While Radio Tokyo announced that Tarakan had fallen on 15 June, the last organised Japanese resistance was encountered on 19 June and Whitehead did not declare the island secure until 21 June.
Saat Radio Tokyo mengumumkan bahwa Tarakan telah jatuh pada tanggal 15 Juni, perlawanan Jepang terorganisir terakhir dihadapi pada tanggal 19 Juni dan Whitehead tak menyatakan pulau itu aman hingga tanggal 21 Juni.