The S.S. Clan Macauley arrived at Manus on the 11th of March 1945 to unload the stores and equipment. The advance party, of 6 Officers and 57 ratings, together with elements of, M.S.R. 4, arrived at Ponam on March 13th on board HMS Speaker to begin unloading the S.S. Clan Macauley together with 3 months Victualling stores which were also awaiting their arrival, delivered by the Victualling stores carrier S.S. Fort Edmonton.

The main party arrived at Ponam on the 25th of March on board the S.S. Empire Arquebus, by this time all domestic services were functioning. The next eight days were spent in the installing equipment and organising the setting up of the ship (RN shore establishments are still classed as ships). Considerable help was received at all times from the American C.B. Unit, which was billeted on Ponam, and in the early days their aid was invaluable.

On the 2nd of April 1945 the former U.S. Naval Airfield Ponam commissioned as HMS NABARON, Royal Naval Air Station PONAM.

The first aircraft arrived almost immediately after HMS Nabaron became operational, six Corsairs being disembarked from UNICORN.  At that time Lieutenant Commander (Flying) was the only Pilot and all test flying of the aircraft, and routine trips in the station’s Stinson Reliant ‘runabout’ had all to be carried out by him.  It was felt that one or two Station Pilots should be included in the initial complement of a forward area MONAB. Another major short coming was parachutes, 3 Pilot type Parachutes were supposed to be included in the main stores, these had not been supplied even by the time the Pilot strength had been increased to four, consequently all flying had to be centred round three borrowed parachutes. These shortcomings and others were included in the monthly reports to F.O.N.A.P. by the commanding officer.
 

The absence of any crane able to lift any type of naval aircraft was a serious omission, the U.S. Navy had a Seabee maintenance unit stationed on Ponam and they came to Nabaron’s rescue.  With the arrival of Squadrons it became apparent that additional vehicles of the 15 Cwt type and/or Jeeps should have been allowed for as squadron transport. Although 4 Jeeps were laid down as part of the complement of the ''F" component, only two were received. before leaving the UK  The Crash Tenders originally supplied were found to be obsolete and useless.  These and other shortcomings were represented to Flag Officer Naval Air Pacific and two new crash tenders were eventually supplied.

The maintenance of parachutes also does not seem to have been considered by the Admiralty, no tables or even packing sheets were provided. In a damp and hot climate like those experienced in the tropics, it is hard to speculate on the fate of any parachutes, had not a complete installation equipped with dehumidifying plant been left by the U.S.N.

The Station Flight of Reliant Aircraft proved to be invaluable, being continuously employed carrying Personnel, Stores and correspondence up and down the reef.

From the unit’s arrival until the beginning of September maintenance of the camp electrical services were carried out in conjunction with the American Seabee unit.  Nabaron personnel did the majority of the work since the American unit had only one electrical rating.  Work carried out included general maintenance of galley electrical machinery, the telephone system and lighting system, rewiring of old installations and erection of new wiring for new requirements, replacement of poles, and the re-organisation followed by the maintenance of the runway lighting system. This endless task kept a party of one Chief Electrical Artificer, one Petty Officer Wireman, one Leading Wireman and six other ratings continuously occupied.
 

On the 30th of April HMS Nabaron commenced a programme of training for aircrews, two Avenger aircraft together with four spare crews disembarking from the ferry carrier HMS Fencer. This was to be the start of the build-up of the reserve aircraft to be held at the station; by the end of May 40 reserve airframes had been received from the ferry carriers. There were no aircraft issues made during this period. May also saw the arrival of, 721 Naval Air Squadron, which disembarked from HMS Begum with 6 Vengeance TT.IVs to become the resident Fleet Requirements Unit. Also arriving with Begum was 'B' Flt of 1701 Air Sea Rescue Sqdn equipped with 3 Sea Otter Is to begin operations from Ponam. HMS Implacable arrived at Manus on the 29th to begin a six week work up period, Ponam was used for Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landing (ADDL) training during this time, along with other flying by Avengers disembarked from the fleet carrier. 801 & 880 squadrons disembarked 6 aircraft from each unit together with 828 squadron’s 15 Avengers to Ponam on the 28th, in advance of Implacable’s arrival at Manus. 801 & 880’s detachments re-embarking on the 31st. The end of May saw 1843 Sqdn's 24 Corsair IVs disembarked from HMS Arbiter on the 31st; they were to stay ashore until the 25th June.

The first of June saw the arrival of MSR 6 from Australia; this additional unit was equipped to service Firefly I, Seafire III & L.III and Sea Otter aircraft. The origins of this unit are unclear but it would appear that it was attached to MONAB IV primarily for support of 1701 squadron’s aircraft. The same day saw the arrival of the S.S. Fort Alabama with a further three months stores. ADDLs continued Seafire aircraft of both by 801 and 880 squadrons and 1771 squadrons Fireflies being frequent visitors to the station.

1771 squadron disembarked a detachment of 7 aircraft, 9th June, 828 re-embarked 6 of its aircraft on this date, the remaining 9 together with 1771’s aircraft re-embarked on the 12th. The next squadron visitors arrived on the 19th, 12 of 885 Squadron's Hellcats disembarked from HMS Ruler to spend a week of intensive A.D.D.L.s and live firing, a few Corsairs were attached to the Squadron during this period, the unit embarked in HMS Arbiter on the 28th.

The elements of the R.N. Forward Aircraft Pool (F.A.P.) sailed from Sydney onboard HMS Pioneer on the 16th. This unit was to be a forward reserve aircraft depot, the main component being M.S.R. 1 which was detached from MONAB I (Nowra, New South Wales) from 7th June 1945. Originally the Forward Aircraft Pool was to be located at Samar in the Philippines, however operational difficulties lead to these plans being changed; Pityilu island  was offered as a compromise location.