HMS Nabthorpe

H.M.S. "Nabthorpe", was a Royal Navy, Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB), at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Station Schofields at Schofields, New South Wales, Australia. H.M.S. "Nabthorpe" was also known as MONAB III and Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Schofields.

History

Assembled at RNAS Ludham on 18 October 1944. Commissioned as independent command bearing the ships name H.M.S. Nabthorpe on 4 December 1944. Stores, equipment & vehicles sailed aboard the S.S. Essex on 4 December 1944, and personnel sailed from Liverpool upon S.S. Athlone Castle on 22 December 1944 bound for Sydney, Australia.

The main party arrived in Sydney on 25 January 1945 and were accomodtaed at HMS Golden Hind, Warwick Farm racecourse (Camp Warwick), a part the Royal Navy barracks in Sydney, whilst awaiting allocation of operating base & the arrival of S.S. Essex, which arrived at Sydney on 4 February 1945.

An advance party was sent to RAAF Schofields on 5 February 1945 and prepared the airfield for the arrival of squadron personnel and aircraft which were to arrive with the British Pacific Fleet. Upon arrival of the main party of personnel they were accommodated under canvas tents as the station had no permanent buildings at the time.

RAAF Schofields was officially transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as H.M.S. Nabthorpe, RNAS Schofields on 18 February 1945.

When No. 899 Squadron disembarked from HMS Chaser on 23 April 1945 the unit became a Seafire Pool Squadron, but in July it became a Seafire Operational Training Unit training RAAF pilots in Naval flying techniques, including Deck Landings. Deck landing training was carried out upon the carrier HMS Indomitable, for the first course, and HMS Arbiter for the second course. The successful pilots were to form the nucleus of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm.

No. 7 Carrier Air Group formed at RNAS Schofields 30 June 1945, from HMS Indefatigable’s air squadrons, No.s 887 & 894 Seafire, 820 Avenger and 1770 Firefly squadrons.

The Commander in Chief of the British Pacific Fleet Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser visited Schofields on 28 July 1945 as part of his tour of the support facilities in Australia.

H.M.S. "Nabthorpe", MONAB III, was paid off on 15 November 1945. RNAS Schofields re-commissioned as H.M.S. Nabstock (MONAB VI) on 15 November 1945.

Commanding Officer/s

* Commander (A) E.W. Kenton - 4 December 1944

Units based at HMS Nabthorpe

* 702 Instrument Flying Training & Checking Squadron
* Crew Pool & Refresher Flying School
* Mobile Maintenance 2
* Maintenance Servicing 3 & 4
* Seafire Pool Squadron
* Seafire Operational Training Unit

quadrons based at HMS Nabthorpe

* 706 squadron (3 March - 28 August 1945) (Avenger, Barracuda, Corsair, Firefly, Hellcat & Seafire)
* 801 squadron (9 - 11 September 1945)
* 814 squadron (21 July - 13 August 1945) (Barracuda)
* 820 squadron (1 June - 1 July 1945) (Avengers)
* 837 squadron (16 August - 1 September 1945)
* 880 squadron (25 August - 11 September 1945) (Seafire IIIs)
* 885 squadron (20 March - 4 April 1945) & (30 September 1945 disbanded) (Hellcat Is)
* 887 squadron (10 - 27 February 1945), (5 June - 7 July 1945) & (30 September - 15 November 1945) (Seafire IIIs)
* 894 squadron (10 - 27 February 1945), (5 June - 7 July 1945) & (30 September 1945) (Seafire IIIs)
* 899 squadron (23 April - 18 September 1945)
* 1770 squadron (10 - 27 February 1945), (5 July - 29 August 1945) (Firefly Is)
* 1772 squadron (18 May - 7 July 1945) & (30 September 1945) (Firefly Is)
* 1790 squadron (13 August 1945 (Firefly NF 1's)
* 1831 squadron (16 August - 1 September 1945)
* 1834 squadron (5 - 26 June 1945) (Corsairs)
* 1836 squadron (5 - 26 June 1945) (Corsairs)
* 1840 squadron (23 February - 9 May 1945) (Hellcats)
* 1843 squadron (1 - 20 May 1945) (Corsair IVs)
* 1845 squadron (26 February - 11 May 1945) (Corsair IVs)
* 1851 squadron (21 July - 13 August 1945) (Corsair)

Aircraft carriers squadrons disembarked from/embarked to

* HMS Arbiter
* HMS Chaser
* HMS Glory
* HMS Indefatigable
* HMS Indomitable
* HMS Implacable
* HMS Ruler
* HMS Slinger
* HMS Speaker
* HMS Venerable
* HMS Victorious
* HMS Vindex

atellite Airfields

* Woy Woy Aerodrome

References

* [http://www.btinternet.com/~faahistoryweb/index.htm The MONAB Story]