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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
Printed for the War Cabinet. October 1940.
180
SECRET.
C.O.S. (40) 830.
(Also W.P. (40) 419.) October 14, 1940.
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
WAR CABINET.
**
Copy No.
Chiefs of Staff Committee.
AIR REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST.
MEMORANDUM.
WE have examined the attached memorandum by the Chief of the Air Staff and we are in agreement with it.
Richmond Terrace, S. W. 1,
October 14, 1940.
(Signed)
C. L. N. NEWALL.
J. G. DILL.
T. S. V. PHILLIPS
(V.C.N.S.).
ENCLOSURE.
Memorandum by the Chief of the Air Staff.
IN C.O.S. (40) 817, dated the 10th October, 1940, the Prime Minister instructed the Chiefs of Staff to consider certain representations by the Ministerial Committee on Military Policy in the Middle East for the immediate strengthening of the air forces in that theatre.
2. In his covering minute the Prime Minister points out that these recom- mendations must take account of the fact that we are still vastly inferior in numbers, both of Fighters and Bombers, to the German Air Force, at home, and that heavy losses have been sustained by our air production. The present position is that we are still short in the Fighter Command of 17 Squadrons on the target programme of 85 squadrons for the air defence of Great Britain.
3. The strength of Bomber Command is still quite inadequate to meet effectively the many demands upon it, and numerically our bomber reserves are lamentably inferior to those of the enemy. There are still substantial deficiencies of crews even on the present establishment.
4. It is clear, however, that our recent successful air operations at home, combined with the approach of winter, will cause, to some extent, the threat of invasion of this country to recede. Moreover, in recent weeks it has become
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