Formation

724 squadron formed at RNAS Bankstown on April 10th 1945 as a Naval Air Communications squadron under the command of Lieutenant (A) J. H. L. Evans RNVR. They received 2 Expeditor C.IIs from 723 squadron that had been operating the communications flight until their arrival.

The personnel of 724 communication squadron at Mascot airport, Sydney with one of their initial 2 Beech Expeditor C. Mk.II aircraft. image courtesy of Raymond Playford ex AM(E) 724 NAS.

Operations in Australia

The squadron operated out of the nearby civil airport at Mascot as the grass surface at Bankstown was unsuitable for the heavy twin engine aircraft and received an additional 2 Anson Mk Is They operated regular flights to Melbourne, 5 times a week, and to RNAMY Archerfield 3 times, carting passengers and light stores. In the New Year the range and frequency of services was increased; the Archerfield service was extended, after an overnight stop the aircraft continued on to RNAS Maryborough, the most northern of the RN sites in Australia, a 1400-mile round trip. The Melbourne service became a daily one and from June six days a week a twice daily service to the Air Stations at Nowra and Jervis bay began. At its peak the squadron operated as many as 20 aircraft, each wearing its Australian radio call sign on the rear fuselage above the roundel – VJ-AAA to VJ-AAZ were allocated.

Squadron Disbanded

When RNAS Bankstown was closed on March 31st 1946 the squadron moved to nearby RNAS Schofields. By the start of April 1946 HMS NABSTOCK at RNAS Schofields was the only MONAB still in operation in Australia and it was now home to all of the second-line squadrons 702, 706, 723 and 724. These were all disbanded at RNAS Schofields on May 31st. HMS NABSTOCK and MONAB VI paid off at Schofields on June 9th 1946 and the airfield was returned to RAAF custody.
 

Content revised: 23 October 2022

Primary information sources

Additional sources:

Mobile Naval Air Base II - History of H.M.S. Nabberley
Mobile Naval Air Base VI - History of H.M.S. Nabstock
Beech18-part-6.pdf  Information about individual aircraft and Australian civil radio call signs. Accessed 17 February 2010