Or that a Beaufort Torpedo Squadron was based at Nowra?

Or that there was a seaplane base at St Georges Basin?

That the 6th Australian Motor Regiment, entrusted with the defence of Jervis Bay, Huskisson and Nowra, had headquarters at the Nowra Showground.

That the present day HMAS Albatross was originally known as HMS Nabbington and was home to the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm?

Members of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) were based at the Nowra airbase.

Places such as Bowen Island at the entrance to Jervis Bay, and Paringa Park on the banks of the Shoalhaven River played roles in the war effort or that two strategically placed land bound torpedo tubes were placed on the northern side of Jervis Bay at Point Perpendicular?

You will find out about these and more fascinating facts at the Shoalhaven Historical Society's Shoalhaven War Time History display at the Nowra Museum.

As well as historical information the display includes a number of incredible photographs, including some from Nowra women Von Potts, who it appears was able to gain access to a number of, what you would have thought were high security areas.

The site was designed to operate as both a civil aerodrome and an airbase for the RAAF, which was capable of having two general reconnaissance squadrons equipped with Lockheed Hudson medium bombers.

RAAF took control of the aerodrome in August 1940 and further construction works began in July 1941.

The aerodrome was commissioned as an RAAF Advance Operation Base, however aircraft were not based there permanently.

In August 1941, the RAAF began to receive Beaufort Bombers and in March 1942 one Beaufort GR Squadron and one Beaufort Torpedo Squadron relocated to Nowra.

The former navy base at Jervis Bay became the torpedo practice dropping range.

The base at Nowra proved to be unsuitable for Beaufort operations.

Extensive upgrading included extensions of the runways and sealing of them with bitumen was carried out.

The Advance Operational Base was changed to a permanent RAAF base on May 7, 1942 under the command of Wing Commander J Lerew.

The US Army Air Corps and the Netherlands East Indies Air Force were also based at the RAAF base during the war.

The RAAF base Nowra was considered the ideal choice for the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm because of its proximity to Jervis Bay.

The base was commissioned on January 2, 1945 and renamed HMS Nabbington.

Naval personnel, Royal Marines and the Fleet Air Arm began operations.

Some improvements and expansions were required in order to make the base operational.

In early March 1942 operational flying was transferred to the Jervis Bay Airfield.

HMS Nabbington remained here until the Japanese surrender in 1945.

The last crew sailed for Britain around May 1946.

The base reverted to RAAF control 'to be retained but not maintained'.

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In July 1947, the Commonwealth Defence Council approved the formation of a Fleet Air Arm which would be controlled and operated by the Royal Australian Navy and HMAS Albatross was commissioned in August 1948.

The 20th Carrier Air Group, comprising Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft, was brought from England to Australia by HMAS Sydney (III). These aircraft, operated by 805 and 816 Squadrons, disembarked to Nowra in May 1949.

In November 1950, they were joined by the Carrier Air Group of 808 and 817 Squadrons, also flying Sea Furies and Fireflies.

The Base Torpedo Unit was formed on September 7, 1942 with Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Dibbs in charge.

The Unit was formed to maintain and supply torpedoes for the RAAF for use in the Beaufort Torpedo Bombers and also provide techinical training for ground crew fitters and torpedo handlers.

The Unit consisted of a main workshop, compressor house, guard house, armament section, gyro workshop and experimental tail section and a headquarters building.

The workshop shared facilities with the US Navy.

The magazines for the torpedo warheads, detonators and primers were stored in reinforced igloo shaped structures. Some of these structures still exist in the vicinity of BTU Road.

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When the No 6 Operation Training Unit was disbanded and the aerodrome became HMS Nabbington a full unit was built at the Base Torpedo Unit which made the unit completely self-contained.

The Unit was disbanded in March 1947, and the land it occupied was put up for auction.

The BTU Road connected the Base Torpedo Unit to the Nowra Airfield and torpedoes were moved along this road to the airfield.

No 6 Operational Training Unit was established in June 1943, it would be responsible for the operational training of aircrew and replacements for the Beaufort Torpedo Squadrons, as well as refresher training for aircrew from operational squadrons.

No 6 OTU was developed out of the Base Torpedo Unit (BTU) when it became apparent that it was really incapable of carrying out the demanding dual functions of torpedo training for aircrew as well as being the chief centre for torpedo matters.

No 6 OTU had a strength of some 275 aircrew and ground staff, with an aircraft strength of 22 Beaufort bombers.

