00337
CRECE PLAN
TOP SECRET
HIAN
:r the air defence of Hong Kong is based next five years tho likely strength
: •h excaud two or three divisions of uld be provided by a wasting air force
In the air aspect of the defence of
ance of reducing enemy air attack to 3 a congostcȧ and vulnerable target
inal cause considerable material damage n civilian moralo.
un the Colony which it is considered
which the strongth of a defensivo
very aim:te as compared with recent
y well be that an opposing air force
a-ongined bamber force supplemented by bomber force may be supported by
k type, in addition to which there
loyant against us in tir early
's of the lustang type.
it my appear that it is possible
mir force equipped with efficient hich should be taken into account
f such an air force. Those factors
ility.
unskilled and badly trained ground
and controllers.
operated airfield facilities,
equipment backing.
bove factors, it is considered that
11 be excessivo, Operational
ainance and bad flying coupled
nt for as many aircraft as will be
1 2
Ref.
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet
Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' larms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
00338
6.
-13-
The ability of the memy to operate by night may be assessed as very low, It is doubtful whether the standard of crow training cen produce any crews capable of finding liong Kong at night and rlarning safely to their basus in the dark. Operations of this nature can hardly be sustained in the light of indifferent aids and poor airfiold facilities available to the an "*7. Moonlight nights will be of considerable assistance to t n this respect, ano must balanco against this, however, the sivanta e conferred on tho might fighter by moonlight conlitions.
7.
It is considerad, fenfors, in the light of the move factors that the poole of chony sir attack in Hong Kong vill probably, in the initial staguo, consist of vixul baber formations of 30 to 40 nircraft escorted by 12 to 15 mixvi fighters. The fighting ability of Eis force is assostoć, as Jou å, Nition to the indigerent still d experience of the aircr si controllers, Thure will, however, always be the excuntion ral 10.132 count upon a nuclous of courageous ani alilful pilots al crows. is consiÃarod unlikely that such a scale of att.k cut bo sustaival. High operational and non-operational. orsunltics will quickly reduvo the «ffort to a stage viuere the enery vill have to decide whether to purcia sneck wi mun raids by all fomations or single aircraft by day or to rusort to night ba bing. Neither of those possibilities offer him uch more than a muisance value and both can be well taken care by a swell and efficient fighter Nurce vith a nom:l operational. bruling,
3.
There is, however, out final problem which is difficult to as::(-$3. It is considered that sny calculations of the strength and officioncy of an opposing air foren should take into account the pos:ility of an energetic ve: byd taking stops to supplement his air Parces with equipment contribuceni ya ujor power, either on a financial or other basis. In valtion, demobilized and disgruntled young aircrews of any nationality my unsily be tormted by love of adventure coupled with a praise of high emoluments. Soldiers of fortune of this category are capabin of introducing an element of leadership, skill and courag: into an air force of poor quality. problem of outside support carent be taken care of in its entireity but as an insurance, it is culerod that defensive air forces in Hong Kong should be designed to be slightly stronger than is necessary For defence against local air foreca.
STRENGTH OF OHIT FORCES.
9.
This
In order to provide reasonable security against the situation outlined in the abovo paragraphs, it is considered that the following acasures for defence me sential:-
300 300
An efficient and modern fighter force.
Efficient Radar cover.
Fightor operations room, filter room and G. C. I.
facilitios to control the fighter forco.
Anti-aircraft dofonso.
Facilities for air lift.
A reinforcement plan.
Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
2
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh
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