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Proposed New Organization.

19. The following arrangements are therefore suggested to meet the con- siderations outlined above:

(i) The Army to be responsible for those measures of "area defence" which will provide for the security of aerodromes, in common with that of other vital objectives, against attack by enemy forces on the ground; for making plans for the reinforcement or relief of aerodrome. garrisons in the event of their being individually attacked by airborne troops, and for providing the forces required for that purpose; Army Commanders to have the right, through their representatives, of satisfying themselves that the local defence arrangements at aero- dromes are adequate.

(ii) The Royal Air Force to be responsible for the local garrison defence of its aerodromes in accordance with a policy to be formulated with Army guidance, and for the control of defence preparations and arrangements through the Royal Air Force chain of command.

20. In order to implement the above system, the following measures are proposed:

(i) A specialised Aerodrome Defence Corps to be formed and placed under

the operational control of the Royal Air Force.

(ii) The units of the Aerodrome Defence Corps to be so organised and equipped as to develop the maximum fire-power and mobility, in order to effect the greatest economy in man-power.

(iii) Reliance to be placed to a progressively increasing extent, as training and equipment improve, upon Royal Air Force station personnel for the static defence of fortified localities, buildings and defence works. (iv) Existing Army garrisons at the more important aerodromes to be relieved progressively by Aerodrome Defence Corps Units as the latter become adequately trained and equipped to undertake the mobile rôle in the defence.

(v) When so relieved, the Army units concerned whether Field Army, Young Soldier or Home Defence units to be stationed in the vicinity of the less important aerodromes and allotted a "close support" rôle similar to that already assigned to the battalions located in the vicinity of certain fighter aerodromes.

(vi) As the Royal Air Force station personnel reach an adequate standard of training and equipment it should be the aim to rely upon them entirely for the defence of the least exposed aerodromes and to con- centrate specialised defence personnel at aerodromes of higher priority.

(vii) To earmark and give special training to a selected number of Aerodrome Defence Corps Units in readiness for despatch overseas with an air contingent.

Responsibility for Providing the Aerodrome Defence Corps.

21. If it is accepted that a specialised Aerodrome Defence Corps should be formed and placed under the operational control of the Royal Air Force, the final question for consideration is which Service should undertake the task of raising, organising and training it. As the Army Council have already accepted in principle the responsibility for providing personnel for aerodrome defence, and as the work of the Corps and the type of military training required are appropriate to the Army, it seems logical that this task should fall upon the War Office. This is the solution which the Air Council would prefer if it could be made satisfactory and effective in practice. It is, in fact, the course which has already been proposed by the Chief of the Air Staff in Paper No. C.O.S. (41) 331. In view, however, of the considerations mentioned in paragraphs 11 and 19 above, it is considered that if the Corps were to be formed by the Army the following general conditions should apply :-

(i) The units of the Corps should be under the control of the Air Council

for employment at home or overseas, as required.

(ii) Training and organisation should be specialised for the task of

aerodrome defence.

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