§ 121. Mr. Osborneasked the Under-secretary of State for Air what aeroplane dropped the bomb on Friday last at Ludney, five miles from the Saltfleet target; whether Saltfleet is being used for learners; and, in view of his recent undertaking, if he will now close the Saltfleet bombing range altogether.
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Mr. WardI regret that during the course of training exercises last Friday a practice bomb fell at Ludney. No damage or casualties have been reported. A court of inquiry is being held to determine the cause of the incident.
Although this range must be kept open for operational training, I have given additional instructions about its use to minimise the risk of any accidental release of bombs over the land. We shall have to accept some reduction in the training value of the range to the Royal Air Force. I am also urgently investigating ways and means of reducing the frequency with which the range is used and I hope to make a further statement on this point in the near future.