Anti-aircraft defences of Australia during World War II

The following is a list of anti-aircraft defences of Australia during World War II.[Note 1] Prior to the war Australia possessed only very limited air defences.In addition six American anti-aircraft battalions were stationed in Australia, operating in Fremantle, Darwin, Townsville, and Brisbane.[2] A number of anti-aircraft batteries were subsequently involved in dealing with the threat of Japanese air raids against northern Australia during 1942 and 1943, shooting down 29 enemy aircraft, probably destroying another 27 aircraft and damaging 32 between January 1942 and the end of 1943.[3] However, as the war progressed and the threat from Japanese aircraft subsided, the manning of anti-aircraft defences in Australia was reduced to release manpower for other branches of the Army and for industry, and was increasingly taken over by Australian Women's Army Service or Volunteer Defence Corps personnel.
Members of the Volunteer Defence Corps training with a 3.7 Inch anti-aircraft gun emplaced on Kensington Golf Links in Sydney during May 1943
Volunteer Defence Corps3.7 Inch anti-aircraft gun3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns40 mm Bofors gunsFremantleDarwinTownsvilleBrisbaneJapanese air raids against northern AustraliaNew GuineaAustralian Women's Army ServiceSydneyNewcastleKemblaMelbourne66 SL BatteryPort MoresbyMilne BayStructure of the Australian Army during World War IICoastal defences of Australia during World War II