Concentrate and disperse the air defence

The proposal withdraws aircraft from exposed bases in northern Malaya and uses Singapore's four airfields for dispersion, hardened support, and central control. Aircraft still visit northern fields for reconnaissance and to make them appear active, while their stores and main operating base remain at Singapore. The 24 Lockheed Hudsons provide reconnaissance. The torpedo force consists of 36 Vickers Wildebeests and five Fairey Albacores, with serviceability likely to reduce a night strike from the full 41 aircraft to about 25 or 30. If 30 Hawker Hurricanes arrive to join 60 Brewster Buffalo fighters, the command would have roughly ninety fighters spread across several bases, though massed raids would remain dangerous. This arrangement sacrifices some forward reach to improve survivability, logistics, and the ability to concentrate aircraft when needed.