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15. A ceiling of 95,800 men has been allocated to the Army for the static defence of aerodromes (including A.M.E's.) up to December 1941. A further 10,000 men have been earmarked, but not yet allotted, to allow for aerodrome expansion during 1942, making a total of 105,800 for aerodromes (including A.M.E's.).
16. If an R.A.F. Aerodrome Defence Corps comes into being, it might appear that a reduction in the above figure of 105,800 could be made in due course. The Committee would point out, however, that the substitution of an R.A.F. Aerodrome Defence Corps on a lower scale of personnel for the existing system of defence pre-supposes a generous degree of mobile support from external sources. Only by regarding the static and counter-attack element together can a true picture of aerodrome defence be obtained.
17. In view, however, of the general man-power situation, we feel that the 13,000 additional men required by the R.A.F. to form an Aerodrome Defence Corps should not constitute an additional burden on the country's man-power, and we recommend that this number should be deducted from the ceiling allotted to the Army for aerodrome defence. This number we assume to include the additional 10,000 recently approved specially for aerodrome defence. The balance of 92,800 would remain to be reorganised and regrouped as the Commander-in-Chief thinks fit to provide proximity battalions for essential fighter aerodromes and relief columns for all aerodromes. In accepting the reduction of 13,000 it should be recognised that, as in the case of the numbers required by the R.A.F. for static defence under these new proposals, it applies to the conditions prevailing in April 1942.
18. The Aerodrome Defence Corps and the mobile Army troops would provide a far better and more flexible defence than exists at present, while at the same time being administratively more convenient and workable. The Army battalions so released could be properly trained and equipped on the lines of field army units instead of, as at present, being dispersed in small detachments which makes it uneconomical to equip and impossible to train them to that standard.
19. The figures referred to in paragraph 9 above relate to estimated require- ments by the 1st April, 1942, and cover all aspects of aerodrome defence, other than external support, including crews for the manning of A.A. machine-gun posts for the provision of which the Air Ministry has always been responsible. It is impossible for us to give a firm estimate of what the target → figures would be under a long-term expansion programme, and we do not consider that such an estimate would be of any value in assisting us to reach a decision about the formation of an Aerodrome Defence Corps in the near future.
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20. The above figures relate solely to requirements for the defence of aero- dromes and A.S.U's. in the British Isles, and on the Continent if Air Force units are moved forward to support a new Continental Expeditionary Force. If it is decided to apply the scheme to aerodromes and A.S.U's. already in use in existing overseas theatres of war, and to make provision for increased aerodrome defence commitments overseas, considerable additions will have to be made to the total man-power requirements, although the adoption of such a policy would, of course, release a corresponding number of Army troops overseas.
Weapons and Equipment.
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21. Requirements under this head to equip a Corps of the size mentioned in paragraph 9 above are given in Annex IV, and we are satisfied that, as regards rifles, A.A. machine guns and Smith guns, the outlook is satisfactory. We have examined a statement of the Air Ministry's resources, existing and on order, in these classes of weapons and find they will be adequate. As regards machine guns for ground-to-ground fighting, the Air Ministry has ample stocks, although they are, unfortunately, not of a standard type, being 303 and 300 Lewis and Vickers guns, those of the latter calibre predominating. A mixture of guns by types is not an insuperable objection, but the present shortage of 300 ammunition is a great disadvantage. The position in this respect will, however, be improved to a certain extent when the Air Ministry replace the 300 Lewis guns now employed for A.A. purposes with 303 Brownings, which they intend to do shortly, as the ammunition for the former will then be available for ground-to- ground firing. Moreover, we understand that there are signs of an improvement in the 300 ammunition supply position also.
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