Mobile Naval Air Base No. VIII gallery
Images from the private collections of Lieutenant (A) R. Brant RNVR,Royal Marine Driver W., Brooks, Petty Officer Radio Mechanic T. Rushton, Air Fitter (Airframes) G. Saunders, Air Fitter (?) L. Lindop. Writer E.C. McCarthy, Naval Airmen (General Duties) K & G Littler, Able Seaman T. Griffith.
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Kai Tak airfield, Hong Kong
The ship’s company of HMS Nabcatcher muster on the flight deck of HMS Slinger on passage to Hong Kong. There are several reserve Barracudas secured aft for delivery to KaiTak.
Members of M.S.R. 9 pose by a Sea Otter of ‘B’ flight 1701 squadron on the flight deck of H.M.S. Reaper on route to Hong Kong in early October 1945.
Petty Officers of M.S.R. 9 pose on the flight deck of H.M.S. Reaper on route to Hong
Kong in early October 1945.
HMS SLINGER alongside in Hong Kong unloading the equipment, supplies and men of MONAB 8 together with emergency supplies for the colony.
An oblique aerial view of Kai Tak, exact date unknown but the expansion work carried out by the Japanese is complete.
November 11945: View of the workshop and maintenance area of MONAB VIII located on the western side of the airfield. The four Dorland hangars are complete; Sea Otters of 1701 squadron are parked to the left of the upper pair while reserve aircraft are parked around the other two used by MSR 9.
The workshop and maintenance area of RNAS Kai Tak located
on the western side of the airfield; the north end of runway 12/30 is
visible, the other, 07/25 runway is out of shot below the parked
Corsairs and Vengeance aircraft on the apron bottom left. hoto taken
March1946.
RAF Station Kai Tak occupied the Eastern half of the airfield; Sunderland GR5 PP132 of 209 squadron overshot and ran aground on landing at Kai Tak April 21st 1946 and was to remain in this condition for several months. This photo is July 1946 and shows Dakotas of 110 squadron which arrived in June of that year.
The south western corner of Kai Tak airfield seen from Kowloon. Photo taken March1946, notice that the Dorland hangars have all been dismantled by this date
A rating guards a Japanese POW working party employed repairing the airfield perimeter fence while local Chinese pass by on the boundary road.
The view across the Quarter Deck/ parade ground of the RN camp at Kai Tak.
View of the Beste-Burkle tents – these comprised of a canvas covered wooden frame with a hinged solid door entrance way and wooden floor.
MSR 9 Radio workshop personnel at R.N.A.S. Kai Tak, PORM John Baxter is sat on the bonnet of their mobile workshop. The skeletal frame of the damaged Dorland hanger on the right. Aircraft of the station flight can be seen in the background.
Containerised Radio and Radar workshops at RNAS Kai Tak, disengaged from their chassis’ they have been laid out in neat rows at the workshop area.
Reserve Corsair fighters lined up on a steel matting parking apron at Kai Tak, c. late 1945.
Storm damage: One of the Dorland hangers after the typhoon. The missing canvas was never found. The frame was later used for the camp cnema.
Japanese POWs assist members of the ship’s company in building the projection room for the new camp cinema.
The completed outdoor cinema at Kai Tak before the Dorland hanger was dismantled.
Rough Justice: (1); A Japanese POW is punished by a Japanese officer in front of the assembled prisoners as RN personnel look on.
Rough Justice: (2); Such brutal punishments were normal practice in the Japanese forces and were tolerated by the British authorities.
December 1945: Officers of the Air Engineering Department of MONAB VIII, [all Sub-Lt. RNVR unless rank stated]. L-R Back row Berrie - Ellcock - Green - Brant. Front row Kaplan - Lt. Hardey (RN) - Senior Engineer Tuck - Lt.Cdr. RNVR Mitchell (Air Engineering Officer) - Spindler - English - Hanlon.
Corsair fighters of 721 FRU. These were used for radar
calibration and gunnery exercises by ships in the area.
Vengeance TT Mk.IV of 721 FRU over Hong Kong c.1946. The aircraft is overall canary Yellow with black anti-glare on the upper engine cowling.
Air Fitter (Airframes) Gordon Saunders poses with a Corsair fighter of the reserve aircraft stock held at Kai Tak; ('121 /Y') ex-1851 Squadron
Important visitors
November 1945: Captain Surtees greets Admiral Fraser, C-in-C British Pacific Fleet, on his arrival at RNAS Kai Tak to inspect MONAB VIII.
November 1945: Admiral Fraser, C-in-C British Pacific Fleet has a few words with members of MONAB VIII during his visit to Kai Tak. Captain Surtees is in the group on the right of the shot.
November 1945: Admiral Fraser, C-in-C British Pacific Fleet has a few words with another group of men of MONAB VIII during his visit to Kai Tak.
December 1945: Admiral Lord Mountbatten arrives at Kai Tak for an official visit.
December 1945: Admiral Lord Mountbatten inspects the honour guard of marines during his official visit to HMS Nab catcher.
December 1945: Admiral Lord Mountbatten inspects the honour guard of marines during his official visit to HMS Nab catcher.
A Chinese General visits RNAS Kai Tak during December 1945. Captain Surtees [facing camera] shows off one of the Sea Otter aircraft of 1701 squadron.
A Chinese General inspects the Royal Marine guard during his visit RNAS Kai Tak during December 1945.
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