HMAS Albatross (air station)

Last updated

HMAS Albatross
Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra
Nowra, New South Wales in Australia
Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Bell UH-1B Huey VH-NVV (ex N9-3104) hovering at Naval Air Station Nowra (YSNW).jpg
A RAN Bell UH-1B Huey VH-NVV hovering at NAS Nowra in January 1996 on the occasion of the 1996 Air Day at HMAS Albatross.
Coordinates 34°56′56″S150°32′13″E / 34.94889°S 150.53694°E / -34.94889; 150.53694
Type Naval air station
Site information
Owner Department of Defence
Operator Royal Australian Navy
Website HMAS Albatross
Site history
BuiltMay 1942 (1942-05)
In use
Garrison information
Current
commander		 Captain Robyn Phillips, RAN
Garrison Fleet Air Arm
Occupants
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: NOA, ICAO: YSNW
Elevation122 metres (400 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
03/212,046 metres (6,713 ft)  Asphalt
08/262,094 metres (6,870 ft) Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart [1]

HMAS Albatross is the main naval air station for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm. The base, located near Nowra, New South Wales, was formally established in May 1942 as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra, then was transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Nabbington in 1944, and operated as a naval air station until it was decommissioned in late 1945. In 1948, the airfield was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Albatross, as the primary shore base for the Fleet Air Arm. Since 2011, five squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm operate from Albatross. The current commander of the base is Captain Robyn Phillips, RAN.

Contents

The base is home to the military airport Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra( IATA : NOA, ICAO : YSNW), completed in June 1941.

History

The current site of HMAS Albatross was identified in 1938 and land was purchased in June 1939. Construction proceeded at what seems to be a leisurely pace considering it was war time, until the airfield was declared operational in June 1941. The airfield was used by squadrons of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers of RAAF when it opened in May 1942. Martin Marauder bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) were also based there in 1942–43 for training as torpedo bombers. [2] [3]

In 1944, the need for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for shore bases led to RAAF Nowra, due to its proximity to Jervis Bay, being transferred to the RN, being renamed HMS Nabbington. This base was used by Mobile Overseas Naval Air Base (MONAB) No. 1 from 21 December 1944 to 15 November 1945. The base supported the British Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers by providing shore based facilities for the Carrier Air Groups when the carriers were in Sydney for repairs and resupply. At the end of the Pacific War the British Pacific Fleet returned through its main base in Australia and FAA Squadrons transited through HMS Nabbington until it was decommissioned on 15 November 1945. [2]

A-4 Skyhawk at Nowra in 1969. RAN McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk taxiing during the Fleet Air Arm 21st Anniversary of HMAS Albatross at Nowra October 1969.jpg
A-4 Skyhawk at Nowra in 1969.
The control tower at NAS Nowra photographed in early 2003, shortly before it was demolished and replaced by another tower, just visible in the background. NAS Control Tower 28-4-03.jpg
The control tower at NAS Nowra photographed in early 2003, shortly before it was demolished and replaced by another tower, just visible in the background.

HMS Nabswick (Mobile Naval Air Base / MONAB 5) moved from the nearby Jervis Bay airfield to Nowra where it operated until 18 March 1946 when the unit was decommissioned and the site was returned to the RAAF. [2]

In 1947, the RAN's own Fleet Air Arm was formed, and the Nowra airfield was chosen to be its main shore base. HMAS Albatross was commissioned on 31 August 1948, taking the name previously carried by the RAN's seaplane carrier, and the first squadrons were delivered by the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney in May 1949. Over the course of the next decades, the RAN purchased larger, faster and more capable aircraft, which led to the facilities at Albatross being expanded - workshops and test facilities for jets were installed following the entry into service of the De Havilland Sea Venom in 1955, while a new control tower was built in 1958. The purchase of A-4 Skyhawks and S-2 Trackers with advanced avionics led to more facilities being installed in the late 1960s to service them. [2] [4]

On 5 December 1976, a fire was deliberately lit by a Fleet Air Arm member in the aircraft hangar. The fire destroyed all of the Royal Australian Navy's First batch of A-4G Skyhawks and destroyed or seriously damaged twelve of the thirteen S-2 Trackers in the RAN's possession. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

The Skyhawk and Tracker squadrons flew from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne until the carrier was decommissioned on 30 June 1982. This signalled the beginning of the end of the Fleet Air Arm's front line fixed wing capabilities, and also a scaling back of activities at Albatross. [2]

In February 1991 RNZAF A-4 Skyhawks were stationed at the base to provide the ADF with Air Defence Support and participated in many exercises often flying below radar coverage and ambushing Australian warships on a number of occasions. A total of six Skyhawks and 50-60 RNZAF personnel were stationed at Nowra until No. 2 Squadron RNZAF and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF were disbanded following election of the Labour Government under Helen Clark in December 2001.

