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Visits from the Flag Officer Naval Air Pacific’s Staff during July
were paid by Commander (A) Wilson and Staff Medical Officer, Surgeon
Captain MacDowell, arriving on the 18th. Commander Wilson developed
mumps on the last day of his visit and remained at Ponam for a
further two weeks until he had recovered. Both these visitors were
of the greatest value to the officers of HMS Nabaron, especially as
the officers concerned were able to stay long enough to appreciate
what living conditions on the station were really like. The
recommendations made by them on their return to Sydney produced
quick results in respect of outstanding commanding officer’s
reports. HMS Unicorn, collected damaged airframes for repair on the
31st. The month of July saw only 6 reserve aircraft received, issues
were up, at 53.
August started with a visit from F.O.N.A.P. (the Flag Officer Naval
Air (Pacific)) together with Commodore Air Train, and the Staff Air
Engineering Officer and Flag Lieutenant. The visitors carried out an
inspection tour of the facilities at Ponam, returning to Sydney the
next day. The supply of fresh fruit and vegetables by air and the
provision of Leave Planes to Sydney were discussed. Both these
services were started shortly after Flag Officer Naval Air Pacific's
return to Australia, and were much appreciated by all personnel.
Rear Admiral Fleet Train (R.A.F.T.), arrived at Ponam on board HMS
Montclaire on the 8th to assess the supply arrangements for
replacement airframes for use by the replenishment carriers of the
Fleet Train, he departed two days later. The opportunity for some
recreational activities presented itself; there was a great deal of
inter-ship sporting activity and everybody enjoyed the visit.
Further stores were disembarked from the ferry carrier HMS Chaser on
August 12th, it was intended that she should remain at Ponam to do
D.L.T. with the reserve 1st Line crews, but she was required for
another commitment and this had to be cancelled.
15th August 1945, the first leave plane to be authorised since the
unit’s arrival at Ponam departed for Sydney a few hours before the
men on Ponam heard the official news of the cessation of hostilities
with Japan. Victory over Japan (V-J) Day was celebrated on Ponam
16th August.
Although the war was officially over work continued at Ponam as
usual, two days after the celebrations of V-J Day HMS Slinger
arrived to collect damaged aircraft for transport to T.A.M.Y. I (HMS
Nabsford, Archerfield, Brisbane), 1841 Squadron disembarked it’s
Corsair IVs from HMS Formidable, re-embarking the next day. On the
23rd 12 of 1850 Sqdn's Corsair IVs disembarked from HMS Vengeance in
advance of the ships arrival. Vengeance arrived at the fleet
anchorage at Manus on the 28th and disembarking 6 Barracudas of 812
Sqdn to Ponam, together with 52 Officers & 43 ratings for short R &
R.
August 30th saw the arrival of Captain C.J. Blake, to assume command
of RNAS Ponam, Captain Bingley being unfit to return to duty.
Captain Blake had orders to place RNAS Ponam on one month’s notice
to close down; the Forward A/C Pool at Pityilu airstrip was to be
closed by mid September. The 812 Sqdn detachment and R & R party
re-embarked in Vengeance. Issues and receipts for August were 48
reserve A/C received, 28 replacements issued.
HMS Unicorn returned on September 17th to evacuate the Forward
Aircraft Pool; the RN element of Pityilu airstrip was closed down,
all stocks of reserve Aircraft having been flown to Ponam. On
the 26th M.S.R. 6 embarked in HMS Vindex which arrived at
Ponam at breakfast time. The unit was to be embarked for
passage to Australia, sailing a few days later. The stations MONAB
component units begin preparations for embarkation; RNAS Ponam began
running down to closure.
Further equipment problems arose on the 19th September; without the
use of American equipment no aircraft could be transferred by
lighter from shore to ship or vice versa. The American 'A' Frame,
used with great success for this purpose, was found not to have
sufficient height to lift a Barracuda, eight of these aircraft were
at Ponam (ex Pityilu), for transfer by lighter to ship. The
Barracuda was a new aircraft in the pacific theatre; they equipped
the four new light Fleet Carriers Glory, Colossus, Venerable, and
Vengeance, which joined the BPF in mid-August. MONAB IV was not
designed to support these aircraft, so unless a suitable crane was
found (one had been requested on several occasions), improvised
methods of slinging will have to be devised, a situation which was
regarded as less than satisfactory.
During September opportunity was taken to embark aircraft and stores
in ships returning to Australia and a definite evacuation programme
had been made out for October. It was expected that by the end of
October that the Station would have shut down and all personnel,
stores and equipment would have left. A small rear-guard party
would be left at Ponam to hand over the loaned American equipment to
the United States Navy. The S.S. Fernmoor arrived 30 September
to take on board surplus naval and air stores. She was to remain
until the 6th October when she sailed shortly after dawn.
September’s issues and receipts were; Received 45 reserve aircraft
issued 52.
October was to be a busy month spent de-storing ship and despatching
equipment to Australia. H.M.S. Reaper arrived at teatime on the 3rd,
to embark, 'B' Flt of 1701 Sqdn for passage to MONAB VIII (HMS
Nabcatcher) at Kai Tak, Hong Kong; the squadron was never called
upon to effect an air sea rescue during it’s time at Ponam. Reaper
sailed at teatime the next day. H.M.S. Unicorn arrived late in
the afternoon of October 6th to embark M.S. R. 4 for return to
Australia. The morning of the 7th saw H.M.S. Ariadne, a fast
minelayer arrive to embark an advance party of officers for passage
to Sydney, sailing at 17.00. October 9th saw Unicorn sail at
13.15, 721 Squadron having embarked mid morning. She was to be
replaced the same day by the S.S. Empire Charmain, which arrived to
take on board the vehicles of M.A.T.M.U. 7. The Empire Charmain was
to remain at Ponam until sailing on the 16th for Sydney.
The next 9 days were spent packing the remaining stores, clearing up
the station before final departure on board Unicorn, which returned
to Ponam on the 24th to embark the remaining stores and personnel.
H.M.S. Chaser arrived on the 30th October, to load M.M.H.U. 5, two
refrigerators and two walrus aircraft. H.M. Ships Unicorn and
Chaser sailed for Australia 31st October. H.M.S. Unicorn
arrived at Sydney on November 6th. The next two days were spent
unloading stores onto the jetty for transport to Randwick.
The personnel of MONAB IV embarked in H.M.S. Slinger, anchored in
Sydney harbour on the 9th November. Slinger sailed at 14:00
the next day for passage to UK; unknown to many of the ship’s
company, at the same time, HMS Nabaron, RNAS Ponam was officially
paid off, the station returning to U.S. Navy control.
H.M.S. Slinger docked at Devonport on Christmas Day, 1945
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Page 4 of 4
The rustic church on Ponam island built by US
Seabees in their off duty time, assisted by local native volunteers.
Remembering
Ponam;
"Our
church is built from local timber and thatched with palm leaves. It is open
sided. Tree trunks laid on their sides form the seating. There are
three of us who want to be ordained when we are demobbed. We meet at
the Chaplain's cabin - a tented structure near the church - and study New
Testament Greek from my textbook. We also take it in turns to be in chapel
each morning at 06.30 to join with the Padre in Holy Communion. We start the
Service by reading the opening verses of St. John's Gospel in Greek! I don't
know what we would do if any other members of the ship's company
dropped in - perhaps they would think we were learning the local
lingo!"
Extract from wartime journal of
Bernard Brown, stores Assistant with MONAB IV
The officers and men of the Stores Department of
HMS Nabaron.
Divisions - a divisional officer reports his
division.
Extract from 'Jungle Echo' Final edition
GOOD BYE TO PONAM
"With the many departures from Ponam in recent weeks and the approach
of 'Unicorn’ to embark the remainder of us, the end of Nabaron's commission
draws near.
As a very recent arrival I am in the position of being able to write in
praise of Nabaron's achievements during her short career without being in
danger of boasting as the credit lies elsewhere than with me. Those who
commissioned Nabaron at Ludham travelled out to the Pacific, established
MONAB 4 at Ponam and ran it for over six months can look back on that period
of their service career with satisfaction at an out of the ordinary job very
well done.
To have been the most forward MONAB during the war period and to have been
for more than half a year nearer to the Equator than Plymouth is to London
are two factors which help to make the commission unusual and they also make
more creditable the performance of those concerned. We shall soon be back in
Australia and Nabaron will pay off. Indications now are that a voyage to the
U.K. in the not so far distant future is in store.
During my time here I have been very favourably impressed with the way in
which not only the Nabaron departments but all attached Units have worked
harmoniously together while still retaining their individuality. The
Nabaron Spirit is a good one so take it with you to your next job whether in
the Service or in "civvy street" and although when you are crossing
Stonehouse Bridge in the cold rain, you may not actually wish yourself
back at Ponam; you will, I hope, always remember Nabaron as a good ship in
which to have served.
Goodbye to Ponam, good luck to you all."
C. J. Blake
Captain R.N.
All
images available in the photo galleries
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