Photograph. Australian Troops in U.S. landing craft at Balikpapan landing beach; Official Caption: [damaged] "Australian Troops in U.S. Craft Head for Balikpapan Shore. Australian troops, in an American LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), close in to the shore of Balikpapan during the initial assault on the oil-rich port of Borneo on June 30, 1945. Heavy black smoke from a burning oil well rolls over the beachhead which was shattered by Allied pre-landing air and naval bombardment. By July 22, after additional landings, Australian forces, supported by units of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, controlled virtually all of the navigable waters of Balikpapan Bay. Before the allies cut the Japanese off from southern regions of the enemy's stolen empire, Balikpapan Bay was an important harbor for Japanese tankers loading oil from the area's large refineries. Photo through U. S. I. S. Rome. 43I02-FCG. Approved by appropriate U.S. Authority. (? and B Lists Out).”Balikpapan, Borneo, Indonesia. 30 June 1945