WWII THIS MONTH...80 JULY 1945 ANNIVERSARY

To commemorate 80 years since the Second World War, History of War will be taking a look at some of the key events taking place during each month of the conflict

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BATTLE OF BALIKPAPAN

Operation Oboe, the Allied campaign to liberate Japanese-held Borneo, ended with the Battle of Balikpapan. The operation began with a naval bombardment that fired 17,250 shells at Japanese defences, assisted by 63 B-24 Liberator bombers. Amphibious landings involving 100 ships and 33,000 personnel followed on 1 July. Facing fewer than 4,000 Japanese combatants, the Allies quickly secured the city Balikpapan and its port before advancing into the hinterland. They captured two Japanese airfields and concluded major combat operations around 21 July, but mopping-up work continued until the end of the war.

KURE AND INLAND SEA BOMBING