During the Second World War Australia was directly targeted by Japanese Air raids. The first attack, which would also
prove the deadliest, occurred in 1942 when 242 aircraft attacked Darwin and killed at least 235 people.
(Bombing of Darwin)
To mark the 70th anniversary of this event the Royal Australian mint
issued this uncirculated twenty cent piece as part of the
Shoes Under Siege three coin collection. The collection also includes an Air Raid Shelter and
commemorative
on the Bombing on Australia.
The reverse was designed by Aaron Baggio and shoes a sentry looking
through binoculars searching for potential air raids. It features the
legend
BOMBING OF AUSTRALIA 1942 and the denomination 20. The obverse features
the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2012.
The sentry was an essential early warning system against bombing attacks, giving the gunners the chance to engage the
enemy and also send warning messages to any areas in their flightpath. The coastal defences along the Australian shores were
quite elaborate considering that they were not utilised until 1942. They were constructed before 1893 as it was assumed that
if British forces were at war then Australia would become a soft target for their enemies.
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