Japanese missions against Drysdale (Kalumburu) and Drysdale Airfield
September 27, 1943–March 28, 1944

September 27, 1943
(IJN / JAAF) Twenty one Ki-48-II Lilys from the 75th Sentai took off from Koepang Airfield and were escorted by A6M Zeros from 202 Kokutai taking off from Penfui Airfield. Detected by radar, Darwin was notified and Spitfires from 452 Squadron took off to intercept, but failed to reach the area in time. Over the target, the Ki-48 made a 40° dive bombing attack against the Drysdale Airfield and Drysdale Mission, each dropping six 50 kg bombs and afterwards strafed the area. The Australians fired ineffective anti-aircraft fire at the attackers. The runway was hit and an ammunition storage hut was set on fire and destroyed. Five were killed on the Drysdale Mission. All of the Japanese planes returned safely, the last Japanese daylight bombing raid over Australia and last flight of Zeros over Australia. After the raid, eighty-six bomb craters were found in the area. Today, there area still a lot of bomb craters about and bomb fragments from this mission.

March 28, 1944
One Japanese reconnaissance plane was sighted over Drysdale.

References
HQ First Aust Army Weekly Intelligence Summary No. 100 28 Mar 44 to 4 Apr 4, Part I: Operations, page 3
"Although one enemy plane was sighted over Drysdale, on the NW coast of Australia, on 28 Mar."

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