Appendix J

APPENDIX J.

STRENGTH AND DISPOSITIONS OF THE R.A.F.,

DECEMBER 7, 1941.

	Malaya.

Aerodrome.	Squadron No	Type.	Strength in Aircraft
AlorStar	62	Blenheim I (B)	11
Sungei Patani	21	Buffalo	12
	(R.A.A.F.)
Sungei Patani	27	Blenheim I (F)	12
Kota Bharu	1	Hudson	12
	(R.A.A.F.)
Kota Bharu	36	Vildebeeste	6
Gong Kedah	100	Vildebeeste	6
Kuantan	60 (a)	Blenheim I (B)	8
Kuantan	8	Hudson	8
	(R.A.A.F.)
Kuantan	66	Vildebeeste	6
Tengah	34	Blenheim IV	16
Kallang	243 and 488	Buffalo	32
Sembawang	8	Hudson	4
	(R.A.A.F.)
Sembawang	453	Buffalo	16
Seletar	100	Vildebeeste	6
Seletar	205	Catalina	3
		Total	158

(a) No. 60 Squadron had arrived from Burma for Bombing practice, and was retained in Malaya on the start of the war with Japan. About the middle of December the personnel were sent back to Burma by sea, the aeroplanes being retained in Malaya to replace wastage in other squadrons.

There were two maintenance units, No. 151 at Seletar and No. 153 at Kuala Lumpur.
	Reserve Aircraft.
		Blenheim I and IV	15
		Buffalo	52 (6)
		Hudson	7
		Vildebeeste	12
		Catalina	2
		Total	88

(b) Of these, 21 were temporarily out of action owing to trouble with the engine valve gear on a new mark of engine.


	Burma

Mingaladon	60	Blenheim I (B)	4
Mingaladon	67	Buffalo	17

	Reserve Aircraft.
		Blenheim I	Nil
		Buffalo	16

Of the total of 32 Buffaloes in Burma, 24 were temporarily out of action owing to trouble with the engine valve gear on a new mark of engine.


	Ceylon

		Catalina	2


	Total in Far East

		Initial Equipment	180
		Reserves	104
		Total	284

Of these aircraft, the Vildebeestes were obsolete, and if these are deducted the figures become :—

		Initial Equipment	156
		Reserves	92
		Total	248

Requirements as laid down by the Chiefs of Staff were 336 Initial Equipment. Reserves for these on the basis of 50 per cent, for flying-boats and 100 per cent, for all other aircraft should have amounted to 327, a total of 663.

Omitting the Vildebeestes, the total deficiency in aircraft was 415.

The Dutch sent over a total of 22 bombers and 9 fighters. If these are included, the net deficiency becomes 384.

The figure of 100 per cent, for reserves of land-based aircraft was laid down in an Air Ministry telegram of the 23rd February, 1941.

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