Page "1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine" Paragraph 72

The Royal Air Force developed close air support into its then most refined form during the Arab Revolt.

Air patrols had been found effective in keeping convoys and trains free from attack, but this did not help to expose insurgents to battle conditions likely to cause their defeat.

From the middle of June 1936 wireless vehicles accompanied all convoys and patrols.

During rebel attacks these vehicles could issue emergency " XX calls " ( XX with a coded location ), which were given priority over all other radio traffic, to summon aerial reinforcements.

Bombers, which were usually airborne within five minutes, could then either attack insurgents directly or " fix " their position for infantry troops.

Forty-seven such XX calls were issued during the revolt, causing heavy losses to the rebels.