MISSING R.A.F. DOCUMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 3

MISSING R.A.F. DOCUMENT

THEFT AT HENDON “MOBILISATION PLAN” LONDON, Jan. 31 A secret document, which is believed to be of considerable importance, has been missing since January 25 from the Hendon Royal Air Force Station. Despite intensive investigations by the Air Ministry Intelligence Department, no clue lias been found. It is stated that the document was stolen from a file in a room which for tlie moment had been left unattended. It is not officially disclosed what the document contains, but some newspapers have their own separate descriptions. The Daily Mail states that it is a coded document relating to plans for mobilisation in given circumstances. “It is now revealed,” it states, “that the moment the loss was detected, extraordinary measures were taken to check the movements of everyone not connected with the airfield. Members of the R.A.F. staff were also questioned.”

The Daily Telegraph states: “Fingerprints were taken of all the indoor staff, and the Special Branch at Scotland Yard, the R.A.F., and the police are now tracing lire antecedents of Ihose employed at the aerodrome. It is reported to-day that another theft took place at Hendon last week, the thief escaping by car.” Hendon is mainly a training centre for the Auxiliary Air Force. Three squadrons are stationed there, and the planes included bombers, light machines for training purposes, the King's aeroplane, and the Air Council's private aeroplane.