‘File 2/15 MASIRAH & SALALAH AIR FIELDS (CHARTER FLIGHTS)’

Content

Folios 1-12 in the file are dated 1941-1942 and include correspondence between the Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force, Iraq and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Muscat regarding the combination lock for the Royal Air Force (RAF) petrol store at Masirah Island. These folios together with the file notes found in folios 159 and 160 seem to have been misplaced from another file numbered II/13-3 (c), and inserted in this file.

The rest of the file (ff 13-158) with file notes (ff 161-170) contains the actual correspondence that belongs to file number '2/15 Masirah and Salalah Air Fields (Charter Flights).' The correspondence is dated 1947-1948 and it is mainly related to the procedure required in order to obtain the Sultan of Muscat and Oman’s permission for charter flights to fly over his territories, and to use the landing grounds for refuelling, as in accordance with the Muscat Air Agreement. The main charter flights to use the landing ground facilities were Ethiopian Airlines between Addis Ababa and Bombay, and Indian Airways between India and East Africa.

The file also includes correspondences related to: the development of the airfields at Salalah and Masirah; the availability of land rescue facilities along the South Arabian Coast; and the Sultan’s request for customs duty to be paid by the RAF at Masirah and Salalah for the supply of aviation fuel to civil aircrafts.

The main correspondents in the file are: the Royal Air Force Headquarters, Iraq; the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Muscat; the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , Bahrain; the British Consul General, Addis Ababa; the Foreign Office, London; the Ministry of Air Aviation, London; the Commonwealth Relations Office, London; and the Government of India (Independent India).

Extent and format

1 file (169 folios)

Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 171; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic 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/R/15/6/92

Former external reference(s)

Subject Files: File 2/15

History of this record

Date(s)

23 Sep 1941-31 Dec 1948 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Muscat Civil Air Agreement (1947)Muscat Civil Air Agreement (1934)Air services agreementsCivil aviationAirfields

Places

SalalahMasirah

People & organisations

Government of IndiaAHQ IraqSultan of Muscat and Oman, Āl Bū Sa'īd Dynasty

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Cite this record in your research

‘File 2/15 MASIRAH & SALALAH AIR FIELDS (CHARTER FLIGHTS)’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/92, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0002e4> [accessed 7 April 2025]

Link to this record

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