The assault on Balikpapan, south east Borneo, July 1945

Photograph, World War Two, Far East (1941-1945), 1945.

The Allies landed on Borneo in a series of amphibious assaults between April and July 1945. These aimed to secure its oil and establish the island as a launch pad for the liberation of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).

The photograph is marked with the targets for the assault, such as weapon pits, bunkers and anti-tank ditches. Smoke is rising from burning oil installations hit by Royal Australian Air Force bombers.

From a collection of 650 photographs compiled by the Commando Association.