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SECRET.
C.0.S. (40)838.
17TH OCTOBER, 1940.
Recallca
WAR CABINET,
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO.
AIR REINFORCEMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Note by the Air Staff.
A telegram from the Secretary of State for War, dated 16th October, gives details of the air reinforcements which he and the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East On the 14th considered to be an immediate necessity. of October the Chiefs of Staff submitted a paper to the War Cabinet (W.P. (40)419) giving their proposals for reinforcing the air forces in the Middle East.
2.
The particular recommendations of the Secretary of State for War are for additional bombers and for 3
Both of these points are additional Fighter Squadrons. covered by W. P. (40)419.
3.
In that paper it was stated that the first essential with regard to bombers was to replace obsolete types of
This is being done rapidly aircraft with modern types. both via Takoradi and by air via Malta.
13 Wellington aircraft are due to be flown out this month and a further 10 are to be sent as soon as possible, in addition to the ten which are already in the Middle East. The net result of this will be to add one heavy squadron to the offensive bomber force and to increase the
In addition to re- striking power of a second squadron.
equipment, the strength of all bombing squadrons in the Middle East is being raised from 12 to 16 Initial Equipment aircraft. We have also asked the South Africans to agree to a similar increase in the establishment of their squadrons, The total reinforcements which it is hoped to despatch under the foregoing proposals amount to the equivalent of about six squadrons equipped with aircraft of superior fighting value to the majority of those now in the Middle East,
Ac.0.S. (40)837.
* (Also C.0.S. (40)830).
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