ABSTRACT
Intelligence reports had told Commander Fuchida that he could expect to find Darwin harbour an attractive target, but he could hardly believe his eyes as he came within sight of it for the first time. There below him, trapped like rabbits in a snare, were no less than forty-five ships. Edward Perry Thomas, who had been a serving member of the Royal Navy, had come to Australia in 1936 to get his wife away from the English climate. He had been put on the Royal Australian Naval (RAN) Reserve and soon after the outbreak of war, he was appointed to a naval command in Darwin. He was expected to take full command of all shipping in the harbour in the event of hostilities. He had been a serving officer since 1904 and before coming to Australia had specialised in mining and anti-submarine warfare; but he had no experience of berthing or of running an operation such as Darwin harbour.
