The MONAB Story

Mobile Naval Air Base No. VI

Assembly and commissioning in the UK

Personnel and equipment for Mobile Naval Air Base VI began to assemble at RNAS Middle Wallop, Hampshire, the new headquarters of the Mobile Naval Airfields Organisation (MNAO) on March 1st 1945. The previous HQ, at the former RAF Station Ludham, Norfolk had been exchanged for RAF Station Middle Wallop once MONAB V and TAMY I had been despatched to their ports of embarkation in mid-February.

MONAB VI was to form as a type A (Small) MONAB tasked with supporting up to 50 aircraft and was allocated the following maintenance components:

Mobile Maintenance unit (MM) No. 5 supporting Avenger Mk. I & II, Corsair Mk. II & IV, Hellcat Mk. I & II and Seafire Mk.III & L.III
 Maintenance Servicing unit (MS) No. 9 supporting Avenger Mk. I & II
Maintenance Servicing unit (MS) No. 10* supporting Vengeance TT.IV *
 Mobile Repair unit (MR) No.2† supporting Avenger Mk. I & II, Expeditor, Martinet TT.I, Sea Otter I
*These were initial allocations, the unit did not receive any Vengeance equipped squadrons, the unit primarily supported Corsair squadrons so it is probable the MS 10 was re-tasked to support these.†Attached to MONAB V on arrival in Australia, joined MONAB VI (at Schofields) from November 5th 1945

The formation programme called for the unit to complete its assembly and be ready for despatch overseas in six weeks but as with the five units before it, MONAB VI was to find that this was insufficient time to successfully form up and be at operational readiness. In 4½ months of operations the MNAO had learned few lessons; most of the problems that were encountered by the units assembling at Ludham were to persist at Middle Wallop.

A great deal of the unit’s motor transport was delivered late, no establishment for stores was available until three weeks or a month after the date given for forming, and when received it was found to be out-of-date. Instructions were eventually received, verbally, to disregard it and to work on the Ship's own copies of S.134d raised at Admiralty. Instructions for marking packing cases were found to be problematic, the process was very complicated and were frequently altered.

During the six-week forming up period much time was spent in giving drafting leave to Officers and ratings who were supposed to have had it before they joined, also a large proportion of personnel that were being drafted to join the unit were found to be untrained for their assigned billets, especially drivers, or were too old or unfit for service overseas, and replacements had to be requested.

Despite these obstacles MONAB VI commissioned as an independent command bearing the ships name HMS NABSTOCK, on April 1st 1945, Captain. H.V.P. McClintock D.S.O. in command.

Despatch overseas

The unit’s stores and equipment were transported to Liverpool overnight by road and rail on April 20th for embarkation. MONAB VI and MR 2 personnel travelled by train to Greenock, on the Clyde to embark in their transport, sailing for Sydney onboard the Troopship NIEUW AMSTERDAM on April 22nd. The stores and equipment were loaded onto three separate ships, S.S. TROJAN STAR, S.S. EMPIRE SPLENDOUR, and S.S. EMPIRE CAPTAIN, at Sandon dock; first to sail was EMPIRE SPLENDOUR on April 17th with Convoy ON.297 followed by EMPIRE CAPTAIN on the 23rd with Convoy UC.65A – both these ships took the Panama Canal route. The TROJAN STAR, sailed on the 27th with convoy OS.125/ KMS.100, detaching at Gibraltar she proceeded independently to Port Said for the Suez Canal.

Unlike the previous MONAB despatches the NIEUW AMSTERDAM sailed independently for Australia via the Suez Canal, calling at Gibraltar, Port Said, and Fremantle, arriving at Sydney on May 23rd. The personnel disembarked to Warwick Farm Race Course, part of RN Barracks, Sydney, HMS GOLDEN HIND, to await the allocation of an operating base.

The senior officers had travelled to Australia by air, arriving in advance of the ship borne elements to meet with Flag officer Naval Air Pacific (FONAP) staff to plan the unit’s allocation on arrival. On May 19th Captain McClintock, in company with Commander Wilson, Commander Coote, Commander Kennet and Lieutenant Commander Lavers, visited Royal Australian Air Force Station Maryborough, in Queensland, to assess the station as a potential host airfield for MONAB VI to lodge with. The decision was taken to accept Maryborough as a suitable location for MONAB VI, in lieu of another station becoming available.

