Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 42 minutes ago
Dark Histories is primarily an audio podcast, available on all your podcast apps, wherever you listen: pod.link/1279731673
By the time Japanese launched their air attack force on the US Naval base of Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, raining down a hail of metal from the Pacific sky, the US had already been quietly preparing an Oceania invasion force, flooding troops into hastily prepared Army bases in Eastern Australia. With over a million American troops passing through the country, statistics might suggest that some would have been less desirable guests than others. The frightening reality that at least one would turn out to be a serial killer was a different matter entirely, a reality that certainly seemed to catch both the Americans and the Australians equally by surprise.
SOURCES
Shaw, Ian (2018) Murder at Dusk: How US soldier and smiling psychopath Eddie Leonski terrorised wartime Melbourne. Hachette Australia, Sydney, Australia.
The Argus (1942) Murdered Woman in Doorway. The Argus, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.
The Sun News Pictorial (1942) Albert Park Doorway Discovery. The Sun News Pictorial, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.
Brisbane Telegraph (1950) The Brownout Killer. Brisbane Telegraph, Fri 16 Jun, p.5. Brisbane, Australia.
The Kalgoorlie Miner (1942) Melbourne Murder. The Kalgoorlie Miner, Mon 11 May, p.3. Kalgoorlie, Australia.
The Sun (1942) Melbourne Police Hunt Brownout Strangler. The Sun, Wed 20 May, p.3. Sydney, Australia.
Brisbane Telegraph (1942) Leonski Hanged. Brisbane Telegraph, Mon 9 Nov, p.6. Brisbane, Australia.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: instagram.com/dark_histories
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Dark Histories is primarily an audio podcast, available on all your podcast apps, wherever you listen: pod.link/1279731673
By the time Japanese launched their air attack force on the US Naval base of Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, raining down a hail of metal from the Pacific sky, the US had already been quietly preparing an Oceania invasion force, flooding troops into hastily prepared Army bases in Eastern Australia. With over a million American troops passing through the country, statistics might suggest that some would have been less desirable guests than others. The frightening reality that at least one would turn out to be a serial killer was a different matter entirely, a reality that certainly seemed to catch both the Americans and the Australians equally by surprise.
SOURCES
Shaw, Ian (2018) Murder at Dusk: How US soldier and smiling psychopath Eddie Leonski terrorised wartime Melbourne. Hachette Australia, Sydney, Australia.
The Argus (1942) Murdered Woman in Doorway. The Argus, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.
The Sun News Pictorial (1942) Albert Park Doorway Discovery. The Sun News Pictorial, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.
Brisbane Telegraph (1950) The Brownout Killer. Brisbane Telegraph, Fri 16 Jun, p.5. Brisbane, Australia.
The Kalgoorlie Miner (1942) Melbourne Murder. The Kalgoorlie Miner, Mon 11 May, p.3. Kalgoorlie, Australia.
The Sun (1942) Melbourne Police Hunt Brownout Strangler. The Sun, Wed 20 May, p.3. Sydney, Australia.
Brisbane Telegraph (1942) Leonski Hanged. Brisbane Telegraph, Mon 9 Nov, p.6. Brisbane, Australia.
-------
For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: instagram.com/dark_histories
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
