00304
PLAN
TOP SECRET
air defence of liong Kong is based five years the likely strength xceed two or three divisions of
provided by a wasting air force
air aspect of the defence of
of reducing enemy air attack to ngested and vulnerable target
ause considerable material damage ilian moralo.
the Colony which it is considered
the strength of a defensive
minute as compared with recent
1 be that an opposing air force
ined bomber force supplemented by er force may be supported by
yoo, in addition to which there
nt against us in the early
tho ustang typo.
my appear that it is possible
ir force equipped with efficient
should be taken into account
oh an air forco. These factors
7.
dilled and badly trained ground
I controllers,
*ated airfield facilities.
ipment booking.
o factors, it is considered that
be excessive. Operational
ance and bad flying coupled
for as many aircraft as will be
Please note that this
d subiect to the National Archives' terms and conditi
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
CO 537/1260
N
i and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' loafel
00305
6.
-13-
The ability of the enemy to operate by night may be assessed
as very low. It in doubtful whether the standard of crow training can produce any crows capable of finding, liong Kong at night and returning safoly to their bases in the dark. Operations of this nature can hardly be sustained in the light of indifferent rids and poor airfield facilities available to the enczy. Moonlight nights will be of considerable assistance to then in this respect, one must balance against this, howovor, the advantage cauferred on the night fighter by moonlight oonlitions.
7.
It is considered, frndore, in the light of the above factors that the scale of anony dr attack in Hong Kong will probably, in the initial stagus, consist of dixed bober formations of 30 to 40
ircraft escorted by 12 to 15 mixed fighters. The righting ability of this force is assosued as lov in relation to tw in cront skill and experieroo of the aircres and controllers. There will, however,
Iw.ys b. the exception enl in us count on a nucleus of courageous anl sliliul pilots al crevs. It is considered unlikely that such a scale of attack can bo sustain xi. ich qerational and non-operational cenalties will quickly reduce the afort to a stage where the only vill have to accião whether to operate sneak mi nu raids by sall forntions a single aircraft, day or to rusort to night ba bing. Koither of tone possibilitice otur him much more than a nuisance value and both can be well talan care of by n soll and efficient fighter face with a normal operational 5 wking.
3.
There is, however final problem which is difficult to asco3o. It is considered that any calculations of the strength and officiency of ar. opposing cir force should take into account the possibility of an energetic ver bad talding steps to supplement his air Carcos with couipment contributoù y a njor power, either on a financial or other basis, In 134ition, demobilized and disgruntled young aircrews of any nationality my unsily be tempted by love of Soldiers of adventure coupled with a promise of high emolucents. fortune of this category are capatin of introducing an aloment of leadoreldp, elill and courago into an air force of poor quality. problem of outside support camot be taken care of in its entireity but as an insurance, it is consilored that defensive air forces in Hong Kong should be designed to be slightly stronger than is necessary for defence against local air forces.
STRENGTH OF ON: FORCES.
9.
In order to provide reasonable security against the
This
situation outlined in the above paragraphs, it is considered that the following measures for defonco are ocsential:-
સબ
in officient and modern fighter forco,
Efficient Radar cover.
Fightor opcrations room, filter rom and G. C. I. facilition to control the fighter force.
Anti-aircraft dofonoc.
Facilities for air 12%.
A reinforcement plan.
ما
N
Ref.
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
N
restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' loafel e note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
Cat