Whilst initially ordered as a replacement for the Hunter the Spey-enginned Phantoms already on order (thanks to an order placed by the outgoing Conservative Government in February 1964) were now allocated to air defence duties to replace the Lightnings in the UK and RAF Germany squadrons. The Emergency Defence Review of February 1965 concluded that the RAF needed a more flexible force and recommended a mix of aircraft with a small force of sophisticated all-weather tactical strike aircraft, a much larger force of tactical attack machines plus an improved interceptor-fighter force equipped with longer-range aircraft than the totally inadequate Lightning. Whilst many observers felt that the TSR.2 programme would survive until at least the 1965 April budget it was not that great a shock when the axe fell earlier than expected in November 1964 with a bland announcement that a three-month study period of the RAF's tactical strike and recconnaisance requirements would be immediately started as part of a much broader Emergency Defence Review. The UK General Election of October 1964 saw a new Labour government slip into power with a slender four-seat majority but this did not deter their planned shake-up of the UK Defence Budget. BAC/Vought Corsair GR.1's - No.8 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1970
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