The corvette, HMAS STAWELL, (LCDR W. H. Burke, RANR), sank a Japanese armed barge in a night engagement north of the eastern tip of the Celebes. This was the last sinking by an Australian ship in WWII.
The RAN destroyed RAAF Vultee Vengeance A27-627 by explosives after it crash landed on 30/07/45. The aircraft had suffered an explosion in flight, followed by engine failure causing the pilot to force land on the mud bank near the western passage opposite of Fairhaven, Western Port Bay.
The RAN agreed to contribute two cruisers and two destroyers to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. Over the next 5 years a total of 15 Australian warships served as a part of the BCOF.