The advance party of HMS NABSTOCK arrived at RAAF Maryborough on May 24th. A second party comprising of 2 Officers, 6 Petty Officers and 30 ratings arrived on the 28th. One of the main functions of the MONAB was to hold a stock of reserve aircraft, mainly Corsair and Avengers, for squadron replacements. The first RN aircraft, a corsair, arrived at Maryborough, along with six (loaned) vehicles of the units MT section on the 29th.

Commissioned at RNAS Maryborough, Queensland

MONAB VI commissioned as HMS NABSTOCK at RAAF Maryborough, Queensland, on June 1st 1945 at a ceremony attended by Rear Admiral Portal, Flag Officer Naval Air Pacific. The unit’s existence as a MONAB effectively ceased at this point, becoming a Naval Air Station sharing the establishment with the RAAF Radar School and lodging on an airfield which nominally remained under RAAF control. At this time the unit had limited capabilities since most of its stores equipment and vehicles were still on passage, the EMPIRE CAPTAIN docked at Sydney on May 30th followed by the TROJAN STAR on June 10th the stores and equipment then had to be transhipped by road and rail to Maryborough. The EMPIRE SPLENDOUR was diverted and docked in Brisbane on the 15th.

The first squadron to arrive at Maryborough was 'A' flight of 1701 Ait Sea Rescue (ASR) squadron on June 15th, operating 4 Sea Otter amphibians which disembarked from the escort carrier HMS BEGUM. Next to arrive on June 23rd were 1845 (Corsair) Squadron from Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard (TAMY) 1 at Archerfield, Brisbane where It had reformed with 24 Corsair IVs. They were joined by 843 Corsair) Squadron which disembarked its 24 Corsair IVs from the escort carrier HMS ARBITER on July 4th. Both Corsair squadrons had departed by July 16th; 1843 for RNAS Jervis Bay (MONAB V) on the 14th and 1845 for RNAS Nowra (MONAB I) on the 15th.

MONAB VI installed at RNAS Maryborough in early July 1845, Two Dorland hangars have been erected for servicing aircraft. A large number of Corsair fighters are present in this photo, those nearest the camera and bearing the tail code letter ‘X’ belong to 1843 squadron.

The aircraft of 1701 were to operate from both RNAS Maryborough and RNAS Bankstown (MONAB II) in Sydney, and the first detachment departed for Bankstown on July 24th. On the same day a detachment of Seafires from 899 Seafire OTU at RNAS Schofields (MONAB III) arrived on the station in preparation for carrying out Deck Landing Training (DLT) for Australian pilots on No. 1 RANVR conversion course; the 12 pilots carried out their DLT sessions in the Fleet Carrier INDOMITABLE between the 24th & 27th of July, all being certified for Deck Landing after completing 10 landings apiece. The successful pupils received RANVR(A) commissions and were to form the nucleus of the Australian Fleet Air Arm. The detachment returned to RNAS Schofields on completion.

Victory over Japan and the rundown to closure

August was a busy month at Maryborough, the 1701 detachment returned from RNAS Bankstown on August 7th and a second period of Deck landing practice for pupils of No. 2 RANVR conversion course was planned for the 15th, this utilizing the escort carrier ARBITER operating off the Brisbane coast. The DLT session was under way when Victory over Japan was announced and appears to have been cancelled. On August 23rd 1834 & 1836 (Corsair) and 849 (Avenger)squadrons disembarked from HMS VICTORIOUS, the Avengers departed for Mascot airfield, Sydney, the next day.

On the 28th a new resident unit, 706 Pool & Refresher Flying Training Squadron arrived having been transferred from RNAS Schofields with a squadron strength of 36 aircraft, 6 each Avenger, Barracuda, Corsair. Firefly, Hellcat, & Seafire. Another unit to arrive from Schofields on the 29th was 1770 (Firefly) squadron; this was transferred to make room at Schofields for squadrons disembarking from HMS INDEFATIGABLE. MONAB VI was not equipped to handle Fireflies so a detachment of 13 men from MONAB III was assembled from the personnel of MS 3 to travel to RNAS Maryborough to support 1770 & 706 squadrons; the detachment comprised of Lt. Romanoff, CPO Hughes, 8 POs, 2 Leading Air Fitters and one steward. This party left Schofields for Maryborough by train, and was issued with equipment from MONAB VI on reaching Maryborough.

September started quietly, 899 squadron returned to conduct DLT with ARBITER to complete the second and final RANVR conversion course during the period 10th to 13th, again all trainees qualified for Deck Landing. The personnel of 1834 & 1836 squadrons departed on the 25th to re-embark in VICTORIOUS for passage to the UK where they were to disband upon arrival, their aircraft had been flown to RNAS Bankstown for disposal earlier in the month. 1770 squadron was disbanded at Maryborough on the 30th leaving only 706 and 1701 squadrons on the station.

