Updated February 19, 2018 11:37:27

Alf Jones can still hear the sound of planes flying overhead.

Seventy-nine Japanese dive bombers, line after line from the east.

The crackle of machine-gun fire reverberating through the town like a bass drum.

Seventy-six years have passed since the Bombing of Darwin, but for the former digger, the memories are etched into his mind as clear as day.

"I was only a 18-year-old. Most of us were that age," he recalls.

"We were caught up with every raid that was on the Darwin area."

Photo: Mr Jones cannot forget the sound of planes overhead. (ABC News: Bridget Judd)

At least 243 people were killed in a matter of hours after enemy planes launched air raids on Australian soil on February 19, 1942.

For the first time in more than 70 years, Mr Jones, now 94 years old, returned to Darwin to commemorate the tragedy.

It is an emotional experience, and one that still brings him to tears.

"When we got home, I don't think people realised what went on," he said.

"The destruction … It was probably kept from them."

Photo: 76 years have passed, but the Bombing of Darwin still brings Mr Jones to tears. (ABC News: Bridget Judd)

Stationed at Fannie Bay, the former digger could only look on as the swaths of planes flying overhead began to peel across the town.

"They surprised us by coming earlier than expected," he said.

"After they had unloaded their bombs, they began strafing."

Like many soldiers, Mr Jones had lied about his age to serve his country.

He was just a boy, he recounts through tears.

Photo: Returning to Darwin is an emotional experience for the former soldier. (ABC News: Bridget Judd)

Fending off foreign attack proved more difficult than anticipated.

While the soldiers initially had daylight on their side, many successive raids were launched at nightfall.

"Half the time we could only fire when the search lights picked up the planes," Mr Jones said.

"We had to rely on sightings from Melville Island.

"We had a big high elevation lookout tower, and we used to pick up the planes as they came in."

Photo: Alf Jones (far left) pictured with his brothers who also served in World War Two. (ABC News: Bridget Judd)

Following the attacks, Mr Jones returned home to Western Australia.

It was in Darwin that many of the memories would remain until his return almost eight decades later.

Now, as Australia marks the 76th anniversary since the Bombing of Darwin, the former digger will be using it as a time of reflection.

"[Recognising it] is very important," he said.

"I think people know more what happened now than what they did then."

Photo: Mr Jones wants Australians to remember the Bombing of Darwin. (ABC News: Bridget Judd)

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-war-2, world-war-1, history, community-and-society, nt, darwin-0800

First posted February 19, 2018 07:37:25