The Nowra aerodrome on the day of its official opening, with three RAAF Hawker Demons among the aircraft at the air pageant. When World War II began, the RAAF looked at the aerodrome as a possible base but deemed it inadequate. It acquired land about 2km south for a new base, which is today's HMAS Albatross naval air station. The old airport closed and civil operations shifted to the military airport.