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CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions Further Information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives" leaflet

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 copyng?

SECTION VI

-1-

HONG KONG DEFENCE PLAN

AIR HAI

00337

TOP SECRET

INTRODUCTION.

The following plan for the air defence of Hong Kong is based on the assumption that during the next five years the likely strength of any attack in the Colony woul' bezooed two or three divisions of enemy troops whose air support would be provided by a wasting air force with no backing.

2.

The : st essential in the air aspect of the defence of Hong Kong is the paramount importance of reducing enemy air attack to the minimum. The Colony prescrts a congested and vulnerable target whore even dosultory raids wight voll causo considerable material damage and would in an adverse efïcut on civilian moralo.

SCALE OF AIR TT.CK

3.

The scale of air attack on the Colony which it is considered uan be mounted and in relation to which the strongth of a defensivo fighter forco should be planned is very mim:te as compared with recont experience in air verfare. It may well be that an opposing air force

will consist of a medium range twin-engined bomber force supplemented by modified transport aircraft. The bombor foron may be supported by

mediwu range fighters of the Taaluwl: type, in addition to which there is also the probability of the deployment against us in tir early stages of long range escort fighters of the ustang type.

4.

Although from the above it may appear that it is possible that we may be threatened by aircrt, there are other factors which should be talan into account

lern år forec omipped with efficient von 830ssing the striking power of such an air force.

aro:

(a)

(b)

(0)

A high rate of unserviceability.

Those factors

Inofficient maintenance by unskilled and badly trained ground

orcys,

Indifferent pilots, aircrew and controllers.

Badly maintained and badly operated airfield facilitice.

!lon-existent production and equipment backing.

Taking into account the above factors, it is considered that casualties in the enemy air forces will be excessivo.

Operational

casualtics will be high and bad maintainance and bad flying couplod together will, it is estimated, account for as many aircraft as will be lost on optional sorties,

(a)

Poor training.

(e)

(f)

N

5.

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' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

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