The Bombing of Darwin was an air raid that was carried out by Imperial Japan on the Australian port of Darwin on February 19, 1942. Darwin had held strategic importance to Japanese operations in the region because it was a leading shipping port and aircraft base that kept Allied troops in supply throughout the whole region. Therefore, it was imperative that the Japanese disable Darwin's ability to attack at their forces long enough so that Australia would be cut off from supply. After the raid, casualties resulted in several hundred Australians killed to seven Japanese planes downed.