On 19 February 1942 the same Japanese forces that attacked Pearl Harbor struck Darwin, dropping more bombs, killing more civilians and sinking more ships. On the 70th anniversary of the Darwin bombing the History Channel presents an exclusive and world premiere on Australia's first "physical contact with the war". In examining the events of 19 February 1942 we ask why the government kept the attack a dark secret and why the Australian military was totally unprepared for this major attack.