Threat to Australia Pacific War

dutch , australian pows @ tarsau, in thailand in 1943. 22,000 australians captured japanese; 8,000 died prisoners of war.

australia had been shocked speedy collapse of british malaya , fall of singapore in around 15,000 australian soldiers became prisoners of war. curtin predicted battle australia follow. japanese established major base in australian territory of new guinea in 1942. on 19 february, darwin suffered devastating air raid, first time australian mainland had been attacked. on following 19 months, australia attacked air 100 times.

us general douglas macarthur, commander of allied forces in south-west pacific area, australian prime minister john curtin

two battle-hardened australian divisions steaming mid-east singapore. churchill wanted them diverted burma, curtin insisted on return australia. in 1942 elements of imperial japanese navy proposed invasion of australia. imperial japanese army opposed plan , rejected in favour of policy of isolating australia united states via blockade advancing through south pacific. japanese decided upon seaborne invasion of port moresby, capital of australian territory of papua put northern australia within range of japanese bomber aircraft.

president franklin roosevelt ordered general douglas macarthur in philippines formulate pacific defence plan australia in march 1942. curtin agreed place australian forces under command of macarthur became supreme commander, south west pacific. macarthur moved headquarters melbourne in march 1942 , american troops began massing in australia. enemy naval activity reached sydney in late may 1942, when japanese midget submarines launched daring raid on sydney harbour. on 8 june 1942, 2 japanese submarines briefly shelled sydney s eastern suburbs , city of newcastle.