| HMS Nabstock Mobile Operational Naval Air Base VI | |
| Ensign: | Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg |
| Ensign Size: | 90px |
| Location: | at RAAF Maryborough, Maryborough, Queensland |
| Country: | Australia |
| Type: | Mobile Operational Naval Air Base |
| Coordinates: | -25.5133°N 152.715°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Queensland#Australia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Queensland |
| Pushpin Relief: | y |
| Pushpin Label: | HMS Nabstock |
| Ownership: | Department of Defence |
| Operator: | (1945) |
| Controlledby: | Fleet Air Arm (1945) |
| Used: | – (Fleet Air Arm) |
| Fate: | Returned to Royal Australian Air Force |
| Battles: | |
| Garrison: | MONAB VI |
| Occupants: | Flying units:
Support functions:
|
| R1-Number: | --/-- |
| R1-Length: | 1100yard x 50yard |
| R1-Surface: | Bitumen |
| R2-Number: | 12/30 |
| R2-Length: | 1100yard x 50yard |
| R2-Surface: | Bitumen |
| R3-Number: | 17/35 |
| R3-Length: | 1765yard x 50yard |
| R3-Surface: | Bitumen |
| Footnotes: | Source: Royal Navy Research Archive[1] [2] |
| HMS Nabstock Mobile Operational Naval Air Base VI | |
| Location: | at RAAF Station Schofields,, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country: | Australia |
| Coordinates: | -33.7136°N 150.8711°W |
| Pushpin Map: | New South Wales#Australia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within New South Wales |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Label: | HMS Nabstock |
| Ownership: | Department of Defence |
| Controlledby: | Fleet Air Arm |
| Used: | – |
| Fate: | Returned to Royal Australian Air Force |
| Garrison: | MONAB VI |
| Occupants: | Flying units:
Support functions:
|
| R1-Number: | 04/24 |
| R1-Length: | 1335yard x 50yard |
| R1-Surface: | unsealed gravel pavement |
| R2-Number: | 11/29 |
| R2-Length: | 1500yard x 50yard |
| R2-Surface: | unsealed gravel pavement |
| R3-Number: | 15/33 |
| R3-Length: | 1665yard x 50yard |
| R3-Surface: | unsealed gravel pavement |
| Footnotes: | Source: Royal Navy Research Archive[3] |
HMS Nabstock was a Royal Navy (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) which was initially located at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airfield RAAF Maryborough situated in Maryborough, Queensland. HMS Nabstock was also known as MONAB VI and Royal Naval Air Station Maryborough (or RNAS Maryborough), between June and November 1945. It decommissioned and moved to RAAF Station Schofields located at Schofields, New South Wales, where MONAB VI recommissioned as HMS Nabstock and known here as Royal Naval Air Station Schofields (or RNAS Schofields) until June 1946.
On 1 March 1945, personnel and equipment for Mobile Naval Air Base VI commenced assembly at RNAS Middle Wallop (HMS Flycatcher), Hampshire, which served as the new headquarters for the Mobile Naval Airfields Organisation (MNAO). The allocations for this unit included Mobile Maintenance (MM) No. 5, Mobile Servicing (MS) Nos. 9 and 10, and Mobile Repair (MR) No. 2. Collectively, these components provided support for a range of aircraft, including Grumman Avenger Mk.I & II, Vought Corsair Mk II & IV, Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I & II, Supermarine Seafire F Mk III & L Mk III, Vultee Vengeance TT.IV, Beech Expeditor, Miles Martinet TT.Mk I, and Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I.
Throughout the course of its operations, the MNAO acquired several insights, revealing that many of the challenges faced by the units assembling at RNAS Ludham would continue to be present at RNAS Middle Wallop. The formation program stipulated that the unit should finalize its assembly and be prepared for deployment overseas within a six-week timeframe. However, similar to the experiences of the five preceding units, MONAB VI discovered that this duration was inadequate for achieving successful formation and operational readiness.
MONAB VI was established as an independent command under the commission HMS Nabstock on 1 April 1945, with Captain H.V.P. McClintock,, RN, at the helm. Following this, personnel from MONAB VI and MR No. 2 travelled to Greenock, located on the Clyde, to board their transportation vessel. They set sail for Sydney aboard the ocean liner converted to troopship on 22 April. The necessary stores and equipment were distributed across three different vessels: the SS Trojan Star, the SS Empire Splendour, and the SS Empire Captain. The SS Nieuw Amsterdam proceeded independently to Australia, reaching Sydney on 23 May. Upon arrival, the personnel disembarked at Warwick Farm Racecourse, which was part of the RN Barracks in Sydney,, where they awaited the assignment of an operational base.
The choice was made to designate RAAF Station Maryborough, Queensland, as the appropriate site for MONAB VI, given the unavailability of an alternative station. MONAB VI was officially commissioned as HMS Nabstock, Royal Naval Air Station Maryborough (RNAS Maryborough), on 1 June 1945, during a ceremony graced by the presence of Rear Admiral Sir Reginald Henry Portal,, RN, the Flag Officer, Naval Air Pacific (FONAP).
