CO537-4998 — Page 192

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ARMY/RAF CO-OPERATION

Fage 7.

CONFIDENTIAL

V.

General:

It was apparent that the lack of facilities for exercises in conjunction with the RAF has had an extremely bad effect upon the knowledge of how to use the air effort available to the best advantage. A good deal of instruction is required and will be organised by HQLF.

Air Support

It was obvious that many Officers have either forgotton or have never learnt how to

(a) Demand Air Reconnaissance.

(b) Demand Offensive Air Support.

Two major points regarding this question are thut, firstly, when demanding air reconnaissance questions must be specific. Do not use air reconnaissance for looking over a gonoral area,. ask specific questions. If, for example, it is thought that tanks are proceeding along a certain road, when demanding reconnaissance give Map Reference of the area in which it is thought the tanks are and the direction in which they are moving, otherwise the task of any pilot is almost impossibly difficult.

ALO

It is essential that an AIO is available at PAI TAK for briefing and debriefing pilots either taking off on reconnai- ssance duties or fighter pilots working in support of troops. Brigade Headquarters will discuss with "G" Branch HOLF how this Officers is too béo found.

RAF Mobile Van and FVCP:

Initially it was

An RAF Mobile Van was available in the field. with 2/10 Gurkhas and the RAF pilot on reconnaissance reported his information from the air direct to wireless cperator in the van. Then Brigade Headquarters moved cut it complained bitterly that results of air reconnaissance were slow to arrive there. Unless the Mobile Van is at Brigade Houdquarters this is inevitable, since debriefing has to take place at F1 TAK. real requirement is for a FVCP and RAF Officer to be with Brigade Headquarters.

The

Landing strips for light planes are also necessary and possible, Brigade Headquarters should be sited near to a suitable landing strip.

if

Brigade Headquarters must press ahead with the reconnaissances for landing strip sites.

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Air Recce:

The HARVARD aircraft on reconnaissance in the NE TERRITORIES caused considerable embarrassment to the onemy.

Auster aircraft for this role and artillery spotting would be of considerable value in the type of country here. This has already been represented to GHQ FAREIF.

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