It was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign country on Australian soil, and for 101-year-old Brian Winspear, the Bombing of Darwin is seared into his memory.
Mr Winspear is one of the last surviving veterans who was in Darwin when Japan attacked the tropical Top End capital on 19 February 1942.
The former Royal Australian Air Force pilot recalls the shock he felt when he realised what seemed like confetti falling from the sky was in fact hundreds of bombs raining down on him.
"I can still see the pilots' faces and the sun glinting off the bombs coming directly towards me," he says.
"I think of it so often, the whole thing is tattooed onto my brain.
The impact of the first Japanese air raid on ships in Darwin Harbour. Source: Northern Territory Library
"There was a lot of noise, as you can imagine, the zeros [a type of fighter aircraft used by the Japanese] and the dive bombers came in and polished off our aircraft."
I think of it so often, the whole thing is tattooed onto my brain. - Brian Winspear
Darwin, with its port and airfield facilities, was deemed vital in Australia's defences against Japanese forces during World War II.
That day, just before 10am, about 188 Japanese aircraft launched a deadly air raid on Darwin, followed closely by a second attack destroying ships, airfields and reducing what was then a town to rubble.
About 235 people were killed, more than 400 people wounded, 30 aircraft destroyed, nine ships sunk, and many military and civilian facilities destroyed.
The bombing was the first of 64 air raids on Darwin which wouldn’t end until more than a year later in November 1943.
Mr Winspear says while death is a normal part of war, he lost no friends in the surprise attack and felt lucky to come away with his own life.
Brian Winspear is 101 years old. Source: Aneeta Bhole
"They didn't fly straight into Darwin, they came in and circled back, coming in from the south, so nobody was worried about them, because we were sure they were American bombers," he says.
"As soon as the bombs landed, we went out bush about three or four hundred yards away in case they came back again."
First-hand accounts disappearing
Mr Winspear's story is one of many historians are trying to preserve, as first-hand accounts begin to fade 80 years on.
Dr Norman Cramp is the director of the Darwin Military Museum and says historical accounts reveal Darwin was "under defended, undermanned and really exposed" on the day of the attack.
"As the years go by, the social memory starts to fade, those people who were here on that particular day, the majority have probably passed away," he says.
Darwin Military Museum's Bombing of Darwin display. Source: Aneeta Bhole
"I think it's important that, because a lot of people aren't here to tell their story, we have to tell those stories for them."
Dr Cramp says keeping such accounts alive has also given Australians - and visitors from overseas - a better understanding of the Northern Territory's role during World War II.
"Australians come here and know nothing about Darwin being bombed. We have international visitors who know even less about it."
Dr Norman Cramp wants memories to be preserved. Source: Aneeta Bhole
"We need to tell people this happened and to make sure it doesn't happen again."
New storytellers emerging
The Larrakia people are the Traditional Owners of the Darwin region.
Larrakia man Richard Fejo says the tradition of passing down stories was common in his community.
"My mother would speak to my grandparents about their stories and experiences," during the war, he says.
"You could imagine the terror they faced by bringing the wounded off boats; burned and scarred and recovering bodies."
Mr Fejo says his grandfather and grandfather's brother had both been enlisted as service men during the bombing.
Larrakia man Richard Fejo Source: Aneeta Bhole/SBS News
"It was such a horrific event that they couldn't shake it. We tell these stories because we don't ever want to see this type of thing happen in Australia again."
Larrakia land was mourned by the community, according to Mr Fejo. He says they didn't just lose lives but a permanent scar was left behind on Country.
"Our Country carries wounds until today. When I was a kid we used to walk around and find empty bullet shells and shrapnel."
Mr Fejo's grandfather, right, and grandfather’s brother, left, were both enlisted during the bombing. Source: Supplied/Richard Fejo
"Seeing these things on our Country creates intergenerational trauma; that's why we're trying to create a storyline to preserve these histories.
Seeing these things on our Country creates intergenerational trauma. - Richard Fejo
"I believe it's an important part of changing the course of history for Australia, truth-telling so people are aware of what we are aware of."
Mr Fejo says Larrakia land had already been taken but acknowledging the past and the shared history would make way for reconciliation.
Indigenous people living in remote parts of the Northern Territory assisted the war effort in surveillance and rescue. Source: Australian War Memorial
"There were Aboriginal soldiers fighting shoulder to shoulder with non-Aboriginal soldiers; they actually fought as one."
"It's important these stories allow us to act as a community, as one."
