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 IJN March 3, 1942  RAAF 1943 |
Location Roebuck Bay borders Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA) in Australia. Also known as Broome Harbour or Broome Harbor. Roebuck Bay spans from Broome to the north and Bush Point and Sandy Point to the south. Named Roebuck Bay for HMS Roebuck captained by English who explored the area 1699. Wartime History During early 1942, used as a civilian and military flying boat anchorage and operating area. During early March 1942, Allied seaplanes evacuating Java landed at Roebuck Bay. On March 3, 1942 at 9:20am was the first Japanese air raid against Broome and Roebuck Bay when nine A6M2 Zeros strafed strafe Broome, Broome Airifeld and Roebuck Bay for fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, C5M2 Babs pilot Akira Hayashi with observer Shinobu Nagasawa flew reconnaissance over the area and took a photograph during the raid. This was Australia's second worst air raid with 70 people killed and a total of 24 aircraft destroyed (including 16 flying boats). Japanese missions against Roebuck Bay March 3, 1942 Dornier Do 24 Serial Number X-1 Sunk March 3, 1942 Dornier Do 24 Serial Number X-20 Sunk March 3, 1942 Dornier Do 24 Serial Number X-23 Sunk March 3, 1942 PBY Catalina Sunk March 3, 1942 Short S.23 "Centaurus" Serial Number A18-10 Sunk March 3, 1942 Short S.23 "Corinna" G-AEUC Sunk March 3, 1942 B-24A Liberator 40-3274 Pilot Kester crashed March 3, 1942 Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 18, 2025 |
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