The Battle of Manners Creek: When America Invaded Australia (Sort of)

At Camp Manners Creek in Australia, the U.S. Army's 682nd Amphibian Tank Battalion became so homesick that their commanding officer organized an elaborate 'invasion' of their own camp as a morale exercise, complete with amphibious tanks, fake radio broadcasts, and a full assault on their own barracks. The local Australian commander reported that American forces appeared to be attacking Darwin. It took three days and a telephone call to Washington to confirm this 'invasion' was friendly. The unit was later quietly transferred to the Pacific.