The personnel & equipment for MONAB III began to assemble at R.N.A.S Ludham from 18th October 1944.

MONAB III was tasked with support of several first line aircraft types, the unit was allocated the following maintenance components:

MM 2 Corsair II & IV - Hellcat I & II - Seafire III & L.III
MS 3 Firefly I
MS 4 Seafire III & L.III

Having successfully formed up and assembled equipment and stores, MONAB III prepared for embarkation, planned for early December. The vehicles and equipment were transported over night December 2nd to Gladstone Dock, Liverpool for embarkation in S.S. Essex, L.S. 1979.

MONAB III commissioned as an independent command 4th December 1944, bearing the ship's name H.M.S. 'NABTHORPE'. Commander (A) E.W. KENTON in command. The unit’s stores and equipment sailed onboard S.S. Essex the same day.

MONAB III personnel, in company with those of MONAB II, embarked in the SS. Athlone Castle, for passage to Australia. The Athlone Castle sailed from Liverpool on December 22nd..

The Athlone Castle transited the Panama canal to enter the Pacific, and arrived in Sydney January 25th 1945. The personnel were disembarked to HMS Golden Hind and accommodated under canvas at Warwick Race course whilst awaiting allocation of operating base & the arrival of S.S. Essex, which arrived at Sydney February 4th.
 

The advance party of MONAB III arrived at R.A.A.F. Schofields on February 5th; the station was under construction at this time. The following day the station readiness was reported as: one operational runway and one Dorland transportable Hanger erected by MONAB staff. The first week on the station was spent preparing the airfield for the arrival of squadron personnel and aircraft which were sue to arrive with the arrival of the British Pacific Fleet.

The first Squadrons to disembark from the BPF carriers arrived at Schofields on the February 10th, these being 887 & 894 Squadrons with Seafire IIIs together with 1770 Squadron’s Firefly Is disembarking from HMS Indefatigable. All squadron personnel were accommodated under canvas, the station still having no permanent buildings.

The remaining elements of MONAB III arrived at Schofields on February 18th, and the station was commissioned as HMS NABTHORPE, RNAS SCHOFIELDS on that date.

February 23rd saw a second Dorland hanger completed for workshop use and 1840 Squadron's Hellcats arrived on the station, disembarking from HMS Speaker. Further aircraft arrived on the 26th February when 1845 Squadron’s Corsair IVs were disembarked from HMS Slinger. No’s 887.894 & 1770 Squadrons re-embarked in Indefatigable on February 27th so relieving some of the overcrowding at the hastily prepared station.

The beginning of March saw the arrival of 706 Squadron which moved here on the 3rd from RNAS Jervis Bay, to work up as a Crew Pool & Refresher Flying School. This was a large unit, with a total strength of 36 aircraft, equipment comprised of 6 each of Avenger, Barracuda, Corsair, Firefly, Hellcat & Seafire.

1840 squadron re-embarked in HMS Speaker on the 9th and 1845 in HMS Slinger on the 11th. These were soon to be replaced on the 18th by 1772 Squadron's Firefly Is disembarked from HMS Ruler and 885 Squadron's Hellcat Is, also disembarking from HMS Ruler on the 20th, the later was to sty until April 4th before re-embarking in Ruler.

706 Squadron, having settled in, commissioned at Schofields on April 10th to become the stations first resident flying unit. April also saw the arrival of 899 Squadron which disembarked from HMS Chaser on the 23rd; initially this unit was to become a Seafire Pool Squadron, but this was to change in July when it would become a Seafire OTU training Australian pilots in Naval flying techniques, including Deck Landings. Deck landing training was carried out in the carrier Indomitable, for the first course, and Arbiter for the second course. Successful pupils were to form the nucleus of the Australian Fleet Air Arm.

The first of May brought 1843 Squadron's Corsair IVs disembarking from HMS Arbiter; they were to stay until the 20th before rejoining HMS Arbiter. On May 9th H.M.S. Nabthorpe celebrated Victory in Europe Day, a specially prepared Victory menu was served for the ship’s company covering Breakfast, Dinner, Tea and Supper.

The start of June saw the second large scale disembarkation of squadrons form the fleet; 820 Squadron's Avengers, 887 & 894 Squadron's Seafires and 1770 Squadron’s Fireflies arriving at Schofields from Indefatigable on the 5th.
1834 & 1836 Squadrons also arrived on this date with Corsairs disembarking from HMS Victorious, staying until re-embarking on the 26th.

820 re-embarked in Indefatigable on the first of July, while 1770 Squadron's Fireflies disembarked from ‘Indefatigable’ on the 5th. 887, 894 & 1772 Squadrons embarked in Indefatigable on July 7th.

The advance party of MONAB III arrived at R.A.A.F. Schofields on February 5th; the station was under construction at this time. The following day the station readiness was reported as: one operational runway and one Dorland transportable Hanger available, thus having been erected by MONAB staff. The first week on the station was spent preparing the airfield for the arrival of squadron personnel and aircraft which were sue to arrive with the arrival of the British Pacific Fleet.

The first Squadrons to disembark from the BPF carriers arrived at Schofields on the February 10th, these being 887 & 894 Squadrons with Seafire IIIs together with 1770 Squadron’s Firefly Is disembarking from HMS Indefatigable. All squadron personnel were accommodated under canvas, the station still having no permanent buildings.

The remaining elements of MONAB III arrived at Schofields on February 18th, and the station was commissioned as HMS NABTHORPE, RNAS SCHOFIELDS on that date.

February 23rd saw a second Dorland hanger completed for workshop use and 1840 Squadron's Hellcats arrived on the station, disembarking from HMS Speaker. Further aircraft arrived on the 26th of February when 1845 Squadron’s Corsair IVs were disembarked from HMS Slinger. No’s 887.894 & 1770 Squadrons re-embarked in Indefatigable on February 27th so relieving some of the overcrowding at the hastily prepared station.