Gulf of Siam, Thailand. 1945-08-13. A Japanese coaster burning fiercely after an attack by an RAF ...

Gulf of Siam, Thailand. 1945-08-13. A Japanese coaster burning fiercely after an attack by an RAF Liberator aircraft. Japanese shipping in the Gulf of Siam is being continuously attacked by RAF Sunderland flying boat aircraft, and Liberator aircraft of the Indian Ocean Air Force. Operating from forward bases, those flying boats and heavy bomber aircraft have added a good number of schooners, coasters, oil barges and numerous smaller craft to their bag. Deprived of the use of the open seas by submarines and surface vessels of the British West Indies Fleet, the Japanese in Burma and Thailand have been forced to rely on small coastal vessels to carry their much needed oil and other supplies from the Dutch East Indies and Singapore.