Remembrance Bombing of Katherine

[morris]

Bombing of Katherine - 79 years on

Katherine citizens and officials gathered on Monday to remember the Bombing of Katherine, 79 years since bombs were...

www.katherinetimes.com.au

On March 22 1942, nine "Betty" bombers from the Japanese Navy dropped between 82-92 high explosive bombs popularly known as "Daisy Cutters" as part of the ongoing Second World War.

The Japanese targeted the Katherine airfield, dropping most of their bombs in and around the site, where the Katherine Museum is located today.
There was one fatality, an Indigenous man called Dodger Kodjalwal, and two other Indigenous people were injured.

Members of RAAF Base Tindal attended the Anniversary of the bombing of Katherine

 

[morris]

"Fighter Guide Map No. 1B, Darwin Area", March 1944. Produced for air defence purposes by the Royal Australian Air Force. Downloaded from Veterans Review Board website http://www.vrb.gov.au/service_eligibility/service.html

 

[morris]

A group of soldiers stationed in Katherine in 1942. Photo: Katherine Museum.


Some bombs landed at Knotts Crossing narrowly missing a PMG line crew and local Henry Scott.

PMG Lineman Jack Corbell stands in a bomb crater. Photo: Katherine Museum.

​

Bomb Crater at the Gallon License Store. The track behind the crater leads off to the hospital which is located
amongst the trees in the background of the photo. Photo:- Mrs. M. Murphy, Katherine

Katherine's main street in 1943. Picture: Katherine Historical Society.

 

[morris]

Betty bombers

A Japanese Mitsubishi G4M1 Betty.
A camera gun photograph taken from a Spitfire flown by Flight Sergeant Batchelor of No. 457 Squadron RAAF

A Mitsubishi G4M2a Model 24 of the 763rd Kōkūtai

A Mitsubishi G4M1; with a non-standard roundel - a white square instead of the white circle surrounding the hinomaru.

G4M2e Model 24 Tei

 

[morris]

On 22 March 1942, nine Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betty" bombers of the Japanese Navy's Tokao Kokutai, 23rd Koku Sentai appeared over Katherine at 12.20pm and circled the area. They then disappeared. A local eyewitness Dorothy Hall said they came back about a quarter of an hour later and dropped their bombs. Local farmer Bert Nixon saw the nine bombers in formation coming in from the north east. Most of the bombs dropped on the Katherine airfield and nearby areas but two bombs landed near Manbullo airfield

Caption on the photo reads "Hopper at Manbullo during the airfield construction by the US 43rd Engineers - Photo T. Skillman

B-24 Liberator of 24 Squadron RAAF being loaded with 300lbs bombs in about September 1944 at Manbullo Airfield. LAC L.J. Evans and LAC C.J. Allen are carrying fins to be attached to the bombs.

 

[morris]

Fragments from a number of Japanese bombs on display at Knotts Crossing. Photo:- Ashley Matic

Unfortunately the aircraft of the 49th Fighter Group were not able to intercept these Japanese bombers. Damage at Katherine was minimal. This was the most southern Japanese bombing raid in the Northern Territory during WW2.