H.M.S. Pioneer disembarked the F.A.P. at Pityilu Island on the 21st another US. Navy built coral airstrip, 22 Miles East of Ponam, to establish the stock of spare aircraft for the Air Train (the name given to the aircraft supply element of the Fleet Train). It appears that the Americans granted lodger facilities for the RN at Pityilu airfield, which was still in use as an air maintenance depot. The facility was in use by HM Ships Unicorn & Pioneer for maintenance test flying of airframes that had been repaired onboard; these were Fleet Train aircraft maintenance and repair ships, a test flight had been established on Pityilu sometime after the first operational strikes were carried out by the BPF.

During the month of June Ponam received 72 reserve aircraft delivered by ferry carriers, the station issued 44 replacements.

A visit was paid during June by the Malariologist on the Staff of Vice Admiral (Q), who reported favourably on the state of the island from the Health and Hygiene point of view. June saw the numbers accommodated in the island were at their highest. The new arrivals in the form of 721 and 1701 Squadrons together with M.S.R. 6, and 1843 Squadron from H.M.S. Arbiter, who stayed for about three weeks.

Casual visitors from H.M.S. Implacable and recreational parties from the Fleet were also accommodated for periods of 48 hours. The organisation coped with these additional numbers satisfactorily, except for the extra strain on the Officers' Cooks and Stewards.  MONAB IV’s complement, including M.S.R.s 4 & 6, but excluding squadron personnel, totalled around 785 men, but the unit was tasked to provide accommodation for up to a further 930 officers and men from both resident and disembarked squadrons. At it's maximum capacity HMS Nabaron could be home to 1700 men; overflow accommodation for squadron personnel was provided in the form of native style reed huts along the edges of the lagoon, these were found to be more than adequate for temporary housing.

During this period, few a days after 880 squadron had arrived, someone found a dead Japanese soldier trapped between rocks close by the ‘bathing beach’, where he had been since the Island was recaptured in late spring of the year before.

The ‘bathing beach’ was at a little bay along the side of the lagoon where either the Japanese, or the Americans, had formed a deep pool in the coral using explosives. Those who used it found it to be only slightly cooler in the lagoon than ashore in the shade, the water temperature was about 90 degrees F. hot enough for a warm bath.

There were two fatal accidents at Ponam, both during June; one involved a Vengeance Target Tug of 721 Fleet Requirement’s Unit, the other a Seafire of 880 squadron.

On June 12th, a Vengeance TT.IV (HB546) of 721 FRU, experienced control problems on the take off run, it is believed that either the rudder or one of the ailerons locked causing the aircraft to swing to port. The aircraft crossed the airfield boundary and entered the lagoon. The aircraft turned over on impact with the water and quickly sank in 15 ft of water. Onlookers, including men of M.S.R. 6 ran to the spot where the aircraft had entered the lagoon, several diving in to attempt a rescue.

The pilot Lt H Kirby never emerged; trapped in his cockpit he drowned before a rescue boat could reach his position, and the divers could not gain access to the canopy with the aircraft being upside down. The men how bravely attempted to free him suffered gasoline burns from the 100 Octane petrol which was floating on the surface of the lagoon, some needing to recover in the ship’s sick bay.

S/Lt Peter Record of 880 squadron was killed on June 20th when his Seafire L.III (PP957) hit radio masts on approach to a final landing on completion of a set of ADDLs. The layout of Ponam’s runway was not suited to the landing approach methods required for landing on board carriers so a modified approach was used which involved landing halfway down the runway.

This modification worked fine for the ADDLs but was not reinforced by the tower when landing instructions were given at the end of the practice session. S/Lt Record reverted to a normal carrier approach in order to achieve the maximum possible landing run and turned into the radio mast near the end of the runway. The Seafire overturned as it hit the runway, pinning the pilot in the cockpit. Onlookers watching the ADDLs rushed up and attempted to extract the pilot by lifting the aircraft’s tail high in the air, the pilot had hit the gun sight and had been knocked unconscious, and unable to get out. Before anyone could get in to pull the pilot out the whole aircraft went up in flames, engulfing those nearby and causing them to drop the tail back on the runway. Moments later the fire tender arrived, however because life would have been impossible in the heavy fireproof, asbestos suits it’s crew were dressed in bathing shorts and could not enter the flames straight away. The C02 extinguishers had difficulty in dousing the flames sufficiently for the pilot to be dragged clear immediately, finally a crane arrived, and a strop was slid under the tail to lift it high enough to pull him clear. S/Lt Record was evacuated to the sickbay, but he died from his injuries several hours later.

Both pilots were buried at sea off Ponam from the deck of a modified aircraft lighter. The occasions were marred by the discovery that the unit’s bugler, drafted as such to HMS Nabaron, was unable to sound off either the Last Post or Reveille. Official comment on this matter read ‘It is considered that when the number of buglers is only one, a proficient one should be provided’.

Mobile Air Torpedo Maintenance Unit No. 7 arrived on board S.S. Clan Chattan on the 6th July, transferred to Ponam from MONAB V (HMS Nabswick, Jervis Bay, N.S.W.). Further provisions were delivered by S.S. Fort Dunvegan on the 15th.
 

On the 18th HMS Pioneer delivered stores and aircraft lighters to supplement the inadequate supply that arrived with the unit.

On 4th July Captain A.N.C. Bingley was taken sick, and as he showed no improvement he was discharged to R.N. Hospital, Herne Bay, Sydney on July 17th. Acting Cdr. W.S. THOMAS, D.S.O., temporarily assumed command.