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‘File 2/21 II. AVIATION. B. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (3K) R.A.F. Landing Ground at Baital. Falaj.’ [25r] (53/58)
The record is made up of 1 file (25 folios). It was created in 26 Sep 1929-18 Apr 1933. It was written in English and Arabic. 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.
D.O.Nu.C/ /&3
13th April 1933.
Dear Colonel Xctb
With reference to your exprese letter Uo.347-S dated
7th April 1933 to Aviation Baghdad regarding the reconnaissance
of landing grounds at rasirah and Kurbat, it seems xo me this
portends fairly frequent trips by land-machines to these parts.
2. About a year ago when the first flight of land-machines
came to itfusoot, I was asked as a favour to put up the personnel
and mount guards over the machines. The landing ground, I may
Vi
mention, be-wig aoout half a mile from my house at Bait-al-Falaj•
3. The arrival of the machines resembled rather the arrival
of a party of shipwrecked mariners on some foreign shore. They
occupied my house like a barracks, my kitcnen had to be given
over for cooking the men’s food, the State lorry had to leave
its normal worx end letch load after load of petrol from the
dump which is at least 3 miles away, near Muscat. When it was
not doing this, it was carrying personnel backwards and forward*
between luscat and the aerodrome or fetching stores etc, my
private cor also was at their disposal. These conditions
lasted for between 3 weeks and one month.
4. 1 should be very grateful to you if it could be explainec
some way to the H.A.F. that if they intend sending lond-
n.achines down this way, they must make their own arrangements
for everything in the same way as they do for their flying-
boats. There are plenty of taxis between Muscat and the
aerodrome and there is also an excellent road. If they require
a lorr^ ior the transportation of petrol, then tney must buy
one of their own. I might mention that our one-and-holf-ton
Morris lorry will be up for sale ^ery shortly as we are buying
a newer and bigger one.
7 he Hon’ble Lieut-Colonel G. Loch, I.A.,
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.
,
Bushire.
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence in the form of letters and telegrams related to the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) request for the acquisition of land to establish a landing ground at Bait Al-Falaj, and their request to obtain the Government of Muscat and Oman’s permission for the work to take place.
Most of the file is dated 1929, apart from folios 25-26 which are dated 1933. The letter in these two folios is sent from the Muscat 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. to 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. concerning the landing grounds at Masirah, Murbat and Bait Al-Falaj. It is most likely that there are missing folios in the file dated between 1929 and 1933.
The main correspondents in the file are: Headquarters British Forces, Iraq; the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Muscat; and 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. , Bushire.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (25 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 27; 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 and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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‘File 2/21 II. AVIATION. B. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (3K) R.A.F. Landing Ground at Baital. Falaj.’ [25r] (53/58), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/98, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100062247701.0x000036> [accessed 10 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/6/98
- Title
- ‘File 2/21 II. AVIATION. B. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (3K) R.A.F. Landing Ground at Baital. Falaj.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:7v, 9r:10v, 14r:26v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence