JAPANESE BOMBING RAID
ON PORT HEDLAND, WA
ON 30 JULY 1942

The first Japanese air raid on Port Hedland in Western Australia took place on the morning of 30 July 1942. Nine Japanese Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betty" bombers approached Port Hedland from the east in three waves and dropped an estimated 54 bombs over 15 minutes. Each Japanese bomber carried 6 high explosive 60kg bombs plus additional incendiary and anti-personnel bombs. The population of Port Hedland at the time was 640 people. Two bombs did not explode and were defused by No. 7 Bomb Disposal Unit which departed from Pearce on 1 August 1942 and travelled to Port Hedland via the coast road arriving there on 7 August 1942.

The Operations Record Book entry for Headquarters, R.A.A.F. Pearce, W.A. had the following entries:-

30/7/42

Nine twin-engined T97 H/B aircraft (believed to be serial 5A ) approached the Seven Mile Aerodrome from the North West at 15,000 feet at approximately 2300Z/29/7, breaking formation slightly as they approached. Thirty bombs of various weights were dropped as follows:-

(a) N-S runway, two heavy and one D.C.
(b) E-N runway, two heavy, one D.C. and two unexploded, type unspecified.
(c) 135° runway, one D.C. and one (?) unexploded, type not stated.
(d) Six D.C. and thirteen heavy bombs fell in the vicinity of quarters and runways. One soldier was killed, and slight damage was done to quarters.

The raiders after dropping their bombs, flew off to the North-West, circled the harbour and disappeared.
A Bomb Disposal Squadron consisting of 2 Officers and 12 other ranks proceeded to PORT HEDLAND by road 1/8/42 to dispose of three bombs that were dropped on the runway and failed to explode.

13/8/42

Bomb Disposal Officer and party returned to PEARCE from PORT HEDLAND.
Further to Sheet No. 49/42, additional information has been received from the Bomb Disposal Officer in connection with Bomb Demolition at PORT HEDLAND:-

"Approximately 50 bombs in all were dropped during the raid - high explosive - Anti personnel and incendiaries.

Two H.E. Bombs failed to explode. One on the runway was buried to a depth of seven feet, another fell on softer ground, and was nine feet below the surface. Both were of 63 kgs. filled with Picric-lyddite, type 97 fuse and gaine. All markings were intact, and the only damage was to the tail fins which were rather twisted. Colour was Admiralty Grey with the usual green band around the tail fins. There were small anchor markings on all components of the fuses. There were no unexploded incendiary bomb. Some, which appeared not to have exploded had penetrated below the surface, and there camoufleted.

Photo:- AWM 058189

Bomb Crater near Pippingarra which is about 7 km south east of Port
Hedland Airfield. The caption by AWM suggests it was a raid on 30 September
1943 which believe is a mistake and really should say 30 July 1942.

The members of No. 7 Bomb Disposal Unit RAAF that visited Port Hedland were as follows:-

Pilot Officer Arthur Morris Dunkley 263548
A.C.1. John Bryce Cocks 37648
A.C.1. John Coonan 60330
A.C.1. Norman Lindsay Horn 36060
A.C.1. Henry James Messenger 46003
A.C.1. Allan Field Nixon 50061
A.C.1 Victor Walter Philbey 46353
A.A.1. Albert Edward Sorrel 45686
L.A.C. Francis Ivan Properjohn 16092

Plus Army personnel as follows:-

Lieutenant Holbrook
Sergeant Clarke
plus 3 Other Ranks