مجموعة ٥/٧٣ "سلاح الجو الأفغاني: تقارير" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٩] (٤٣١/٢٩٧)

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6* (a) (contd),
has, so far as is known, been despatched from Kabul to the provinces>
and there has been no visable increase in the number of 50 gallon
barrels of petrol on the Sherpur ae:odrome c ^ ^
A ^.t has been dug on the Birmaru hill immediately North of the Sherpur
aexjdrome and it is understood that one more petrol storage tank is to
be installed there. This tank is said to be under construeuio^i m
the Kabul arsenal, but its capacity is not known.
(b) six petrol storage tanks, each believed to be 10,000 gallon tanks,
on the Khwaja Rawash aerodrome are now fullo These tanks nave been
installed above ground as it was found that owing to water seepage
they could not be installed below ground. These storage tanks are
stated to have been constructed by the Indian Engineering Go^peny,
Peshawar. Two similar 10,000 gallon tanks have now been installed
above ground at the foot of the hills lg miles north of the Khwaja
Rawash aerodrome* It is not known whether these tanks are xull or
only partly filled.
7. Enquiries about American Aircraft.
t w
te There have been no further developments regarding the enquiries
de by Afghan pilots about American aircraft. They appear to have
cided that the American Vulture type of aircraft at any rate is
suitable for use in Afghanistan owing to its welded fusilage.
8. British Instructors.
Squadron Leader C.W. Ha. N. Newman left Kabul on the 19th July,
his years 1 contract having ended on the 19th June, 1942. The \
Legation was at first informed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs th..t\
a relief for S/L Newman as pilot Instructor would not be requ_red.
The Ministry of Defence were then approached and stated that they had
not been consulted, and were unaware that such a decision had been made.j
The next day the Ministry of Defence informed the Legation that a relief;
for s/L Neman would be required, and that the new pilot instructor
should be attached to the Afghan Air Force for a further year on
similar terms. This was later confirmed in mating by the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs. Squadron Leader Wigging ton R.A.F., tne new
pilot instructor, is now on his way to Ka.bu-1 from England. ^
The Ministry of Defence and the Comdt of the Air Force have on several
occasions during the quarter stressed the necessity of naving a P^lot
instructor attached to them who is a capable administrator and able to
advise them regarding the organisation of their Air Force and the
establishment of workshops etc., on the Khwaja Rawasn aerodrome.
(b) There are likely to be changes in the remaining British instructors
attached to the Afghan Air Force in November, 1942, and February, 1943.
Sgt. R. Gillett R.A.F. will complete his 2 years attachment in November,
1942 , and hopes to return to his unit for duty. ^
Mr. H» Bradley, Messrs Hawkers instructor end Mr. D.W.R. Robinson, ^
Messrs Rolls Royce instructor have been attached to the Air Force since
December, 1937, and their contracts expire in February, 1943.
Both have expressed a desire to return to England when their prese-^t
contracts expire. . n .
The question of providing reliefs for them is under consideration, but
no approaches regarding the problem have so far been ma.de to the Afghan
Government.
W.R.S.