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Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’ [84v] (168/431)
The record is made up of 1 file (214 folios). It was created in 14 Jun 1938-30 Dec 1947. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Since the attached Report was written some of the Afghan Air Force
has been used for operations in the Southern Province against Mazrak, the
rebel Zadraiu
Points of interest in the Report are the fact that the Hind spares
position has improved, and that Italian influence seems to be practically
eliminated from the Air Force, although there are still a few Italian
aircraft serviceable. (\7e are trying to get two Piaggio Engines to fit
the Romeos, but the Air Ministry have misled us about the type
available, and it is taking some time to sort out the muddle).
The lack of spare parts for the Hind machines -which we sold to the
Afghans some few years back has caused us some concern, for the Hind
aircraft were declared obsolete by the Air Ministry last year, and we felt
a certain responsibility to the Afghans for helping to prolong the life
of these old machines* It seems that our efforts have achieved some
result, and spares have now been received. Even though propped up with
spares,the Hind^alas f cannot last for more than a few years, and we are
having great difficulty in suiting the Afghan Government with sufficiently
modem yet not too expensive aircraft. We have tried them unsuccessfully
with Audax, (a very old "type which was available in India) Master Trainer
Aircraft, and second-hand Hurricanes. All these are unacceptable.
Apparently they desire a two seater general purpose air craft, and we have
asked the Air Ministry if they have any ideas as to something suitable and
available. The latter, however, are not too sanguine about having
anything which answers this description.
If the Afghan Government would only wait until the end of the War there
will no doubt be many modem types of aircraft at easy prices for sale to
them, but they seem to have set their heart on having something new soon,
and no doubt their pilots encourage this desire.
It will be a great pity if they turn to the U.3.A. for help. The
Afghan Air Force is trained by a Britith pilot instructor, and British
mechanics, and I think that we should make every effort to see that the
Afghans spend their money on something British. American aircraft will no
doubt mean American trainers.
War Staff.for information.
About this item
- Content
The file contains periodical reports by the British Military Attaché at Kabul (Colonel Alexander Stalker Lancaster) on the Afghan Air Force, they cover the period 1 March 1938 to 31 October 1947. There is a gap for the period 2 May 1938 to 31 October 1940 for which no reports are present in the file.
The reports cover a range of topics such as training flights, operations conducted, condition of aircraft, accidents, maintenance work, availability of spares, petrol stores, ground facilities, administrative or political developments, and any proposals for the purchase of additional aircraft. The reports also cover the positions of the British Instructors at Kabul relative to their Italian counterparts, and indicate the progress made in training Afghan students.
The file includes a report by Squadron Leader Reid (see folios 22-23) on his testing of the Avro Anson XIX, and a report by Squadron Leader B P King on his testing of the de Havilland Tiger Moth (see folios 82-83), for service in Afghanistan.
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 (214 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 (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 215; 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 in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’ [84v] (168/431), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2034, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038334404.0x0000a9> [accessed 27 June 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2034
- Title
- Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:215v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence