Episode Information

Death and destruction, courage and friendship, desertion, chaos and looting - this is the untold story of what really happened during the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, and how those responsible would stop anyone finding out. After the fall of Singapore, Australia feared a Japanese invasion was imminent, but with the bulk of its troops overseas, the country was unprepared and ill-equipped for war at home. In 1942, the Japanese force that attacked Pearl Harbour struck Darwin, Australia. They dropped more bombs and killed more civilians than in that previous attack, yet the disaster remains virtually unknown. This spectacular failure by Australia’s military has been concealed from the public for decades by those responsible. Incorporating unseen archive footage, re-enactments and eyewitness accounts, this film uncovers the truth behind the bombing, and the cover-up.