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Background of the R.A.A.F. / R.A.N. at Schofields
Location
The airfield lies 1 mile south of the township of
Schofields, 19 miles WNW of Sydney Harbour Bridge and 15 miles WNW
from Bankstown aerodrome. The airfield is bounded on one side by the
main railway line from Schofields to Sydney, and on another by a
river. Quakers Hill lies to the South east.
Beginnings
The land on which the aerodrome stands was part
of the 695 acre Pye family estate, being acquired for use as a
satellite aerodrome for R.A.A.F Richmond in 1941. Construction work
began in June 1942.
Work was slow to progress, and little had been done when the
airfield was chosen for transfer on loan to the Admiralty to operate
as shore based air facility for the newly formed British Pacific
Fleet. Construction work began again in earnest in late September
1944 when a detachment of No 2 Airfield Construction Squadron
R.A.A.F, based at Randwick Racecourse Sydney, they were to remain
until January 23rd 1945.
RN Control
The still uncompleted Schofields was handed over
to the Royal Navy on February 5th 1945 when it was occupied by the
advance party of MONAB 3,; one runway was operational at this time.
MONAB 3 commissioned the Station as Royal Naval Air Station
Schofields HMS Nabthorpe on February 18th.
November 15th 1945, the station was renamed HMS Nabstock, when MONAB
6 transferred here from RAAF Maryborough, Queensland.
HMS Nabstock and R.N.A.S. Schofields paid off on June 9th 1946, the
station being returned to R.A.A.F control the same day.
Post War
The R.A.A.F made little use of the airfield; most notable being 38
Squadron’s "Iwakani Mail Run" to Japan which was operated from
Schofields for two years.
In 1949 part of the camp was converted to house migrants, some 21
huts being outfitted as accommodation for 300 people, earning the
site the title of the Schofields Migrant Hostel. This closed
February 4 1951. in 194
In November 1950, Schofields was evaluated for use as the site of
the RAN Aircraft Repair Yard, following the formation of the Royal
Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. In 1951, the RAN moved in and
Schofields was temporarily commissioned as HMAS ALBATROSS II, RANARY
Schofields; a large number of RN Officers and sailors supplementing
the RAN Component. In January 1952, the R.A.A.F transferred control
of the base to the RAN, but remaining in residence until finally
withdrawing in September 1952.
On 1 April 1953, Royal Australian Naval Air Repair Yard Schofields
was commissioned as HMAS NIRIMBA, a joint RANARY and technical
training establishment for RAN Fleet Air Arm. The Aircraft Repair
Yard was short lived however, and was closed down in early 1955 and
HMAS Nirimba and the airfield were reduced to "Care and Maintenance"
status.
In September 1955, preparations began to recommission NIRIMBA as the
RAN Apprentice Training Establishment (RANATE) for Naval Apprentice
training. The establishment reopened in January 1956, Captain F L
George RAN assumed command. On January 4th 1956, HMAS NIRIMBA was
‘Paid off’ to recommission the next day as HMAS NIRIMBA, RAN
Apprentice Training Establishment. The first intake of the
Apprentices arrived in July 1956, with the last in January 1992.
NIRIMBA finally decommissioned on 25 February 1994, having trained
some 13,000 young men and women from the RAN and other Commonwealth
Navies, together with several thousand trainees undergoing other
courses in her 34 year history.
The aerodrome at Schofields had been operating as a civil field for
many years until it too finally closed to flying in 1994. It was the
venue of Australia’s first international Air Show on November 8th
1977 the Schofields Jubilee Air Show attracted 300 aircraft, and
exhibits from around the world.
Schofields (now titled Schofields Defence Depot) last major use was
as a rehearsal ground for the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic
Games held in Sidney.
A Wall & Rose Garden Memorial to the Armed forces that have occupied
the area in the past has been dedicated on the site of the former
HMAS Nirimba, also a Commemorative Plaque was erected on the site by
The Naval Historical Society of Australia
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