CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 429

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British air forces

uipped with

TV is a first line

, it can also

initial rate of

ie type of enemy

Laurod that this

t to ensuro

considered that

at a high degree

probably force him

In consequence

ence against this

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io sugested that

ade available as n

This detachix.nt

such

an appreciation lisposition of bontod, to the ted would af ord

rol, it is considered

and two G. C. I.

entral and co-

il fighters operating

tions within its

> co-ordinated

supplement the

ter room and G.. L.

ed by the Reh.F.

ired to work in the

with lavy and Army

ti-aircraft defences fighter oporations sential requirament.

cm

N

Ref.:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1260

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

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leafel

-15-

003 73

AIR SUPPORT.

1

Shon the first oscantial of reducing enay air attack

on the Colony to a minimum hos boon achieved, the air forces in Hong Kong, both R.A.F. and diserbarked Naval aircraft, may be used in close support of our ground troops. Ar action may be directed against such targets as lines of communication, troop concentrations, strong points and surface craft. Effective attacks on enemy aircraft

on the ground would be difficult owing to the large number of airfields where the only can disperse his air forces.

15.

In view of the camaratively small forces involved, it is felt that the normal . 5. S. U. organization is unnecessarily cunbrous and uneconorical. The organization proposed is in accordance with the now superseded .S. C. where an inter-Service liaison staff of officers would advise on the priority of tu requests for support. The R.. F. officer being responsible for tiling the number of aircraft considered necessary to meet Jc and accepted by the Board. Board should be located in the fighter opcrations roam and its policy nust be strictly in accord with that directed by the Military Council.

16.

essential.

This

For close support work it is thought that IOs are For this purpose and Type "B" ir Liaison Section should be made available at Kai Tak and a further Type "B" Soction should do deployed at Ping Shan when that aerodrome becomes available.

In view

of the fluid type of fighting li'n to occur, visual control points will be specially valuable. hether those will be available on a peace-tie establishment is questionable, but the advantage of that provision should be borne in in!- The fin requirement in respect

of air suppa is that the fighter force mut be kept fully trained in a close support role at all times that amy/hir exercises should De undertaken frequently to ensurencium co-operation between the two Servicus.

N

AIR SUPPLY.

17.

Air supply for any proacted priod is possible, but it is not considered a practicable proposition in relation to the uistances involved which would require a large number of aircraft to nove relatively small loads over a long distance. However, in an

orgency and for a short period, reinforcements by air could be maintained by atopping up the normal transport services fra Singapore. Those servicos, in conjunction it: the use of a flying boat squadron, could also form a basis of an air evacuation scheme should this prove necessary. On the other hand it would be possible to maintain a limited number of troops with air dropped supplies providing that the aircraft required were based in the Colony and that a base supply dump was also maintained.

If airply on any large scale becomes necessary, an adequate organiz...ion for off loading stores from aircraft will be required. The use of flying boats for air supply into the Colony would assist in reducing any congestion caused by slowness in the turn round of land aircraft.

LIRE LEIDS.

18.

limited.

Mirfield facilitios for the Colony are at present extremely Kai Tak, the only airfield at present available, is all

یا

Ref.:

CO 537/1260 THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' larms and conditions and that your use of it may be

in

N

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives" lean copyrigh