What Happened at Operation Oboe Two during World War II?

• It was the final major Allied amphibious landing of the war.
• The target was the city of Balikpapan on the island of Borneo.
• Australian troops faced fierce resistance from Japanese defenders.
• The goal was to seize important oil refineries and wells.
• The mission was part of the larger campaign to liberate Borneo.

By 1945, the Allied forces were winning the war in the Pacific. They wanted to capture oil fields in Borneo to stop Japan from using fuel for their ships and planes. This mission was the last big landing operation for the Australian army during the war.

In July 1945, Allied ships arrived near the coast of Balikpapan. Before the soldiers landed, ships and planes bombed the beach for many days to weaken the Japanese defenses. The Australian soldiers then jumped into boats and stormed the sandy beaches. Fighting was very tough because the Japanese had built many hidden bunkers and tunnels. The soldiers had to push through smoke and fire to reach the city. Eventually, the Australians gained control of the town and the important oil refineries. By the end of the month, the area was firmly under Allied control.

The capture of Balikpapan cut off a major source of oil for the Japanese military. This made it much harder for Japan to keep fighting since their ships and planes needed fuel. It was a key victory that proved the Allied forces were in control of the region.

• Australian Imperial Force
• Royal Australian Navy
• United States Navy
• Imperial Japanese Army