Us Official Photographs

Lutong Refinery Damage

A photo of the Lutong area beginning on the right with the refinery itself, showing extensive damage by bombing and shelling. Note that a revetment wall surrounded the refinery and that the camouflaged paint on the roof is still intact. The inhabitants of the Miri, Lutong area, Borneo, N.E.I., really joined the Allies on the morning of the "opening" of the Jap high octane refinery at Lutong. After having worked many months in building the refinery which necessitated bringing much machine work in the refinery area itself, the Japs were finally ready to start operating. The time for the opening ceremony had been set at 11 a.m. and all inhabitants in the surrounding area had been "instructed" to attend "this example of the Supremacy of Japan". Just as the "champagne was about to be broken off the 'bow'", allied bombers paid a visit to the Lutong refinery and left it very much an example of the Allied rather than Japanese Supremacy. From that time on, even the most doubtful natives in the area, sided with our team, because as they said, it seemed that we had permitted the Japs to waste their time building the refinery and just as they were ready for production destroyed it. Lutong, 10 July 1945