There are obviously many factors that will determine the best pattern of deployment, not least the threat of enemy air attack, the terrain and the available amount of logistic support. In a cold war situation such as existed in Europe the vulnerability of aircraft on the ground would be a prime consideration so maximum dispersal might be the right answer. However, when the threat of enemy attack is negligible, the ability to deploy quickly and operate from a wide variety of locations, such as small grass airfields or roads, offers great flexibility. In this, the Kestrel had the added advantage of not requiring any ground power equipment to start the engine or to keep some electronic equipment running.
New terminology was required for the concept of dispersed operations and it was decided that the main location for a squadron, or even a wing, with its HQ, operations room and main logistic support, would be called a Primary Site. This might be on a Class 1 military airfield, or a small grass airfield such as a flying club or even a road complex. Around the Primary Site would be a number of sub-sites, equipped with varying levels of logistic support depending on the chosen concept of operation.
![1539329759048.png 1539329759048.png](https://maanpuolustus.net/data/attachments/24/24449-bc9ace5c22e706e86193c6065b4298fe.jpg)
The sub-site in the Thetford Training Area, about 20 miles south of West Raynham
Two concepts of operation were used during the trial:
- Sub-site to Target to Sub-site. This requires considerable logistic support at the site but provides maximum dispersal. The Kestrel had no armament but it did have a forward-facing camera, which was used for recce missions, so the sub-site had to be provided with a mobile film-processing trailer, a refueller and enough groundcrew to turn the aircraft round. Command and control was exercised from the primary site at West Raynham via single side band radio
- Sub-site to Primary Site to Target to Sub-Site. The aircraft would be dispersed at all times except when being turned round at the primary site. This concept could be used for pre-planned missions and would require minimum support at the sub-site.
The sub-sites used during this Phase were completely unprepared and comprised a local farmer’s field and a stretch of grass in an army training area about 20 miles south of West Raynham. The latter had a MEXE pad, laid beside a track leading to a wood where the aircraft could be refuelled and re-armed. There was also enough grass for an STO – you might say that nature had provided an ideal sub-site