Letter from John Seely [Secretary of State for War, later 1st Lord Mottistone), (War Office), to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] agreeing to the proposal for the establishment of an Aeronautical Research Office under the joint control of the War Office and the Admiralty.

Draft of speech [by WSC] to the House of Commons on the Naval Estimates, particularly on oil, praising the efforts of the Royal Commission on Liquid Fuel, and on naval aviation, stating that Britain was well behind Germany in airship design and construction. [Carbon copy].

Telegram from Admiralty to the French Ministry of Marine, Bordeaux, asking them to arrange for four naval aircraft and vehicles to be transported from Le Havre to Dijon [France] by rail, so that they could attack the German airship sheds at Friederichshafen. [Carbon].

Telegram from Commander Charles Samson [Naval Air Service], (Dunkirk), to Admiralty, with a report on air operations in France and Belgium, regretting that the poor weather and lack of suitable machines had made it impossible to attack the German Zeppelin sheds. [Carbon].

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Commander Charles Samson [Naval Air Service], on attacks on German Zeppelin sheds, asking why 13 days had been wasted without any action in this "vital matter". WSC states that either Samson should control effectively the force entrusted to him, or he would be replaced by another officer. [Carbon].

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Major Eugene Gerrard, [Royal Naval Air Service], ordering him to concentrate his efforts on spotting the fall of shot for British naval guns at Antwerp [Belgium], to help knock out enemy siege artillery. Copied to Commander Charles Samson [Royal Naval Air Service]. [Carbon].

Telegram from Admiralty to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [Admiral Sir John Jellicoe], on the desirability of a sweep southward by the Grand Fleet in conjunction with a seaplane operation, as the German fleet was concentrated at Wilhelmshaven [Germany] and their cruisers and battle cruisers were active. [Carbon].

Telegram from the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [Admiral Sir John Jellicoe], to Admiralty, on the proposed southward sweep by the Grand Fleet, stating that it would be unwise to move the Fleet in conjunction with a seaplane operation. [Carbon].

Letter from Commander Charles Samson (Royal Navy Flying School, Eastchurch [Kent]) to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], on the possibility of aircraft being sent to France to co-operate with the army, asking to be given the chance to go in command.

Minute from WSC to the 4th Sea Lord [Captain Cecil Lambert], on appointments to the Naval Air Service, expressing pleasure that Captain Frederic Dreyer had applied to join the service, recommending that he be appointed Inspecting Captain of the Naval Wing, and Deputy Director of the Air Department at the Admiralty; WSC also discusses Dreyer's subordinates in the Air Service. [Carbon].

Note by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], on seniority of officers of the Naval Air Service. [Hand-written].

Copy of a letter from WSC to [Pierre] Flandin [Minister of State, France] marked "confidential" asking for French information about the present strength of the German Air Force, predicting 2,000 aircraft by the end of 1936, and asking for information about French expenditure on aviation services for use in debates in Parliament.Carbon typescript. Unsigned.

Copy of a letter from WSC to Eleanor Rathbone MP marked "private" enclosing a paper by Sir Henry Strakosch, explaining the basis for his figures for German expenditure [on rearmament], his use of confidential sources and his efforts "to find out the truth". He concludes "We really are in great danger."Unsigned carbon typescript.

Copy of a letter from WSC to Colonel Sir Donald Banks thanking him for the notification of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron [Auxiliary Air Force] and saying that he will be glad to hear how he can be of service.Unsigned carbon typescript.

Letter from the Air Ministry (Adastral House, Kingsway [London]) to WSC informing him of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force and of the Air Council's pleasure at WSC's association with the Auxiliary Air Force.Signed typescript.

Letter from Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (62 Pall Mall, London) to WSC praising his work to promote air power and advocating a separate ministry for air. Invites WSC to Beaulieu [Hampshire] and points out that he and WSC are related by marriage.

Letter from George Holt-Thomas (24 Portland Place, [London) to WSC (2 Sussex Square) arguing that the shareholders of the Aircraft Manufacturing Company Ltd should receive compensation from the Government for their losses following the liquidation of the company after its amalgamation with Birmingham Small Arms Ltd. Encloses a suggested letter of support for WSC's approval [see CHAR 2/126/17].

Letter from [WSC] to George Holt-Thomas testifying to the services rendered by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company Ltd during the war in the fields of aeroplane and airship manufacture and supporting the claim that the Government should pay compensation to the company's shareholders. Suggested draft by Holt-Thomas sent with CHAR 2/126/14-16.

Letter from Lord Curzon (1 Carlton House Terrace, [London]) to WSC assuring him that his criticism of WSC [over the Air Board] was not meant seriously and suggesting a date for WSC to come and advise the Board.

Extracts from the proceedings of a meeting of the War Committee at which the formation of an Air Board was recommended. Annotated: "Sir F E Smith" [later 1st Lord Birkenhead].

Note by WSC (Admiralty) to Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] rejecting a Swiss complaint about British aircraft crossing their territory, 27 Nov. With reply by Grey that the aviators be given a chance to reply to the complaint., 30 Nov.

Letter from Commander Sir Walter Windham to WSC repeating his request of May 1940 begging to be allowed to travel to Canada and the United States to conduct a press campaign to gain more aeroplanes for the war effort; has conducted similar "rousing" missions in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. [typescript].

Letter from [Valentine] Lawford (Foreign Office) to [Edith] Watson [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] suggesting that she draw the matter to the attention of [1st] Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken, Minister of Aircraft Production], otherwise send a "soothing reply" to Sir Walter Windham emphasising the difficulty of raising awareness in America "without infringing U.S. regulations and bringing discredit and suspicion on their cause and their Government".