CAB80-32 — Page 342

Page 342

Page 342

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KET.

It is requested that special care may be taken to

In the secrecy of twig document.

anqiin?

mment.

274

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

༢-。,

SECRE T. This do was considered at 443d

C.O.S. (41) 755.

COPY NO.

Meeting.

Min. 2.

33

24TH DECEMBER, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

CARRIAGE OF MAILS BY AIR.

Note by the Secretary.

At a Meeting on the 12th of December, 1941, the Chiefs of Staff considered a paper on the carriage of mails by air. They agreed a recommendation contained in paragraph 12 of that paper and, at the same time, invited the Overseas Mails Committee to take the necessary action to ensure that the fullest possible use was made of the airgraph service.

A

At their Meeting on the 18th of December, 1941, the Overseas Mails Committee examined the possibility of increasing the use made of the airgraph service and the following is an extract of the relevant minute on the subject:-

"AIRGRAPH SERVICES:

PROPOSED EXTENSION TO MALTA.

THE COMMITTEE had before them a Note by the Secretary (0.M. (41) 51) stating that the Chiefs of Staff Committee recommended that an Airgraph Service to and from Malta should be provided and that in view of the special clains of the island as a beleaguered fortress it should be given a high priority.

On behalf of the Air Ministry it was explained that very heavy calls were made on all available aircraft to provide passages to Malta for essential personnel (such as fighter-pilots needed to replace casualties) and to supply spares, ammunition and mail, and that it was not possible to meet all needs. One source of difficulty was that while particular types of aircraft could carry a ton of pay-load to Gibraltar they could only take off from Gibraltar with a pay- load of 300 pounds. There was heavy pressure on th available aircraft flying from Egypt to Malta, thoug on the run from Malta to England spare capacity was at present available. At present some 200 pounds a week of Post Cards were carried to Malta by service aircraft; if the Airgraph service was available an equivalent number could be carried in films weighing some 2 pounds.

+ C.0.S. (41) 419th Mtg., Minute 2.

c.o.s. (41) 735.

X

/0.M. (41) 6th Meeting.

C

-1

Sharp

Page 342

755

Page 342

Page 342