‘File 7/33 Demonstration flights over Trucial Coast by R.A.F. bombers from Air Head Quarters Iraq’ [‎14r] (29/38)

-« 2 m
Prom Jebel Odaid &long Ui® coast, with diving Interludes
©▼•r Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two Brlgan4a returned to Sharjfh
airfield, having flown all over indicated ©rea« in approximataly
five hours and thirty minutes without any incidents. Both crews
hai nothing to report except great discomfort caused by the
extre&e heat in low flyiAg aircraft.
With a view to ensure that the object of the deaonstration
was not entirely misinterpreted by local Shai]chs y A.s.L.O requested
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Clerk| Sharjah. to m^ke arrangements for calls to be made
on both the Shaikhs or Sharjah and Dubai, Accordingly in the
evening of the first demonstration, 10 officers of 84 Squadron
A.l.O., Habbaniya and A.s.l.O ., Bahrain, accompanied by the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
clerk called first on Shaikh Mohammed bin Saqr of Sharjah and later
on Shaikh Said bin Maktum of Dubai t and were afforded a very
friendly recaption*
A.S.L.O informed both Shaikhs of the areas over which the
aircraft had flown during the course of the morning 9 and mentioned
that the same areas would be covered again on the following day.
Both Shaikhs expressed their surprise over the speed and consider*
able ground covered by the aircraft, and were both invited to take
part in the following d&y's flight. Shaikh Mohammed bin Saqr
tactfully declined whilst Shaikh Said bin Mahttaa appeared to be
under the impression that the real object cf the flight would be
to remove him temporarily from Dubai, Both Shaikhs, howver,
agreed to inspect the eircraft on the ground on the following day.
It was also noted that Shaikh Said bin Mahtum was surrounded by
an unusually large retinue of well armed followers who kept
close watches on both entrances of the reception room in which the
interview took place.
The following day, the l£th of June, the same flight was
again carried out with the exception that the leg between Sabkhat
Uatti and Jebel Odaid was eliminated in preference for deeper
penetration into the Liwa area. Agein on this second sortie
no incidents were recorded and no oil camps or convoys of vehicles
could be located*
Shortly after the aircraft returned, both Shaikhs called at
the Officers* mess Sharjah. arriving there almost simultaneously.
After the usual refreshments were served, the Shaikhs and their
followers were taken to the airfield to inspect the Brigenda,
A.S.L.O informed the Shaikhs that large numbers of such aircraft
were available at Habbaniya and could be sent to the Trucial
Coast at a moment's notice should the need arise. After the
Shaikhs had inspected the inside of the aircraft, details of the
Brigands 1 cannon fire power and bomb load were given and
was followed by a detailed description of the power of destruction
of rockets in relation to typical local buildings.
The visit ended by pictures of the gathering being taken
and Shaikh Said bin Hakttm asking the officers to have dinner
with him on the following night. Unfortunately the invitation
had to be canmelled later in the evening as the Brigands were
recalled to Habbaniyi ahead of schmdttle.
Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Limited representatives
and Imperial Bank of Iran Manager(Dubai) have been asked to
collate for transmission to A.S.L.# reports from towns and the
interior of reaction to the demonstration. Unfortunately, to date
these reports have not yet been received by this office.
( SOD ). G.E. LB*18.
(Squadron Leader)
Air Staff Liaison Officer*