The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Liberator Bomber attacks on Balikpapan. On 1 May, 1945 began the invasion by Australian forces of the oil-rich territory of Borneo, which had been in Japanese hands since 1942. The series of operations started with a landing on Tarakan Island to seize and develop the airfield, followed by landings at Brunei Bay and Labuan in British Borneo on 10 June. The 7th Australian Division landed at the important oil port of Balikpapan (Dutch Borneo) on 1 July. The ground operations were supported in the air by aircraft of the 1st Tactical Air Force, including three squadrons of RAAF Liberator heavy bombers, some of which are shown in this canvas engaged in the pre-invasion pounding of Balikpapan.
BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. C. 1945-06. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING HEAVY SMOKE BILLOWING FROM FIRES STARTED BY RAAF LIBERATOR BOMBER AIRCRAFT. THE RAAF PLAYED A BIG PART IN THE PRE-INVASION BATTERING OF THE OI
BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. C. 1945. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF OIL TANKS ABLAZE AFTER BOMB ATTACKS BY RAAF LIBERATOR BOMBER AIRCRAFT IN PREPARATION FOR THE AUSTRALIAN LANDINGS IN 1945-07.
BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. C. 1945. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF OIL TANKS ABLAZE AFTER BOMB ATTACKS BY RAAF LIBERATOR BOMBER AIRCRAFT IN PREPARATION FOR THE AUSTRALIAN LANDINGS IN 1945-07.
Depicts the devastion and condition of a section of an oil refinery at Balikpapan, South East Borneo, showing oil tanks burnt out after the bombardment preceding the landing by 7th Australian Division
BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. C. 1945. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NEWEST LANDING BY AUSTRALIAN FORCES, ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF BORNEO. FOR WEEKS PAST, LIBERATOR BOMBER AIRCRAFT OF THE RAAF HAVE BEEN HAMMERING
BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. C. 1945. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NEWEST LANDING BY AUSTRALIAN FORCES, ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF BORNEO. FOR WEEKS PAST, LIBERATOR BOMBER AIRCRAFT OF THE RAAF HAVE BEEN HAMMERING
