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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S Government
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
CL
191
SECRET.
C.0.S.(40) 475.
19TH JUNE, 1940.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
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COPY NO.
475
A.A. PROTECTION FOR AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY.
Note by Chief of the Air Staff.
At the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff held on 15th June, at 3 p.m, a discussion took place on the Air Defence of the Aircraft Industry, and I undertook to investigate this question and put forward proposals to my colleagues.
I circulate accordingly as Appendices "A" and "B" to this note two tabular statements which show (A) the sources from which the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command proposes to take H.A. guns, Bofors, and balloons in order to increase the defences of the Aircraft Industry, particularly the fighter airframe and engine potential, and (B) the defences now existing, the proposed additions, and total defences proposed at the centres which the Ministry of Aircraft Production have indicated to be key points for fighter airframes and engine production.
In bringing this proposed allocation of A.A. defences to the notice of the Committee, I wish to draw attention to the fact that, if it is implemented, there will be no mobile reserve allocated as such; and, whereas it would still be possible to move mobile guns and send them to the scene of an attempted landing, they would probably not reach their destination for three or four days.
Furthermore, it will be observed that the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief has not attempted to distribute the resources evenly between the various factories, but has concentrated on the most important at the expense of places such as Brooklands and Kingston, which are not main producing units.
It will also be observed that no redeployment of searchlights has been ordered. The experiments which have hitherto been carried out in searchlight dazzle have been unpromising, and all available searchlights are at present sited to aid gunfire and fighter interception. A further experiment on a large scale is now being staged and should shortly be completed. In anticipation of further requirements which it is certain will need to be met, (including completion of the Western belt), an indication has already been given to the War Office that it will be necessary to place another 1,500 searchlight equipments on a programme of the highest priority.
EE C.O.S.(40) 182nd Meeting, Minute 4.
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