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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOOK AND KEY,
It is requested that special care may be taken to khaust the secrecy of this document.
Cc 246
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
This SECRET.
was considered at cos(4) 43124 Meeting.
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C.O.S. (41) 747.
18th DECEMBER. 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO
747
CONSTRUCTION OF GLIDERS IN INDIA.
(Reference: C.o.S. (41)375th Mtg.,
Minute 7).
Copy of a letter from Sir Archibald Rowlands, Ministry of Aircraft Production dated 16th December, 1941.
* *
X
I am sorry that it has taken so long to let you have a reply to your letter of the 3rd November about the proposal of the Chiefs of Staff Committee that we should aim at producing 800 Horsa gliders in India by July 1943. It has, however, been necessary to discuss the matter in detail with the Aviation Manager of Messrs. Tata and with the India Office.
"
In the result I am afraid that we cannot promise more than 400 gliders from Indian production by July 1943. The second 400 would therefore have to come from production after that date.
Before we should be justified in placing a "follow- up" order for 400 gliders, the production of which would begin in August 1943, we should want to know whether that production after this date would be of any use,
Would you seek the instructions of the Chiefs of Staff on this point.
I am sorry that I cannot tell you with certainty how soon the second order for 400 could be completed, but the maximum period should not exceed 10 months. Indeed, if the order for the second 400 were placed at an early date, we might hope to reduce this period by several months.
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*
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(Signed) A. ROWLANDS.
Great George Street, S.W.1.,
18th December, 1941.
st.
This document was considered at C. o. 5. (41) 51 Meeting.
hun, D.
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