CAB80-20 — Page 71

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S.5400/S.6.

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ANNEX I

Air Ministry,

London, S.W.1.

12th September, 1940.

57

Sir,

I am commanded by the Air Council to inform you that they have recently reviewed the organisation of Royal Air Force units located in Northern Ireland with a view to:-

(i) simplifying the system of command and

economising in staff;

(ii) ensuring the most appropriate system for the

air defence of Northern Ireland and of shipping in the Irish Sea and North Channel during the continuation of present conditions;

(iii) facilitating the practical investigation now

being undertaken of problems connected with the development of close support of an army in the field; and

(iv) ensuring the fullest co-ordination of air

resources in support of the land forces in the event of an invasion of Ireland.

The Air Component,

2.

Prior to Invasion,

I am to say that the Air Council consider that owing to your varied responsibilities as the Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland, the existing arrange- ment whereby in the event of invasion you would assume command of the Air Component of the British Forces in Ireland under the operational control of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief would prove unworkable in practice. The Air Council have therefore decided, with the agreement of the Army Council, that Headquarters, Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland shall remain an independent Command directly under the Air Ministry, and that your status as Air Officer Commanding shall be similar to that which was held by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Air Forces in France. You will continue to work in close collaboration with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Forces in Ireland, and in conjunction with him, to be responsible for adminstrative and operational planning.

3. The Air Council have further decided to place No.75 Bomber Wing forthwith under the operational control of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, as an air Component of the British Forces in Ireland, together with No.231 Army

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