![]() In November 1950, they were joined by the Carrier Air Group of 808 and 817 Squadrons, also flying Sea Furies and Fireflies. These aircraft, operated by 805 and 816 Squadrons, disembarked to Nowra in May 1949. HMAS Albatross was commissioned in August 1948 and the 20th Carrier Air Group, comprising Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft, was brought from England to Australia by HMAS Sydney (III). The carriers were named HMA Ships Sydney (III) and Melbourne (II), and the shore facilities were at Nowra. The initial planning included purchase of two aircraft carriers, aircraft and establishment of shore facilities. In July 1947, the Commonwealth Defence Council approved the formation of a Fleet Air Arm which would be controlled and operated by the RAN. In March 1946, the base reverted to RAAF control “to be retained but not maintained”. The Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm began operations at Nowra in late October 1944, and the base was renamed HMS Nabbington. ![]() RAAF Base Nowra was considered ideal because of its proximity to Jervis Bay, which was large enough to accommodate the entire British Pacific Fleet. In 1944, the British Admiralty directed forces to the South-West Pacific necessitating shore base establishments in Australia to support the Royal Navy and its Fleet Air Arm. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) occupied the new base on and was soon followed by the US Army Air Corps and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force. ![]() The decision to build an airfield on the land now occupied by the Naval Air Station was taken soon after WWII was declared in 1939.
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