'A' Flight from the 1701 Naval Air Squadron arrived on 17 June, deploying Supermarine Sea Otter amphibious aircraft that had disembarked from the escort carrier . Subsequently, on 23 June, 1845 Naval Air Squadron arrived from, location for the Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard (TAMY) I, at RNAMY Archerfield, Brisbane, where it had reformed with Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter aircraft. Following this, 1843 Naval Air Squadron arrived, bringing with it more Vought Corsair Mk IV, from the escort carrier . Both squadrons departed on 24 July, 1845 Naval Air Squadron headed for (MONAB I), while 1843 Naval Air Squadron proceeded to (MONAB V).
A contingent of Supermarine Seafire fighter aircraft from 899 Naval Air Squadron, the Seafire Operational Training Unit at (MONAB III) arrived at the station to conduct Deck Landing Training (DLT) for RAAF pilots. The pilots participated in their DLT sessions aboard the fleet carrier from 4 - 27 July.
After V-J Day, on 23 August, 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons, both equipped with Vought Corsair, along with 849 Naval Air Squadron, which operated Grumman Avenger, departed from . The following day, the latter squadron proceeded to Mascot Airport in Sydney. On the 28, a new resident unit, 706 Naval Air Squadron, a Pool & Refresher Flying Training Squadron, was transferred from HMS Nabthorpe. Additionally, another unit, 1770 Naval Air Squadron, with Fairey Firefly, also arrived from HMS Nabthorpe, on the 29.
899 Naval Air Squadron returned to perform DLT with HMS Arbiter, thereby completing the second and final conversion course from the 10 to the 13 September. Meanwhile, personnel from 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons departed on the 25 to re-embark on HMS Victorious for their journey back to the UK, where they were scheduled to disband upon arrival. Additionally, 1770 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded at HMS Nabstock on the 30, leaving only 706 and 1701 Naval Air Squadrons remaining at RNAS Maryborough.
'A' Flight of 1701 Naval Air Squadron once more headed south to conduct operations from HMS Nabberley on 15 October, returning to HMS Nabstock on 21. Additionally, October marked the relocation of 706 Naval Air Squadron, which transferred to HMS Nabbington on the 24, with its operational capacity diminished to two aircraft of each type in service with the British Pacific Fleet. Flying operations were suspended at HMS Nabstock on 24 October.
HMS Nabstock was decommissioned at RNAS Maryborough on 15 November 1945, with the unit transferring its commission to RNAS Schofields, New South Wales, on that same date.
RNAS Schofields was re-commissioned by MONAB VI under the designation HMS Nabstock on the same day. At that time, the base hosted 702 Naval Air Squadron, an Instrument Flying Training & Checking Squadron, alongside five disembarked squadrons: 801, 887, and 894 Naval Air Squadrons all equipped with Supermarine Seafire, as well as 1772 and 1790 Naval Air Squadrons utilising Fairey Firefly aircraft.[4]
On 15 November, 887 Naval Air Squadron re-joined the aircraft carrier, followed by 1772 Naval Air Squadron on 18 and 894 Naval Air Squadron on 23. All three squadrons successfully returned on 22 December, disembarking once more from HMS Indefatigable. Additionally, on New Year’s Eve, the aircraft carrier facilitated the deployment of the 820 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with Grumman Avenger, ashore.
In the New Year, 812 and 1850 Naval Air Squadrons arrived on 12 January 1946, having disembarked from . 1790 Naval Air Squadron boarded on 16 January. Subsequently, on 18 January, the first of four squadrons arrived from as part of its gradual closure. This included on 1 January, 723 Naval Air Squadron, consisting of Miles Martinet and Vought Corsair aircraft, followed by 706 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with Grumman Avenger, Fairey Barracuda, Vought Corsair, Fairey Firefly, Grumman Hellcat, and Supermarine Seafire aircraft, on 18. 814 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with Fairey Firefly aircraft, arrived on 22 January and was followed by 1851 Naval Air Squadron on 24 January. Collectively, these latter two units formed the 15th Carrier Air Group (15th CAG) attached to . On 31 January 820, 887, 894, and 1772 Naval Air Squadrons departed to rejoin HMS Indefatigable.
Subsequently, the 15th Carrier Air Group commenced its embarkation on HMS Venerable on 22 February, beginning with the departure of 1851 Naval Air Squadron. 814 Naval Air Squadron followed suit, departing on 13 March. Two days later, on 15, 801 Naval Air Squadron disembarked from HMS Implacable. The 13th Carrier Air Group left on 19, reuniting with HMS Vengeance, while 1790 Naval Air Squadron disembarked from HMS Implacable on 28 March.
At the beginning of April 1946, HMS Nabstock was the sole remaining Mobile Naval Air Base (MONAB) operational in Australia. During this period, it began to reduce its activities. The entirety of April and May was dedicated to dismantling the MONAB equipment and supplies, as well as preparing the airfield for its transfer back to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[3]
The second-line squadrons, namely 706, 723, and 724 Naval Air Squadrons, were officially disbanded at HMS Nabstock on 31 May. Subsequently, HMS Nabstock and MONAB VI were decommissioned at RNAS Schofields on 9 June 1946, leading to the return of the airbase at Schofields to RAAF control.[3]
List of commanding officers of HMS Nabstock with date of appointment:
List of units associated with MONAB VI, in support of disembarked front line squadrons and refresher flying training:
List of Fleet Air Arm first and second line squadrons, station flight and other flying units either based at or disembarked to RNAS Maryborough (HMS Nabstock), RNAS Schofields (HMS Nabstock) and MONAB VI:
List of Royal Navy aircraft carriers that Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadrons disembarked from, or embarked in, at HMS Nabstock: