RAAF Base Nowra

HMAS Albatross
Nowra, New South Wales in Australia
A RAN Bell UH-1B Huey VH-NVV hovering at NAS Nowra in January 1996 on the occasion of the 1996 Air Day at HMAS Albatross.
Coordinates	34°56′56″S 150°32′13″E / 34.94889°S 150.53694°E / -34.94889; 150.53694Coordinates: 34°56′56″S 150°32′13″E / 34.94889°S 150.53694°E / -34.94889; 150.53694
Type	Naval air station
Site information
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	Royal Australian Navy
Website	navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-albatross
Site history
Built	May 1942 (1942-05)
In use	Royal Australian Air Force (1941 – 1944); Royal Navy (1944 – 1945); Royal Australian Navy (1948 – 1967); Royal Australian Navy (1967 – present)
Garrison information
Current commander	Captain Fiona Sneath, RAN
Garrison	Fleet Air Arm
Occupants	723 Squadron with AS350 Squirrel helicopters 725 Squadron with MH-60R Seahawk helicopters 808 Squadron with MRH-90 helicopters 816 Squadron with S-70B Seahawk helicopters

NAS Nowra

The control tower at NAS Nowra photographed in early 2003, shortly before it was demolished and replaced by another tower, just visible in the background.

IATA: NOA
ICAO: YSNW

Summary

Airport type

Military airport

Owner

Department of Defence

Operator

Royal Australian Navy

Location

Nowra, New South Wales

Built

June 1941

Elevation AMSL

400 ft / 122 m

Map

YSNW

Location in New South Wales

Runways

Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	m	ft	Surface
03/21	2,046	6,713	Asphalt
08/26	2,094	6,870	Asphalt

Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart

HMAS Albatross is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) naval air station in support of the RAN's aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm. The base, located near Nowra, New South Wales, was formally established in May 1942 as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra, then was transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Nabbington in 1944, and operated as a naval air station until it was decommissioned in late 1945. In 1948, the airfield was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Albatross, as the primary shore base for the Fleet Air Arm. Since 2011, four squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm operate from Albatross. The current commander of the base is Captain Fiona Sneath, RAN.

The base is home to the military airport Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra (IATA: NOA, ICAO: YSNW), completed in June 1941.

The current site of HMAS Albatross was identified in 1938 and land was purchased in June 1939. Construction proceeded at what seems to be a leisurely pace considering it was war time, until the airfield was declared operational in June 1941. The airfield was used by squadrons of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers of RAAF when it opened in May 1942. Martin Marauder bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) were also based there in 1942–43 for training as torpedo bombers.

In 1944, the need for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for shore bases led to RAAF Nowra, due to its proximity to Jervis Bay, being transferred to the RN, being renamed HMS Nabbington. This base was used by Mobile Overseas Naval Air Base (MONAB) No. 1 from 21 December 1944 to 15 November 1945. The base supported the British Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers by providing shore based facilities for the Carrier Air Groups when the carriers were in Sydney for repairs and resupply. At the end of the Pacific War the British Pacific Fleet returned through its main base in Australia and FAA Squadrons transited through HMS Nabbington until it was decommissioned on 15 November 1945.

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Wikipedia