New America Base

[SwissTony]

6. The US lost some ships and planes during the bombing of Darwin

Last edited Tue Jan 17, 2012, 06:17 AM - Edit history (1)

From Wiki...

Eight ships were sunk in Darwin Harbour:

USS Peary, a United States Navy destroyer
USAT Meigs, a large US Army troop transport ship
Two Australian passenger ships, being used as merchant troop transports:
MV Neptuna
Zealandia
HMAS Mavie, a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
SS Mauna Loa, a 5,436-ton US merchant freighter[33]
MV British Motorist (1924), a UK-registered merchant refuelling oiler[34]
Kelat, a 1,849-ton coal storage hulk[35]

Among the ships damaged but not destroyed was a hospital ship, AHS Manunda.[36] The USS William B. Preston which had already departed Darwin was attacked at sea and docked at Derby, Western Australia

The USAAF lost ten P-40s, one LB-30 bomber, and three C-45 transport planes. The US Navy lost three PBY Catalina flying boats and moorers outside the harbour. The RAAF lost six Lockheed Hudsons.

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A couple of years ago, one of the survivors of the Peary returned to Darwin. He was given a very warm welcome.

Edited to remove a typo.