§ 75. Sir H. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the failure of Coastal and Bomber Command to co-operate efficiently in the recent Home Fleet exercises.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI can assure the hon. Member that there was no failure on the part of either Bomber or Coastal Command to co-operate efficiently in these exercises. Both Commands made a valuable contribution to the exercises which, I am advised, were most successful. During the exercise Bomber Command were asked for and carried out 24 sorties involving a total of 255 flying hours, of which two sorties were abortive owing to radar unserviceability. Coastal Command carried out 61 sorties, out of 63 asked for, involving a total of 589 flying hours. Eight sorties were abortive owing to radar unserviceability.