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Introduction.
ANNEX V.
The Ground Defence of Royal Air Force Aerodromes.
1. The present arrangements for the defence of aerodromes, whereby the provision of personnel and the organisation of local defence measures are both shared responsibilities "between the R.A.F. and the Army, are not satisfactory. Moreover, there is great difficulty in finding sufficient personnel to meet present and future needs under the existing system. The Defence Committee (Operations) have, therefore, ordered an examination of the question whether, as a long-term policy, aerodrome defence personnel should belong to the Army or the R.A.F., and the preparation of a scheme to be put into effect as soon as the 1941 invasion season passes.
2. Certain points of organisation affecting the defence of aerodromes are already agreed :-
(i) The Army is responsible for the general protection of aerodromes
against organised attack by enemy forces on the ground.
(ii) The Army formulates the policy governing the local defence arrangements, approves the tactical lay-out and draws up the plan for reinforcement and relief.
(iii) The land forces for reinforcement and relief are provided by the Army. (iv) The Station Commander is responsible for the defence of his Station and exercises local command of all the available forces through the Local Defence Commander.
(v) All R.A.F. personnel, of whom there may be 1,500-2,000 on an aerodrome, are to bear arms and to be trained in their use, are to be assigned a rôle in the aerodrome defence plan as integral members of the garrison, and are to be adequately trained to fulfil that rôle. (At present the Army provides most of the instructors in certain subjects.) (vi) The Air Ministry, acting through the R.A.F. chain of command, is responsible for works and other services and for the provision of equipment, arms and ammunition for all R.A.F. personnel, i.e., for 80 per cent. of the defence.
3. Any future organisation should embody these agreed features. It will also be necessary to devise a system which can be applied to the defence of aerodromes in Overseas Commands, and to the protection of any new aerodromes which may have to be established in connection with a land campaign by the Army in a Continental theatre.
The Existing Organisation.
4. The present organisation for the garrison defence of an aerodrome at home is a hotch-potch of emergency measures and improvisations. Its main features are as follows :-
(i) An infantry force is provided to hold defended localities at the aerodrome and to furnish a mobile reserve. This force is supplied by the Army at somewhat over one-half of the existing aerodromes, including the most important ones. In some instances, regular infantry is provided; generally the force consists of Young Soldiers of pre-military age, who are not considered suitable by the Army for employment in the defence of beaches or to form part of a relieving force to reinforce or to recapture an aerodrome. At the less important of our aerodromes (somewhat under one-half) the infantry unit consists of airmen of the R.A.F. Defence Force. Except at the most important Fighter aerodromes, where regular troops equivalent in strength to a battalion are provided for close support, the whole-time infantry garrisons (whether Army or R.A.F.) number between 120 and 300 men.
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