CELEBES, AMBON, TIMOR CAMPAIGNS

The islands of the Celebes, Ambon, and Timor were successively occupied after the first landings at Menado on 11 January. Though containing some natural resources, these strategic locations were key to the Japanese plans to occupy Java and Sumatra. Naval landing troops, including the first paratroopers used by Japan in the Pacific War, quickly overran the local garrisons in the Celebes. The army’s Eastern Detachment occupied Ambon, then moved on to Timor. Airfields from these islands were later used to mount sustained raids against airfields and harbours across northern Australia.

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