مجموعة ٥/٧٣ "سلاح الجو الأفغاني: تقارير" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٨] (٤٣١/٣٩٥)

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2. HIND SQUADRONS ; (a) Flying hours.
Since the period of the last report there has been no
change in tne flying hours of the Squadrons. Until winter
came the school alone was granted unlimited petrol and in the
first six weeks of the quarter the Training Flight did 130 hours
with one flying instructor and only 3 aircraft; snow then
interrupted flying. In December it was proposed to move the
school to Jalalabad so that flying might continue. All
preparations for this won. made and the three British instructors
actually sent their furniture ahead, when the idea was suddenly
abandoned/during one week three different excuses were given to
Burt-Andrews for this sudden cancellation. One was that they
could not afford the petrol to carry on through the winter and
that flying could be resumed in Kabul in the spring; the second
was that the Afghan Government did not want ''foreigners touring
round the Eastern province at the present time" , and the third
excuse was that there was insufficient material to maintain
the Hinds flying through the winter. The excuses based on
economy were in the opinion of Squadron-Leader Burt-Andrews
obviously false.
One flight of 4 Hinds with pilots from the two Squadrons
did move to Jalalabad in the middle of December and reports
indicate that only about 1 hour’s flying per week per pilot has
been carried out since.
(b) O perations.
No operations were carried out during the quarter,
(c) Standard of flying efficiency .
The continued absence of any advanced flying training for
the Hind Squadrons has not helped to improve the general standard.
All pilots, however are now competent to fly the Hind under
normal conditions and the standard ef formation flying is good
and out of all proportion to th^ir operational efficiency.
(d) Accidents.
There were no accidents during trie quarter.
(e) Maintenance.
The arrival of Sergeant Gillette., a Fitter/Rigger loaned by
the Royal Air Force for a period of one year (together with a
Sergeant photographer, and a Sergeant Wireless Operator) has
done much to improve the general standard of maintenance. He
has proved of great assistance to Mr. Robinson who is now free
to devote more time to workshop organisation. ■ The Keenan &
Froude test bed has now been erected and test work has started
with excellent results; an engine entirely rebuilt in Afghanistan
by Mr. Robinson from crashed engines and stores spares, has
passed the standard Rolls Royce tests, much to the gratification
of the Commandant.
(f) General ,
Sergeants Murray (Photographer) and Brierly (Wireless Operator)
mentioned in paragraph (e) above, have done excellent work since
their arrival in November. The Wireless Section is now funct
ioning smoothly and is ready for full tests when the weather
becomes fit for flying.