In late 1943, No 6 OTU began moving from Nowra to a nearby airfield at Jervis Bay.

Training was made as realistic as possible, as the airborne training needed to concentrate on flying at very low level over water and in formation.

The converted ferry HMAS Burra-Bra was used as a target ship in Jervis Bay.

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Early in 1944 it appeared that torpedo use in operations was dropping away.

No 6 OTU returned to Nowra and was disbanded in March 1944.

There were 234 aircrew recorded in the Base Torpedo Unit and No 6 OTU Operational Record Books as having been killed during training.

In July 1944 the RAAF No 107 Squadron transferred from the Rathmines base to St Georges Basin with 15 Vought Sikorsky Kingfisher float planes, 27 officers and 163 airmen.

The Kingfisher was a large single float, with wheels incorporated for coming ashore, while two wing tip floats kept it stable on the water.

It had a crew of two, a pilot and an observer.

The unit appears to have operated independently from RAAF Nowra.

They conducted a great number of coastal surveillance and anti-submarine patrols.

It is unknown to the general public but many ships are sunk along the NSW and Queensland coasts by the Japanese and German submarines.

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No 107 Squadron departed St Georges Basin for Lake Boga in August 1945 and in October 1, 1945 it was disbanded.

The 6th Australian Motor Regiment was raised from part-time Militia forces, the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

Following Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the regiment mobilised for full time service.

Their duties were to assume positions along the southern NSW coast to defend against a possible invasion.

Squadron A and equipment were moved into the area, under the command of Colonel Treasure, with headquarters at the Nowra Showground.

The regiment was entrusted with the defence of Jervis Bay, Huskisson and Nowra.

They established defence positions, erecting barbed wire barricades around the Bay's beaches, military exercises in all weather conditions, carrying out 24-hour duties and general training for battle.

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Squadron A was sent to Mayfield at Pyree, east of Nowra, (about 100 men) and they camped around Mayfield hill.

After four months occupation the squadron moved back to the Nowra Showground at the Added Area.

Founded in 1941, the initial aim was to release men for combat duties but the WAAAF soon became a vital part of almost every RAAF activity in wartime Australia.

Women were nor permitted to serve as aircrew but carried out more than 70 roles, including radar operations, parachute packers, instrument repairs and drivers.

A WAAAF unit was based at the Nowra air station.

The WAAAF demobilised after the war but in 1950 the formation of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) signified the important need for additional support for the peacetime RAAF.

Despite lower rates of pay and requirement to leave the service after marriage, WRAAF officers and servicewomen fought for better conditions and opportunities.

In 1977, women transferred to the RAAF and the WRAAF was disbanded.

During World War II the quarry was used as a boat building yard, with timber framed boats constructed for the navy.

An open frame structure was built over most of the area and a mess hall was constructed.

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The boat building was run by the South Coast Co-Operative Shipbuilding Canning and Development Society Limited.

The 66 foot wooden boats were launched and floated down the river with the tide to meet the naval ships at the Shoalhaven River heads for towing to Sydney, to be fitted out and engines installed.

Bowen Island was taken over for defence purposes in 1942.

Several buildings in the form of cottages and a gun emplacement were constructed, with around 120 men billeted on the island.

The army gave up the island in 1943.

In 1945 the RAAF erected a hut on the northern extremity of the island as an observation post for torpedo trials.

The RAAF stopped using the island in May 146.

To protect the ships and Jervis Bay from seabound enemy attack, strategically placed land bound torpedo tubes were installed.

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Two sets of tubes in total were placed on the north side of the bay.

One just inside Point perpendicular, outer tubes, and the inner tubes at Little Boat Harbour.

On April 14, 1943, a dummy torpedo attack display was held for a group of war correspondents onboard HMAS Burra-Bra in Jervis Bay.

At the end of the demonstration the three Beauforts taking part in the exercise began a high speed low level fly-by past HMAS Burra-Bra then started a Prince of Wales break up formation.

This involves the lead aircraft climbing steeply while the other two aircraft execute steep climbing turns to the left and right.

Beaufort A9-27 was the lead aircraft, unfortunately A9-268's wingtip hit A9-27's tail in the manoeuvre.

A9-268 immediately rolled over and hit the water while A9-27 continued to climb almost vertically minus its tail until it lost all control and fell into Jervis Bay. There were no survivors.

The Nowra Museum, run by the Shoalhaven Historical Society, is located in the former Nowra Police Station, on the corner of Kinghorne and Plunkett streets and is open Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm. Entry is free.

Read more: Local History

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