Operation Opossum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Operation Opossum
Part of the Japanese occupation of British Borneo during World War II
Date 9–11 April 1945 Location Ternate Island Result Australian success
Belligerents
Empire of Japan	Australia Sultanate of Ternate
Commanders and leaders
	Australia George Bosworth  Australia Dick Perry Sultan Muhammad Jabir Syah
Units involved
	Z Special Unit
Strength
Unknown	13 men
Casualties and losses
All	1 killed

Operation Opossum was a secret mission during World War II in 1945. It was carried out by a special Australian military group called the Z Special Unit. Their goal was to rescue the leader, or Sultan, of Ternate Island, named Muhammad Jabir Syah. Ternate is an island near Borneo.

The Rescue Mission

Sultan Muhammad Jabir Shah in 1930

The island of Ternate had been taken over by Japan in 1942. The Sultan of Ternate, Muhammad Jabir Syah, was being held hostage. He sent some islanders to the Australian Army headquarters on Morotai Island. He asked them for help to be rescued. The Dutch government, who had a connection to the area, strongly supported this mission.

General Douglas MacArthur, a very important Allied commander, approved the mission. He was worried about the Sultan's safety and his family. The Sultan had always supported the Allied forces.

Who Was Involved?

The rescue team was made up of eight Australians from the Z Special Unit. There were also three Dutch officers and one soldier from Timor. On April 8, 1945, the team left Morotai. They traveled on two patrol boats belonging to the US Navy, but crewed by Australians.

Landing and Rescue

The team landed on the northern coast of Hiri Island. This island is just two kilometers north of Ternate. After a six-hour trek, they reached the coastal village of Kulaba. There, the team successfully rescued the Sultan. They also saved his two wives, eight children, and many of his close family and helpers.

A Short Battle

The very next day, several boats full of Japanese soldiers arrived. A shooting fight began. Three Japanese soldiers were killed in the battle. Sadly, an Australian officer named Lieutenant George Bosworth also died. Warrant Officer Dick Perry then took charge of the mission. He led an attack against the remaining Japanese soldiers, and they were all defeated.

After the Rescue

After the rescue, the Sultan and his family were taken to Morotai by a fast PT boat. There, the Sultan met with General MacArthur. Later, the Sultan and his family were settled in a town in Queensland, Australia, called Wacol. They stayed there safely until the end of the war.

Operation Opossum's Legacy

This brave mission is said to have inspired a movie called Attack Force Z (1981). However, the story in the movie is quite different from what actually happened during Operation Opossum.

External Links

• Operation Opossum at Z Special Unit