Dramatic Air Attacks Support Allied Invasion of Borneo - 1945

Highlights include: "On the deck" B-25 bombing runs with unique bomb bay views, machine gun runs along the landing beaches, B-25s laying smoke screens, B-24 Liberators hitting targets very close to the shoreline and direct fire support from ships firing at point blank range. As the war was winding down in Europe in 1945, there was still fierce fighting in the Pacific. The Japanese occupied Island of Borneo was a major source of petroleum and rubber for their war effort, and was therefore a high priority target for Allied strategy. The Borneo campaign lasted from the end of April - July 1945. Australian troops carried out offensive operations, with additional air, naval and logistical support from Britain and America. Free Dutch forces also contributed. These films were shot when they happened by the American 6th Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit (6th AAFCCU) cameramen from April 31st through June 26th, focusing on close air support for amphibious landings at strategic locations around the huge island, aimed at seizing ports and oil refineries, and laying the foundation for Australian troops advancing inland. The image quality of surviving of these very rare films “is what it is.” I have done what I can to restore them using advanced digital techniques.
A couple of notes. 1) Strafing is pronounced "strah fing" here, a common and acceptable pronunciation at the time. 2) The films focus on American air support operations because they were shot by U.S. Army cameramen assigned to American units. These are battlefield reports, not meant to be an all inclusive overview of the Borneo campaign or those who participated in it.
Zeno
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[@Alan-hb8pd]

I haven't seen one of those aerial smokescreens being used in a ground attack support role before, that's a pretty smart idea for a technology that was rarely used yet widely available

[@I_am_Diogenes]

I am amazed how far away from the blast those planes got before the bombs exploded . Appears they used a delay of some kind . Most video from the Vietnam era show them a LOT closer to the blast .

[@ZenosWarbirds]

I believe you’re correct. As you can see, some of these planes were flying literally at tree top level in formation.

[@VikingTeddy]

Low level bombing usually used time fuses, occasionally even a minute to allow the whole strike group to get clear. Sometimes bombs could be delayed up to a week in preparation for an upcoming operation. I don't know if timed fuses were used in Vietnam, but there's lots of footage of retarded bombs being dropped when flying low.

[@ToyotaGuy1971]

What planning! What teamwork!

[@ZenosWarbirds]

This was one of the last campaigns in the Pacific in WW2. Allies had learned a lot and applied it here.

[@lanceschaerer6875]

Love those B25 gunners! On their .50 triggers the whole bombing pass. Be like a day at the range with no Zeroes to worry about

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Your purchases in our video store help make this channel possible! (Our videos are not monetized. KZbin acts in mysterious ways.) Get these films and many more 6th AACCU films on our new "Behind the Scenes in World War 2 Volume 8 DVD" bit.ly/3QVziXL Visit our aviation DVD store at www.zenosflightshop.com for the World's largest selection of World War 2 & vintage jet aircraft aviation videos. We have 100s of films in our library and have licensed footage to major TV networks and cable channels world wide. For more info see kzbin.infoabout

[@DavidHuber63]

To war is nuts.

[@lifesahobby]

That's some amount of smashing the hell out of bornio

[@sotecluxan4221]

[@I_am_Diogenes]

Sorry for double post but it just occurred to me some viewer might be able to help me out .... I have loved these ol' war birds since I was a kid so while I am not an expert by any means I saw a plane once I Have not been able to identify , maybe someone can point me in the right direction . It appeared to me to be a two engine short body B-17 . Appeared VERY similar to a B-26 Main thing that caught my eye was the tail fin , it started almost where the wings ended and was massive in relation to the rest of the plane , like the 17 but with only two engines . If it would have had four engines I would have sworn it was a stubby B-17 . Granted I was having medical issues at the time and was coming from the VA hospital when I saw this plane is '07 in SW Idaho flying East while I was driving West on the highway from Boise to Nampa so I Just figured I was hallucinating . ANY help ?

[@accousticdecay]

It might have been a 1950s Martin 404.

[@I_am_Diogenes]

@@accousticdecay That looks like the critter .... IF it was painted Olive Drab .

[@IvesMarcelin]

The cost of travel until the coast of California and Bornéo ..is not less 6000 miles +or -- ... And 10.135 from Orlando....... Bornéo by the Sky. .

[@Alan-hb8pd]

I'd love to see some content on the M24 off route mine, I've only seen a short 50 second clip of that on KZbin

[@accousticdecay]

I live a few miles from the big building shown at the beginning of these videos; I actually worked in it. Sadly, it is gone now.

[@gregpursell5900]

I’m