Coll 5/55(3)(S) ‘Afghanistan: Supply of General Purpose & Trainer Aircraft by H.M.G. (Replacement of Hinds)’

Content

The file documents the replacement of the Hawker Hind aircraft – used by the Afghan Air Force since 1937 – with Avro Ansons in 1948. The selection process being the result of a long search from 1943 to 1946 for a suitable replacement. The file contains correspondence documenting the search for suitable British aircraft – both new and second hand; the search for suitable aircraft was complicated by wartime conditions and the Afghan Government's unusual requirements. Some of the other aircraft considered were as follows:

• the Boulton Paul Defiant
• the de Havilland Dominie, Dove, and Tiger Moth
• the Fairey Swordfish
• the Hawker Audax, Hart, and Hurricane
• the Miles Master
• the Westland Lysander

The correspondence in the file also partly documents the process of ordering the Avro Ansons including: arrangements for payment for the aircraft, arrangements for shipping the aircraft, details respecting the required specification, and the production schedule for the aircraft. The file also includes minutes from inter-departmental meetings held to discuss post-war supply difficulties with the Avro Anson aircraft.

The main correspondents are officials from various government departments as follows: the Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (the Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947), and the Ministry of Supply. Other key correspondents include HM Minister at Kabul (Francis Verner Wylie and Giles Frederick Squire) and officials from the External Affairs Department of the Government of India.

A few cuttings from magazines can be found within the file:

• A page from Flight , 19 July 1945, which inclludes an advertisement for the De Havilland Rapide (folio 261r) and Field Aviation Services (folio 261v).
• The Aeroplane , 24 March 1944, which includes a photograph of a two-seater Hawker Hurricane in Russia (folio 291v).

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 file (403 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 404; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/12/2012

Former external reference(s)

Coll 5/55/3/S

History of this record

Date(s)

12 Mar 1943-8 Jun 1948 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military aircraftAerospace industryAvro Anson (Training plane)de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (Transport plane)Hawker Hurricane (Fighter plane)Miles Master (Training plane)Arms sales

People & organisations

Ministry of SupplyA V Roe and CompanyAir MinistryForeign OfficeCommonwealth Relations OfficeIndian Political Service, External Affairs DepartmentHM Ambassador to Afghanistan

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

Coll 5/55(3)(S) ‘Afghanistan: Supply of General Purpose & Trainer Aircraft by H.M.G. (Replacement of Hinds)’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2012, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000226> [accessed 6 October 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000226

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000226/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content