مجموعة ٥/١١ "المسار الجوي إلى الهند: طريق الساحل العربي - مهبط الطوارئ في قطر" [و‎‎٢‎٧] (٣٤٥/٥٣)

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COPY,
3 E C R E T
Appendix “A"
To:-
From:-
Ho*84 (Bomber) Squadron
Shaibali* Iraq*
Air Headquarters,
British Forces in Iraq.
14th May, 1934.
Iraq.
Datei-
84/60/Alr.
Subject:- R. rORT
A flight of four Wapitis left JfOHARRAft at 0205
hours O.M.T* on 9th May, 1934, tc make a reconnaissance of
the southern central area of the QATAR PEK INSTIL A. The
reconnaissance commenced at the southern end of DOHAT-AL-
HTJSSAIN at 0244 hours O.M.T. Copies of photographs taken will
be forwarded as soon as possible, a list of them is contained
in Appendix "A".
2* An approximate course was steered for RAIYAN and
DOHAR. One aircraft flew at 6,000 feet for the purpose of
carrying out vertical photography. Conditions, however, proved
unfavourable in most places due to the presence of a mist haze
laying at approximately 1.000 feet. The other three aircraft
flew between 500 and 1,000 feet for purposes of observation and
oblique photography.
5. The peninsula appeared from the air to be hard
sand with hummoc ;s, and plenty of camel-thorn and bushes round
which soft sand had formed mounde large enough to prevent a
safe landing over almost the entire stretch of country. The
whole area ie covered with dried water holes and there are
several patches green with grass and trees, so that water
appears to be near the surface in ver/ many places.
4* A small encampment was passed, about three miles
south-east of DQHAT-AL-HUS.-AIN • Another camp of several tents
was seen a further three miles on this course. Course was
then altered to approximately north-east to regain the original
track.
£• On reaching OHAFAT ei$it tents, including one white
one, were observed. The three low flying pilots were of the
opinion that GirlAFAT was approximately seven miles couth east
of its position as shown on the sketch map.
6* One mile to the north of CKAFAT were sixteen to
twenty tents and a car |a van). Thero were apparently no wells
in the immediate vicinity of this camp. A few miles to the
west a well-marked car track was first seen. Which ran from
OHAFAT to RAIYAN and DOHAH.
were seen at WAJAIBAH, about three miles west of RAIYAN.
Photographs were taken of this and also a piece of apparently
flat ground sli$itly norths The latter was considered fit for
converting into a landing ground.
7
A large well, ruined buildings, gr&ez and trees