Wreckage Dutch seaplane
   Photo: Wreckage Dutch seaplane

Wreckage Dutch seaplane (Dutch Flying Boat wrecks) - a popular place for tourists who come to Broome. The remains of the seaplane - evidence of the Japanese air raid on the city during the Second World War - is 1 km from the beach Town Beach.

March 3, 1942 10 Japanese planes flew over the Broom, heading to the occupied island of Timor. In the city there was no armed protection but a few shooters local military units, because it was believed that the Japanese just before reaching Bruma with the supply of fuel that were in their planes. However, nine «Zero» and one reconnaissance plane «Bab», equipped with spare tanks with fuel, denied this. At 9:30 am, they raided a flotilla of 16 Dutch seaplanes and seven planes are on the runway, among which was the two bombers.

Aircraft «Zero» cranked operation with ease, using tracer charge to ignite helpless aircraft. Only one aircraft - a small US Navy seaplane - managed to survive in this massacre. The tragedy consisted in the fact that on board the Dutch seaplanes were women and children. The exact number of victims is still unknown, but it is believed that the dead were more than 100 people. Many bodies were never found.

Muddy bank of the Gulf Slayers remains of the airplane Catalina in good condition. During low tide, they become visible to those walking through the shallows of the beach Town Beach.

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Wreckage Dutch seaplane
Broome Historical Society Museum