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the Chiefs of the Staff decided that a proportion of the personnel could be better employed in other directions, the Air Staff would be ready at once to place an agreed number of units at the disposal of the War Office for suitable operations in conjunction with, and under the control of, the Field Army.

Summary of Conclusions.

(i) The present improvisations, which are characterised by divided responsibility throughout, are definitely unsatisfactory as a long-term policy.

(ii) The Army should be responsible for "area defence," and for reinforcing

and supporting aerodrome garrisons when necessary. (iii) As the bulk of the resources required for local defence

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are, and must remain, under the control of the Royal Air Force, that Service should undertake full executive responsibility for implementing, through its own chain of command, the policy formulated by the Army. (iv) Full use must be made of the ordinary R.A.F. Station personnel as backers-up," and they must be armed and trained to take a large share in the static defence of localities.

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(v) In addition, at each of the more vulnerable aerodromes a permanent force of highly-trained troops is required to act as the "core" of the garrison and as a local counter-attack and hunting force. This requirement should be met by the formation of a specialised Aerodrome Defence Corps.

(vi) The Aerodrome Defence Corps should be so trained and equipped as to exert the maximum of mobile fire power. This will not only be best for its particular rôle, but will achieve a substantial economy in man power. (vii) The Army units at present employed as local aerodrome garrisons should be gradually relieved area by area by units of the Aerodrome Defence Corps as the latter become available. When so relieved, the Army units concerned should be employed as proximity troops" and stationed in the vicinity of aerodromes to afford close support in an emergency. (viii) Certain units of the Corps should be specially trained and equipped to accompany any air contingent sent overseas with an expeditionary force, thus freeing the Field Army from the responsibility for local aerodrome defence.

(ix) The Air Council regard the security of aerodromes as vital. If, there- fore, the War Office do not wish to form the Corps under the conditions which would be essential, the Air Ministry is prepared to do so provided that the continued goodwill of the Army is assured and that the War Office will furnish the assistance required during the initial stages.

Air Ministry (D.G.D.),

September 30, 1941.

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