As part of a review of the naval air support in the Pacific theatre the Admiralty announced in October that four Mobile Units were to be disbanded in early November 1945, these were to be MONAB I, III, IV and VII; MONAB II, V & VI plus TAMY I would continue operations in support of fleet operations and the reception and disposal of aircraft arising from the disbandment of squadrons as the BPF began to reduce its size. As part of this downsizing operation MONAB V was to replace MONAB I at Nowra and MONAB VI would replace MONAB III at Schofields. MONAB VII personnel were to be redistributed to other units, many joining TAMY I. MR 2 was to be reallocated from MONAB V to MONAB VI and it arrived at RNAS Schofields on November 5th.

A detachment of Sea Otters from 1701 'A' Flight again flew south to operate from RNAS Bankstown on October 15th returning to Maryborough on the 21st. October also saw the departure of 706 Pool Squadron which moved to RNAS Nowra (MONAB I) on the 24th, its strength having reduced to two of each aircraft type in service with BPF. Flying operations ceased on October 24th once 1701 detachment had landed and MONAB VI began migrating men and equipment to their new home at RNAS Schofields, New South Wales. On November 1st 1701 'A' Flight left Maryborough for the final time, the squadron moving to TAMY 1 at Archerfield in preparation for redeployment to Hong Kong.

HMS NABSTOCK paid off at Maryborough on November 15th 1945, the unit transferring its commission to RNAS Schofields on the same date; MONAB III, HMS NABTHORPE having also been paid off the same day, A small retard party remained at Maryborough to complete the clearing up operations and to hand the facilities back to the RAAF, the last RN personnel left by train in early December 1945. The stations flying safety record was very good, in the five and a half months of operations only four accidents are recorded: Firefly MB503 of 1770 squadron flown by Sub-Lt A.R. Thomas RNVR, stalled on approach during an Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landing session on September 6th; Hellcat FN378 of 706 Squadron, flown by Lt DR Crabtree) RNVR, made a forced wheels-up landing, in a farmer's backyard after his throttle linkage became disconnected at the bulkhead on September 8th,; a 706 squadron Corsair, JT313 flown by Sub-Lt N. Williamson RNVR, swung on landing and ground looped, damaging one wing & tail plane which struck the ground on September 29th; a 1701 Sea Otter, JN118 flown by Sub-Lt R.N.C. Carr-Gregg RNVR, had its Starboard oleo collapse on landing on October 16th.

Commissioned at RNAS Schofields, New South Wales

The units present at Schofields at this time were one resident unit, 702 Instrument Flying Training & Checking Squadron (5 Oxford & 3 Harvard), and five disembarked squadrons, 801, 887 & 894 (Seafire), 1772 and 1790 (Firefly). There was some reorganisation of equipment as unnecessary components were packed up, others were retained, for example support for servicing Firefly aircraft which NABSTOCK now inherited. 887 re-joined INDEFATIGABLE on November 15th followed by 1772 on the 18th and 894 on the 23rd. All three squadrons returned on December 22nd disembarking from INDEFATIGABLE, the carrier also flew ashore 820 (Avenger) squadron on New Year’s Eve. There were three flying incidents during this period: On November 29th Sub-Lt L.J. Norton RANVR of 801 squadron was killed when his (unidentified) Seafire Mk,XV disintegrated in a dive; Avenger JZ712 of 828 Squadron, flown by Lt R. New RNVR, swung on landing and stressed the airframe on December 17th; Seafire L.III NN625 of 887 Squadron, flown by Sub-Lt E.O. Atkin RNVR, crashed on landing when the starboard undercarriage leg collapsed on December 19th.

MONAB VI installed at RNAS Schofields in early 1946.

&In the New Year 1850 (Corsair) squadron arrived on January 12th disembarking from VENGEANCE with 12 aircraft. The 12 Fireflies of 1790 Night Fighter squadron departed on the 16th embarking in IMPLACABLE. On January 18th the first of 4 squadrons arrived from RNAS Nowra as part of its rundown to closure; 706 Crew Pool & Refresher Flying squadron (now operating 2 each of Avenger, Barracuda, Corsair, Firefly, Hellcat & Seafire), they were followed on the 21st by 723 Fleet Requirements Unit (8 martinet & 8 Corsair). 814 (Firefly) squadron arrived on the 22nd and 1851 (Corsair) on the 24th these collectively were the 15th CAG attached to VENERABLE. Both of these squadrons had been reorganised earlier in the month at Nowra, 1851 being reduced to 12 aircraft and 814 had exchanged 18 Barracudas for 12 Fireflies. 814 was to work-up with their new aircraft in readiness to re-join the carrier. On the 31st 820, 887, 894 and 1772 squadrons departed, re-joining INDEFATIGABLE.

