Darwin Sayonara

Darwin Sayonara is a children's novel by Australian author Tom Lewis. Published in 1991, it covers the day of 19 February, 1942, when the bombing of Darwin, Australia, took place, by Japanese forces.

Plot
The story is written from the point of view of two young male teenagers, and describes how they take part in the events of the day and are affected by it. They are on Darwin's harbour clifftops around 10am when the waves of Japanese aircraft, launched from aircraft carriers far off in the north-west, arrive over Darwin. The harbour is heavily bombed, with many ships struck and sinking, and the town bombed too. The two boys become involved in the rescue of many of the wounded. Later that day, they are also involved in the forced departure from Darwin of some of the civilians.

It is one of the only known works of fiction about these raids, the largest attacks on the Australian mainland in history, in which 251 people died. Although a work of fiction, Darwin Sayonara accurately introduces young people to an important event in Australian history.

Published by Boolarong.

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