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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY of HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
TO BE Kept undER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
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SECRET.
C.0.S.(40)259.
16TH MARCH, 1940.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO.
WITHDRAWAL OF TWO R.A.7. BOMBER SQUADRONS FROM SINGAPORE TO INDIA.
260
n?!
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Memorandum by the Chief of the Air Staff.
It will be remembered that on the outbreak of war that part of the air plan for the reinforcement of Singapore which related to the dispatch from India of tw- medium bomber squadrons was put into operation. This was intended as an insurance against the possibility of Japanese hostility.
2.
Since then the situation has changed materially, in that the risk of war with Japan has considerably receded, while that of war with Russia has arisen, with the resulting implications on the situation in India and the Middle East.
53.
Annexed is a statement of the location of operational aircraft in India and the Far East at present. From this it will be seen that, relative to the changed situation, the Far East may be considered to be over- insured when judged by our deficiencies elsewhere.
4. I consider, therefore, that the time has come when the two squadrons sent from India last September should be recalled to India, where they would be more suitably placed either to reinforce Iraq or Egypt or to act as a counter to Russian air action against Northern India. They could of course, if the situation at Singapore suddenly deteriorated, rapidly be sent back there if the balance of risk so required. Accordingly, I considor that the agreement of the War Cabinet should be obtained to the return of the two Blenheim squadrons from Singapore to India forthwith.
(Signed) C.L. N. NEWALL.
259
Richmond Terrace, S.W.1.
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