Facilities and operational units

As of 2017, Albatross served as the home base for the 723 Squadron, 725 Squadron, 808 Squadron, and the 816 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm. [10] In addition, Albatross is the home base for the Navy Aviation Group, which coordinates all of the RAN's aviation activities. 'The following lodger units are located at Albatross:

In addition, Albatross is the home of the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Royal Australian Navy Historic Flight.

Since 1986 there have been Learjet target tugs based at Albatross, operated by civilian companies under contract to the RAN. The first company was Lloyd Aviation, then from 1990 to 1996 Fleet Support (a company later bought by National Jet Systems) and from 1996 until the present Pel-Air. Each company has used four to five Learjet 35/36 series aircraft to provide the services; [12] present incumbent Pel-Air also uses IAI Westwinds for non target-towing support operations.

The naval base had the unusual distinction of being shared by a small civilian passenger terminal, which at various times was utilised by the Masling and later Southern Cross Airways companies flying Beechcraft Queenair propeller driven aircraft on scheduled services on Sydney - Nowra - Moruya. Until 2004, the Royal Australian Navy Gliding Association (RANGA) also operated from the runways at Albatross with a small fleet of gliders used by both Navy and civilian members.

Motor racing

On 16 June 1947 and 7 December 1952 motor racing was held at HMAS Albatross. [13] The first meeting, featuring the 1947 Championship of New South Wales, [14] used all of the main runways, for a lap distance of 7.00 kilometres (4.35 mi), while the 1952 event used taxiways, hard-stands and aprons for a shorter lap of 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi). [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

HMAS <i>Melbourne</i> (R21) 1955–1982 Majestic-class aircraft carrier of Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 until 1982, and was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Carrier Air Group</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Carrier Air Group

The 3rd Carrier Air Group was an aircraft carrier air group of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed in August 1945, based at HMS Nabbington, a Royal Navy, Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB), established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales, in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval air station</span> Military airbase under naval command

A naval air station is a military air base, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of a navy. These bases are typically populated by squadrons, groups or wings, their various support commands, and other tenant commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm (RAN)</span> Naval aviation arm of the Royal Australian Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA), known formerly as the Australian Navy Aviation Group, is the division of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) responsible for the operation of aircraft. The FAA was founded in 1947 following the purchase of two aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy. FAA personnel fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and participated in later conflicts and operations from host warships.

Jervis Bay Airfield is a military aerodrome in the Jervis Bay Territory in Australia. It is the only aerodrome in the territory and is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Sussex Inlet; and about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Jervis Bay Village and HMAS Creswell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">816 Squadron RAN</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys and Royal Australian Navys Fleet Air Arm

816 Squadron is a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron that started out as a Royal Navy unit, 816 Naval Air Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile Naval Air Base</span> Royal Navy mobile logistics support for the Fleet Air Arm

The Mobile Naval Airfield Organisation (MNAO) was the shore-based component of the naval air logistics organisation. This comprised two types of units, a Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) and a Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard (TAMY). These were mobile units, the first of which formed in 1944, to provide logistical support to the Fleet Air Arm squadrons of the Royal Navy's British Pacific Fleet, towards the end of World War II.

HMS Nabbington, was a Royal Navy (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB), that was established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales, in Australia during the final stages of the Second World War. HMS Nabbington was also known as MONAB I and Royal Naval Air Station Nowra.

HMS Nabberley was a Royal Navy (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Bankstown in Sydney, Australia. HMS Nabberley was also known as MONAB II and Royal Naval Air Station Bankstown.

HMS Nabthorpe was a Royal Navy, (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) situated at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Station Schofields located at Schofields, New South Wales during the final year of the Second World War. HMS Nabthorpe was also known as MONAB III and Royal Naval Air Station Schofields.

724 Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm flying squadron. The squadron was formed for the first time in 1945 and was last disbanded in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm Museum (Australia)</span> Museum devoted to the history of Australian naval aviation.

The Australian Fleet Air Arm Museum, formerly known as Australia's Museum of Flight, is a military aerospace museum located at the naval air station HMAS Albatross, near Nowra, New South Wales. The museum was opened in 1990, although efforts to preserve artifacts related to Australia's naval aviation history began in 1974. The museum houses aircraft used throughout the history of the Fleet Air Arm, the naval aviation branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), along with other aircraft of relevance to Australia's aviation history, and memorabilia relating to Australian aircraft carriers. The museum includes 34 aircraft and helicopters in its collection. It is open to the public daily, except for major public holidays. The museum building is also home to Albatross Aero Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Australian naval aviation</span>

The first involvement Australia had with naval aviation was in 1911, when an Australian-born Royal Navy officer became one of the first four naval officers to receive pilot qualifications. During World War I, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) experienced several forms of airborne operation, with HMAS Brisbane operating a seaplane, while HMA Ships Sydney and Australia were used for experiments with aircraft launch platforms. An aircraft embarked aboard Sydney was also involved in one of the first naval air battles. Several Australians also flew as part of the Royal Naval Air Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk</span> Australian carrier-based attack aircraft

The McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk is a variant of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft developed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The model was based on the A-4F variant of the Skyhawk, and was fitted with slightly different avionics as well as the capacity to operate AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The RAN received ten A-4Gs in 1967 and another ten in 1971, and operated the type from 1967 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">721 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

721 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). 721 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Gadwall, RNAS Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the beginning of March 1945, as a Fleet Requirements Unit for the British Pacific Fleet. Initially equipped with Vultee Vengeance target tugs, it arrived at HMS Nabaron, RNAS Ponam, Admiralty Islands in May 1945, and commenced operations towing targets. The squadron moved to HMS Nabsford, RNAMY Archerfield, Brisbane, Australia, during October and then relocated to Hong Kong at the beginning of 1946, moving to HMS Nabcatcher, RNAS Kai Tak, where it eventually disbanded at the end of 1947.

1843 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm between 1943 and 1945 and then a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron from 1953 to 1957. It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, in May 1944, as a fighter squadron. It arrived in the UK aboard HMS Trouncer in August. Based at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland and training at HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, Scotland, the squadron had deck landing training aboard HMS Patroller in December, before joining HMS Arbiter in February 1945, as part of the 10th Naval Fighter Wing. Sailing to Australia, the squadron became part of the 3rd Carrier Air Group, but saw no action before the war ended and disbanded in October 1945. It reformed as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch anti-submarine squadron, in the Scottish Air Division, from 1953 and disbanded in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1844 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Reserve Air Squadron

1844 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm between 1943 and 1945 and then a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron from 1954 to 1957. It formed in Northern Ireland at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, in December 1943, as a fighter squadron. It embarked in HMS Begum, in February 1944, for the Far East, arriving in Ceylon, in June and joining HMS Indomitable the following month. August, September and October saw the squadron undertake photographic reconnaissance and provide fighter cover for the attacks on Indaroeng and Emmahaven in Sumatra, then on Sigli, followed by the Nicobar Islands respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1845 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

1845 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick, United States, in June 1944 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk III fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Puncher on 30 August, disembarking to HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, on 18 September and joining the 10th Naval Fighter Wing. It re-equipped with twenty-four Vought Corsair Mk IV, and embarked HMS Slinger in December, sailing for the British Pacific Fleet, the squadron was disbanded in April 1945, and its aircraft and personnel absorbed into squadrons aboard the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Victorious. On 1 June it reformed in Australia as a single seater fighter squadron at HMS Nabsford, RNAMY Archerfield, Queensland, and it shortly later became a spare squadron in the 3rd Carrier Air Group at HMS Nabbington, RNAS Nowra, New South Wales. With the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded on 24 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman S-2 Tracker in Australian service</span> The anti-submarine aircrafts service with the Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy operated Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine warfare aircraft from 1967 to 1984. The type flew from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and shore bases. A total of 32 Trackers were purchased in two batches which were delivered in 1967 and 1977.

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, 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 until June 1946.

References

  1. ↑ YSNW – Nowra  (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia , effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 11 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "HMAS Albatross History". Royal Australian Navy . Australian Government. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd (29 September 2016). "Investigation of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances at HMAS Albatross: Preliminary Site Investigation (Executive Summary)" (PDF). Department of Defence . Australian Government. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "A Short History of HMAS Albatross". Naval Historical Review (Reprint ed.). Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. June 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "12 RAN Aircraft Burnt" The Canberra Times – 6 December 1976, p. 1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015
  6. ↑ "Nowra Air Station Fire" The Canberra Times – 6 December 1976, p. 1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015
  7. ↑ "Court Martial After Nowra Base Fire" The Canberra Times – 14 April 1977, p. 9 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015
  8. ↑ Lind, Lew (1986) [1982]. The Royal Australian Navy - Historic Naval Events Year by Year (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Reed Books. p. 291. ISBN   0-7301-0071-5. OCLC   16922225.
  9. ↑ Hall, Timothy (1982). HMAS Melbourne. North Sydney, NSW: George Allen & Unwin. p. 19. ISBN   0-86861-284-7. OCLC   9753221.
  10. ↑ "HMAS Albatross". Royal Australian Navy . Australian Government. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "3 Wing AAFC – NSW & ACT". Australian Air Force Cadets. 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Australian Aviation magazine, ISSN 0813-0876; various issues between 1986 and 1996, including No. 34, September 1986; No. 59, August 1990; No. 83, December 1992 and No. 123, November 1996.
  13. ↑ Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits 1904-1995. Sydney: Turton & Armstrong. p. 114. ISBN   0908031556.
  14. ↑ Nowra Car Races, Australian Motor Sports, 15 July 1947, pages 26-31
  15. ↑ Galpin, Darren. "Nowra". GEL Motorsport Information Page. Retrieved 10 June 2017.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.