| Operation Balsam | |
|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |
| Type | Naval operation |
| Planned by | British |
| Commanded by | Geoffrey Oliver |
| Objective | Naval bombardment and aerial strikes on Japanese airfields in Sumatra, Japanese vessels in the Strait of Malacca, and aerial reconnaissance |
| Date | 10 June 1945 |
| Outcome | Runways were put out of action, buildings, installations, hangars, locomotives, rolling stock and grounded aircraft strafed |
| Casualties | O. F. Wheatley |
Operation Balsam was a British naval operation in World War II, from 10–20 June 1945,[1] under the command of Commodore Geoffrey Oliver. The third in a string of similar missions, the objectives were the naval bombardment and aerial strikes on Japanese airfields in Sumatra, Japanese vessels in the Strait of Malacca,[1] and aerial reconnaissance.[2]