MONAB VIII began to assemble at RNAS Middle Wallop on May 1st 1945. It was designated as a Fighter support MONAB, essentially no different from a standard MONAB which would support both fighters and torpedo bombers, its scale of issue excluded tools and spares for non fighter a/c types.

MONAB VIII  was to comprise of Mobile Maintenance unit No. 7 (MM 7), Maintenance Servicing units No. 13 & 14, and Maintenance, Storage & Resave 9. The unit was to provide support facilities fort he following aircraft types:

M.M. 7  Corsair II & IV - Firefly I - Seafire XV
M.S. 13 Corsair II & IV
M.S. 14 Seafire III & L.III

M.S.R. 9 Not known

MONAB VIII was the first unit to actually be allowed to hold a trial run camp in order to help prepare the advance party for the initial tasks they would face in setting up the unit at its operational base. This trial campo took place at Cranford, not far from Middle Wallop between 8th - 11th June; the venture involved 12 Officers and 110 ratings. Whilst there they erected Best Burkle Tents, Dorland Hangers and other equipment which required assembly before use. Opportunity was also taken to try to address some of the previously reported problems encountered by earlier MONABs.

MONAB VIII Commissioned as an independent command bearing the ship's name HMS NABCATCHER on July 1st 1945. Captain V.N. Surtees DSO, in command.

MONAB VIII, together with MSR 9, were transported by road and rail to Liverpool during the 5th and 6th of July for embarkation. The personnel embarked in the R.M.S. Maloja., stores and equipment on board the S.S. Empire Chieftain. Both vessels sailed for Sydney on the 7th.

The voyage out to Australia was via the Suez Canal, this was the first time this route, across the Indian Ocean to approach Australia from the west was to be used, the S.S. Maloja reaching Sydney on August 31st.
 

Upon arrival at Sydney the unit disembarked to HMS Golden Hind to await the allocation of an operational base, being accommodated under canvas at Warwick Racecourse during this period.

It was decided that MONAB VIII was not required for service in Australia and would be installed at Kai Tak airfield, Hong Kong.

The advance party of HMS Nabcatcher embarked in HMS Slinger, departing for Hong Kong, via Brisbane and the Philippines, on September 5th after only five days at HMS Golden Hind. MSR 9 embarked in HMS Reaper 2-3 weeks later also bound for Hong Kong.

Upon arriving in Hong Kong the advance party began unloading and transporting the unit's equipment and stores to Kai Tak and began to set up shop.

MONAB VIII commissioned Kai Tak airfield as H.M.S. Nabcatcher on September 26th.

It was to share the airfield with the R.A.F. who also began operations from the field claiming Kai Tak for themselves and proclaimed it R.A.F. Station Kai Tak – a point of contention as the Royal Navy also had plans for the station.  It was decided that the station would be jointly occupied, with two camp areas and two sets of maintenance areas. However, after many, sometimes nearly disastrous experiments at dual air traffic control, it was decided that the R.A.F. should have sole control over Air Traffic Control.

MONAB VIII was to be operated along the same lines as the units in Australia, providing shore facilities for disembarked Squadrons and operating a Fleet Requirements Unit, this would be 721 naval air squadron which arrived there early in the new year.  Kai Tak already had a naval presence before MONAB VIII arrived, a detachment of 8 corsairs from 1851 squadron was already at Kai Tak, having arrived there on September 3rd from H.M.S. Venerable; these were amongst he first aircraft to land at Kai Tak after its liberation.

A severe typhoon caused widespread damage to Kai Tak shortly after MONAB VIII had begun setting up its equipment, the winds were so severe that the canvas covers were ripped of a newly erected Dorland Hanger, they were never found.

Japanese POWs were employed on the station for many moths, they were marched onto the airfield from Stanley prison each day and mustered by the Quarterdeck, they were then ordered to bow to the White Ensign as a mark of respect. POW working parties repaired fences, dug ditches, pushed aircraft in and out of hangers etc. The former Japanese officers were allowed to administer discipline when necessary, in many cases such disciplinary action would be taken in front of the mustered POWs before work commenced.