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is liable not only to interforenco by the enemy, but to long period of interruption through adverse weather. Although the route via Takoradi is now in operation, reinforcements by that route must take time. Morcover, any strengthening of the air force overseas is not only a matter of sending out aircraft and crews. Air rcin- forcements must always be supported by maintenance personnel and equipment which, in the main, has to bo transferred by sea; and this means a time lag of about 3 months between a decision to despatch reinforcements and their establishment in the Middle East complete with their essential ground echelons.
6.
Bearing these factors in mind, the Air Staff have reviewed the various means by which they can effect the most rapid reinforcement of the air force strength in the Middle East and Malta. They have reached the conclusion that there are two immediate methods by which the strength and efficiency of the forces can be increased.
RE-EQUIPMENT.
The first and most immediato means of strengthening our air effort in the Middle East is to expedite the re-equipment of existing squadrons with modern and more powerful types. This in itself will add materially to our air strength in that theatre. A large programme of re-equipment to replace obsolete types of aircraft in the existing Squadrons has been prepared and is in progress. The first stop is to accelerate this programme and the following are the detailed proposals,
(i)
227 Mohawk fighters and 218 Glenn-Martin
bombers have been allocated to the
R. A. F. in the Middle East and the S.A, A, F. for the re-equipment of fighter and borber squadrons still on obsolete types The Air Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Aircraft Production, will make every effort to accelerate the delivery of these aircraft.
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