January was a busy time with several front-line squadrons conducting on-going flying training and working-up with new equipment resulting in 7 flying incidents 2 of them fatal: On January 4th 1946, 1790 Squadron Observer Lt J.R. Oxley RNVR was killed when he fell out of Firefly MB501 over Quakers Hill Park on approach to Schofields while the pilot, Sub-Lt R Roberts RNVR was conducting ADDLs ; Sub-Lt PB Clayton RNVR of 801 squadron taxied his aircraft, Seafire F.XV SR580, into another 801 Seafire F.XV SR537 on the 6th; the following day Sub-Lt M Reid RNVR of 702 squadron prematurely retracted the undercarriage of Avenger JZ709, causing it to collapse, he had a second incident on January 13th, this time in Harvard KF519, he overshot landing and ground looped; on the 19th Seafire F.XV, SR539 of 801 squadron, flown by Sub-Lt R.A.H. Beaton RNVR, dropped its starboard wing on approach and ran off the runway, the undercarriage collapsed; Firefly MB629 of 706 squadron , flown by Sub-Lt G.R. Harrison RNVR, ran off the runway on landing after the aircraft swung to starboard and the undercarriage collapsed on the hard ground on the 23rd. While returning to Schofields on January 31st, after a training flight over the sea to the south east of Sydney Firefly DK480 of 814 squadron began to experience control problems, the pilot Sub-Lt C.B. Ratcliffe tried to change course but found his rudder to be locked and the aircraft, which became more unstable could only fly straight. He ordered his navigator Petty Officer Airman E. M. Butterworth to bale out just before the aircraft flipped onto its back and he then exited the aircraft himself. The plane fell to earth striking first the lift tower of the main building at Lewisham Hospital, Sydney before crashing into an old boiler house. Rescue workers found the navigator was still in the aircraft when it hit killing two men working in the building.

On February the 12th 812 (Firefly) squadron disembarked from VENGEANCE to join the other half of her Air Group, 13th CAG. The 15th CAG began to embark in VENERABLE on the 22nd when Corsairs of 1851 departed, the Fireflies of 814 followed them on March 13th. Two days later 801 (Seafire) squadron disembarked from IMPLACABLE. The 13th CAG departed on the 19th, re-joining VENGEANCE and 1790 (Firefly) squadron disembarked from IMPLACABLE on the 28th. There were only three flying incidents during February and march: Sub-Lt J.E. Letham RNVR of 801 squadron taxied Seafire F.XV SR589 into a lorry causing damage to mainplanes & prop on February 22nd; the other two incidents involved the phenomena known as ground looping, Firefly MB635 of 814 squadron, flown by Sub-Lt G.S. Robson RMVR ground looped on landing on March 9th stressing the undercarriage, and Firefly MB508 of 837, flown by Sub-Lt G.G. Pruden RNVR ground looped on take-off on the 16th.

At the start of April 1946 HMS NABSTOCK was the only MONAB still in operation in Australia; MONAB V had been paid off on March 18th followed by MONAB II and TAMY 1 on March 31st having transferred all remaining squadrons to Schofields. The last of these squadrons was 724 Communications Squadron which arrived from RNAS Bankstown on March 31st, equipped with Expeditors and Ansons they had flown regular passenger and light freight services to other Naval Air Stations and cities in Australia. The last front-line units to depart, 801 & 1790 re-joined IMPLACABLE for passage to the UK on April 29th. The last recorded flying incident took place on April 12th when Martinet PX197 of 723 FRU, flown by Sub-Lt H.C. Stoke RNVR, swung off the peritrack and fell into a ditch while taxying to dispersal.

Paying Off

HMS NABSTOCK was now scaling down its operations; the whole of April and May were spent packing up the MONAB equipment and stores, along with preparing the airfield for return to the RAAF. Anything which was not to be kept for return to the UK was broken up and burnt in large bonfires on the airfield, the remains of these bonfires were then ferried out into the bush and dumped by the clean-up parties which had been drafted in to replace ratings who had been released for demob after February.

The second-line squadrons 702, 706, 723 and 724 were all disbanded at Schofields on May 31st. HMS NABSTOCK and MONAB VI paid off at Schofields on June 9th 1946 and Schofields airfield was returned to RAAF custody.