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alternatively, to attach to the R.A.F. some 350 corporals and 50 sergeants who are recommended as suitable for promotion and for employment as instructors. The War Office will endeavour to provide these 400 N.C.O's by the 31st January,

1942.

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28. There will, however, be approximately 400 aerodromes in the lower priorities (many of them satellites and landing grounds) to which we have not allotted a full squadron for defence, but where the training of the "Backers up will be of great importance. This training was initiated, with the assistance of Home Forces, in July 1941, but it is estimated that 200 instructors will be required temporarily if progress is to be accelerated sufficiently to create a situation favourable for the formation of an Aerodrome Defence Corps in the near future. Home Forces consider that they can meet this requirement up to the end of this year, after which time the number of Army Instructors required will fall off rapidly as R.A.F. N.C.O's themselves become adequately trained.

29.

As regards the arming of the "Backers-up," we have been informed that, at the moment, approximately 33 per cent. of the airmen serving on aerodromes have been provided with Service firearms. The Air Ministry have, however, recently received an allotment of an additional 75,000 ·300 rifles-- 40,000 for immediate delivery and the balance during the next six months. This allotment, together with certain further deliveries of sub-machine guns which are expected, will ensure that by the 1st April, 1942, at least 55 per cent. of the airmen on aerodromes will have firearms, and we consider that this will meet the minimum requirements essential for the adoption of the new system of aerodrome defence. We might mention here that all airmen who at present would otherwise be unarmed have already been provided with improvised weapons such as bayonet standards, pikes or clubs, and hand grenades have been issued on a scale of 6 per man.

30. Subject to the conditions which we have emphasised by side lines in the preceding paragraphs, we are satisfied that a self-contained Aerodrome Defence Corps could be formed and would secure the protection required. We recognise that the maintenance in peace-time of an Aerodrome Defence Corps of the size now contemplated would not be considered, and that, therefore, many of those enrolled in the Corps would have to be discharged after the war. We feel, however, that this is not a serious disadvantage since the majority of those enrolled in the Aerodrome Defence Corps would be on temporary war-time engagements, like many of their colleagues in all three Services, and would therefore have no justification for expecting a subsequent peace-time career.

Responsibility for Aerodrome Defence.

31. We now proceed to set out the advantages which an R.A.F. Aerodrome Defence Corps would have over the present system of aerodrome defence. The disadvantage of the present system is that, while the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, is responsible for the defence of the whole country, including aerodromes, against land attack, the ground defence of any particular aerodrome is so inter- locked with the air operations of the Station Commander that direct command by the local Military Commander tends in the direction of placing the Station Commander under two Masters as regards responsibilities which are not entirely independent.

32. We are strongly of the opinion that the ultimate responsibility for ground defence must remain with the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, and that he must determine not only the general policy of the ground defence of aero- dromes, but through his subordinates be in a position to satisfy himself as to the adequacy of the Defence Plans at particular aerodromes. But in the circumstances we have described, we think that this can best be done by making the R.A.F. his agents for carrying out his policy and giving them an Aerodrome Defence Corps as their instrument for the purpose.

33. Under this plan the Local Military Commander would have the responsibility of inspecting the defences of an aerodrome and reporting not only on the consistency of its defence plans with the Commander-in-Chief's policy but on the fitness of the garrison to meet an attack. If he is not satisfied his wishes would be communicated, not to the Station Commander, but to the Group

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