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Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [25r] (49/345)
The record is made up of 1 file (171 folios). It was created in 30 May 1932-16 Jul 1934. 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.
IJi
SEC RET.
Roferencos-
S. 10840/1.
COPT.
j -i
4041 S
&
In Iraq,
H I H A I P I.
30th May, 1934.
HKCOIiNISSAIiCE OF QATAR .
(Mop Ref:- International Map of the World,
1 s 1,00 0,000 aheot 0.39)
Appendices:- "a" Report by Ho.34 (B) Squadron.
"B" Report by No.203 (PB) Squadron.
C Extracts froro B.O. letter from
O/Capt. R.E.Saul.
’’D” List of photogra^i»%
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to your signal NO.Y149
dated 24th April, 1934 # and to forward herewith information
which was sained during the air reconnaissance of the Qatar
FoiiJLxistxX&j^ *
2. The reconnaissance was carried out by one flight
of No.84(B) Squadron (4 Wapitis) and 2 aircraft of No.203
(F^) Squadron, all of which operated from BAHREIN under the
command of Group Captain R.I.Saul, D.P.C., working in
close touch with 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.
, BAHREIN, who
accompanied the flying boat reconnaissance.
3. The reconnaissance was carried out on 9th May, 1934,
anc, in accordance with instructions from this Headquarters,
the apitis flew from DGH£T AL HUBS IN via Port RAIYAB to
DOHA smd thence via EAR ASHA to SAX# A. A report of this
reconniiiesance is attached ae appendix ^A”.
4. The flying boats first reconnoitred DOH T AS SALIVA
for a suitable alighting area and then crossed the peninsulni
1 rom SALWA to K1I0R AL ODEII) and reconnoitred the coast north
to DOHA. A report of this reconnaissance is attached as
appendix "B".
5. Tlie flying boats landed at DOHA where they were met
by H.M. Sloops "SHORESAM* and "BIDEPCED”, aid on the morning
of May 10th Group Captain Saul accompanied the Political
Agent, BAHREIN, and the Officer Commanding H.M.S, tt BIDE ORD"
on a visit to the Shaikh of Q TAR. Extracts from a report
by Group Captain Saul, which mre contained in a demi-
official letter, are attached as Appendix H C W •
• 6. As a result of this reconnaissa ce it has boen
learned that a fairly satisfactory site for a landing ground
exists near the Shaikh** palace at Fort RAIYAN. about 7
miles west of DOHA. As explained in appendix u" it was
not found possible to mark out this site or for Wapitis to
land there ae had been hoped. From the air it a oeared that
sites for landing grounds existed near KARASNA and SALWA
but reconnaissance m the ground will be necessary to decide
whether this is correct. A s regards flying boats the foot
| of DOHAT AS SALWA near SALWA Wells is quite suitable for
flying boats except when the "shamal" (north wind) is blow
ing, and in those circumstances flying boats could take
ENCL 08 U
Tlie Secretary,
Air -iiniatry,
Adastral House,
King*way,
London,
No. 26.
FRCG f
W .ty .2 .
v>v.Y LETTER
28JUflM i
/refuge
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to two topics. The first topic is an attempt by the British Government to obtain permission for an emergency landing ground in Qatar during 1932. The second topic relates to the air facilities needed by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Qatar, if an offer of British protection is to be made to the Shaikh of Qatar in return for an oil concession for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). In respect of this second topic, the file also contains material regarding a reconnaissance undertaken by the Royal Air Force over Qatar on the 9 May 1934 to identify suitable sites for such facilities. It includes a copy of a report on the reconnaissance – submitted by Bomber Squadron No 84, Shaibah, Iraq – on folios 27-32, along with a tracing of Qatar (folio 7) and a number of aerial photographs (folios 8-22) referenced in the report.
A draft copy of the Qatar Oil Concession can be found on folios 93-101, and notes of amendments proposed by the British Government can be found on folios 80-89. In addition, a number of 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. memoranda have also been included towards the back of the file: El Qatar, 1908-16 (folio 167), The Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Chiefs, 1908-28 (folios 168-71), and a Précis of the Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 164-67).
The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of 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 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 (171 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 inside back cover with 173; 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 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [25r] (49/345), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1956, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040867672.0x000034> [accessed 26 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/1956
- Title
- Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 23r:92v, 102r:172v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence