I have to disagree with Steve Gore. I am not a Labour supporter but I believe Helen Clarke was entirely correct to dispense with the so-called strike wing. I base my opinion on the fact that, as an electronics technician I spent most of the Battle of Britain as part of the logistics chain which kept the pilots supplied with fit-for-purpose machines at Biggin Hill.
At any one time we had three squadrons of fighters there and my fading memory suggests that peace-time strength was meant to be 18 aircraft per squadron with 12 available for duty at any one time. The crucial factor during the battle was damage or total loss. If an aircraft was lost, a replacement was flown in from the Maintenance Unit; one too badly damaged to be repaired at Biggin would be collected by a specially designed lorry called a Queen Mary and taken back to the MU to be junked or refurbished.
Now look at the scenario suggested by Ernest Izett where we are invaded by the teeming millions from Indonesia or the Philippines. (This may well be faced by our grandchildren later this century.) Opposed by vastly superior aircraft and with none of the repair facilities mentioned above, I estimate that the Skyhawks would last maybe two weeks.
About 40 years ago a defence analyst in Australia pointed out, that even with the large amount that country spends, it would not be able to defend its long coastline.
John Wightman, Avenues.