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On 10 June 1945, two brigades of the Australian 9th Division undertook an amphibious assault against British North Borneo. The intent was to drive the Japanese from Labuan, Brunei and Maura Islands. Two RAAF bomber squadrons along with six from the 13th Air Force all flying Liberator bombers attacked Labuan in a preliminary operation to wipe out the beachhead before the infantry assault. RAAF bomber squadrons operated out of Cunderdin, Western Australia and Darwin to support the Borneo landings by striking at targets beyond the range of allied aircraft operating from the Philippines. As part of support for the Borneo operations the 1st Tactical Air Force established a total of seven squadrons on Labuan. However, on 18 June RAAF Spitfires and Kittyhawks based on Labuan assumed responsibility for close air support during the 9th Division operations. Two days later these planes flew in support of the 20th Brigades landing in the Miri-Lutong area.
On 1 July the attack on Balikpapan commenced and again the RAAF liberator squadrons flew in support battering all the Japanese airfields within supporting range of Borneo. Balikpapan, itself, was heavily bombed. The RAAF lost five liberators and 48 aircrew during the July operations.
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