| Accession Number | P05303.007 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: Northern Territory, Darwin |
| Date made | 19 February 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Looking from the Bathurst Class Corvette, HMAS Warrnambool (J202), towards the United States ...
Description
Looking from the Bathurst Class Corvette, HMAS Warrnambool (J202), towards the United States Transport ship SS Mauna Loa as she lists to starboard before sinking in Darwin Harbour, after being attacked by carrier based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy. One of a series of photographs relating to the service of 5345 Norman Gaff. Born on 19 November 1899 in Queenscliff, Victoria, Norman Gaff enlisted on 11 August 1915 and served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the First and Second World Wars. Seven days before the first Japanese air raid on Darwin, Gaff was posted to HMAS Melville, the (former) RAN shore base located there. He survived this event and subsequent raids on Darwin and was discharged on 2 January 1946.