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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to

SECRET ensure the secrecy of this document.

C.O.S.(40) 845.

19TH OCTOBER, 1940.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

COPY NO.

29

PROTECTION OF EAST COAST CONVOYS FROM AIR ATTACK.

Note by the Chief of the Air Staff.

The enemy night bombing effort has been directed mainly against London and Liverpool. The most vigorous measures are being taken to develop our night fighter interception and to accelerate the delivery of Beaufighter aircraft fitted with A.I. Mk.IV. It is inevitable, however, that a period will elapse before the teething troubles of Beaufighter and A.I. equipment have been overcome, and before this aircraft is available in sufficient numbers in Fighter Command to make a marked reduction in the enemy scale of night bombing attack.

2.

I have, therefore, decided to specialise three Hurricane 8-gun fighter squadrons in night fighting as a "stop-gap" measure. One squadron has been withdrawn from the Humber area, one from the vicinity of the Wash and one from the Thames Estuary. The effect of this will be that there will be some reduction in the scale of protection that can be afforded to our convoys on the East Coast.

3.

I would ask my colleagues to note the effect of this decision. I can assure them, however, that every endeavour will be made to minimise as far as possible this reduction in fighter strength on the East Coast by greater efforts on the part of the squadrons that remain.

(Signed) C.L.N. NEWALL.

Richmond Terrace, S.W. 1.,

19th October, 1940.

845

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