIR WAR 1942 - 1945 An Illustrated History Commemorating the Darwin Air Raids TRADE, BUSINESS & INNOVATION BUSINESS GROWTH WINNER DEPARTMENT OF “…a severe blow has been struck on Australian soil… Australian forces and civilians conducted themselves with gallantry. Darwin has been bombed but it has not been conquered…” Australia’s wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin. “…They clashed right overhead. Dogfights ranged from about 25,000 ft down to almost ground level with some of the Spits going straight at the bombers. Planes wheeling, milling, machine guns, cannon fire…planes on fire, pilots baling out, men dying – it’s hard to imagine that this happened in Australia. I shall never forget the air battles.” Cliff Taylor, a Gunner with the 19th HAA Battery. Bob Alford The Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory Darwin, Northern Territory, 2011 AVAILABLE HERE Comprehensive book on the Bombing of Darwin with stories from our veterans. PLUS many more aviation books, models and accerories 557 Stuart Highway, Winnellie P 8947 2145 E [email protected] OPEN EVERY DAY 9.00am - 5.00pm • RELAX WITH A COOL DRINK AND A BITE TO EAT • A UNIQUE RANGE OF SOUVENIRS AVAILABLE IN OUR SHOP • AVIATION BOOKS, PRINTS, VIDEOS & MUCH MORE • WATCH VIDEO OF HISTORIC AIR ACTION OVER DARWIN www.darwinsairwar. 557 Stuart Highway, Winnellie P 8947 2145 [email protected] www.darwinavaitionmuseum.com.au 160 Australia’s Explorers’ Way PLEASE TICK APPROPRIATE BOX (ABOVE) AND RETURN If not returned within 7 days we will assume proof is OK to proceed. Darwin’s Air War 1942 - 1945 Bob Alford ON SALE NOW DARWIN’S AIR WAR 1942 - 1945 “…They clashed right overhead. Dogfights ranged from about 25,000 ft down to almost ground level with some of the Spits going straight at the bombers. Planes wheeling, milling, machine guns, cannon fire…planes on fire, pilots baling out, men dying – it’s hard to imagine that this happened in Australia. I shall never forget the air battles.” Cliff Taylor, a Gunner with the 19th HAA Battery. “…a severe blow has been struck on Australian soil… Australian forces and civilians conducted themselves with gallantry. Darwin has been bombed but it has not been conquered…” Australia’s wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin.
