Roebuck Bay is home to a remarkable fleet of World War II flying boat wrecks, revealed in full when the tide drops below 0.86m. Nowhere else in the world can you find such a rare and historically important collection of flying boats, preserved for decades by the protective mud.

During exceptionally low tides, the wrecks can be seen by those willing to make the one kilometer walk across the Roebuck Bay mudflats from Town Beach.

These sites are heritage-listed and deeply respected by the community, as they are considered ‘war graves’ serving as a solemn reminder of the more than 100 lives lost when the war reached Broome.

Both World Wars left their mark on Broome and its pearling industry. During World War I, the pearling trade came to a standstill, with hundreds of tonnes of shell abandoned in warehouses and ultimately spoiled. Although the industry resumed after the war, it never quite regained its former strength.

In February 1942, as Japanese attacks loomed over the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), Allied personnel were ordered to evacuate. Over the following weeks, more than 8,000 refugees passed through Broome on their way to Perth and Sydney, travelling on any available aircraft.

On 3 March 1942, Broome itself came under fire. Nine Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters launched an air raid from Koepang, Timor, devastating the town. Fifteen flying boats anchored in Roebuck Bay and six aircraft at the Broome airfield were destroyed. More than 100 lives were lost, though many were saved thanks to courageous rescues carried out by locals and aircrew. The attack left Broome without a single serviceable aircraft.

You can read more about this history at the Broome Historical Museum website.

Nine figures stand overlooking roebuck bay to the wreckage site of the Catalina FV-N. The figures are arranged in three Shotai flying formations, reflecting the flight path taken on March 3, 1942.

The walk is from Town Beach and takes about an hour (1km across mudflats) and about the same to walk back. You need to leave with enough time to return before the tides change (usually leave about an hour before lowest tide). The tide must be below 0.86m for the wrecks to be visible. This walk may be considered strenuous for some, so ensure you are always safe and fit enough to walk the distance in low tide and shallow water.

The wrecks are protected under the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990. Please do not disturb them, do not remove artefacts and do not walk on exposed structures. For the full article and Q&A’s go to VisitBroome

Article by: Broome Visitors Centre and Visit Broome