Sydney region airfields question.

[corsair67]

While on the train from Richmond to Sydney recently I noticed a disused airfield near Schofields, does anyone know anything about this airfield? I believe that the RN/RAN operated near Schofields during/after WW2, but I don't know if the place I saw was the same airfield.

The airfield boundary wasn't very far away from the train tracks, probably no more than 50 metres away.

Any information appreciated.

[FlyNavy]

Craig, For the old RAN 'birdies' this is their home field. HMAS Nirimba was previously the Schofields airfield turned into the RAN apprentice training base with most birdie maintainers coming from there in its heyday. I can't recall when HMAS Nirimba was closed, the airfield was closed in the 1950s I think. During WW2 Schofields was the sister field to Nowra. I will look on the web for convenient history info.

This URL shows what is happening there today:
wsi.tafensw.edu.au/Colleges/nirimba/Welcome.htm
&
"HMAS Nirimba 50th anniversary
The 50th anniversary of the founding of the RAN training establishment HMAS Nirimba will occur in 2006. To mark the occasion, it is proposed to hold a reunion the ANZAC week of 2006 in Canberra. Interest is sought regarding participation from ex-Mobis, Muppets, Mechs, foreign students, multi-phase trainees, ship's staff and trainers both Navy and civillian. Further information from Jake Jacobs [phone] or [e-mail] or Murray Baker [phone] [e-mail]"
&
This URL shows an apprentice passing out parade many years ago:
libapp.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus/ENQ/PM/FULL1?145913,I
&
Anzac Day in Canberra last was a big reunion day:
www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2006/05/02/248_news.html

I guess if you Google 'RAAF Schofields' / 'HMAS Nirimba' you will find more than enough information.
Phil.

[planeimages]

I have had a bit to do with Schofields over the years. It was an RAAF base during the war years and beyond. My father flew the communications flights in Dakotas to Iwakuni in Japan from Schofields during the Korean confilct.

We visited the base on a number of occasions including an airshow circa 1949-50.

In the 1960s motor races were held there, the famous "Pete" Geoghegan drove a supercharged Standard 10. I went to the final motor event on 11/12/1993 and won the FTD for the standing 1/4 mile sprint in my supercharged Mawer Formula Ford-based car. It was stinking hot... the day and he car! This event marked the closure of the base as HMAS Nirimba.

I also flew in and out of there on several occasions including an airshow on 18th March 1983.

The Schofields Flying Club operated from the field for quite a few years with a displaced threshold on two runways. The east/west direction was shortened because the area now known as Nirimba was fenced off the develop the colleges on that part of the field. The Schofields airshows were the Genesis of the Avalon shows with Ian Honnery and his team.

A large hangar was constructed for the Alan Bond airship and, at last sighting, the structure was still standing.

Later I hired the site for driver training courses from March 1999 until July 2003.

During the Olympic Games the site was used for security training and the opening/closing ceremony practices. A large supply of portable electrical generators was stored there on standby. Security was tight.

The site has fallen into disrepair and the indications are that it will be sold. An advertisement appeared in the papers last weekend offering a large site for sale for light industrial use at "Marsden Park" and this is likely to be at least adjacent to if not the actual Schofields site.

[corsair67]

Phil and Peter, thanks so much for all that information, and now that I know a bit more about the place I will have a look at Google as well.

Peter, there was a large curved steel hangar on one side of the airfield, so I'm assuming that would be the Bond airship hangar you were talking about?

The place looked pretty overgrown and the weeds are certainly taking over.

[planeimages]

Yes, that's the one. There is also a square hangar on the northern side of the field which is not visible to people on the main road. This had evidence of tool shops when we were there.

From what I can recall very few if any of the original RAN/RAAF buldings are extant on the Nirimba side.

There is a plaque in a memorial garden just inside the security gate to Nirimba which details the history of the site.

I think I have Googled sites which contain the history of the land before military occupation.

[planeimages]

These two sites will give you some background.

www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/our-city/history/the-people/john-schofield.cfm


www.schofields-flying-club.com.au/newsletter/feb05.htm#a7