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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎166r] (342/474)

The record is made up of 1 volume (233 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1926-22 Dec 1931. 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. .

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4
Gunboat A1 Sa’id and dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. *If the latt*r a good 15 days
should >e allowed for the voyage; if the forner four
days. The two stages of the journey i.$, Masirah
and Mur v at, taken together would seen to entail a choice
of one of the two following xiMrol plans.
of one of the tvro following
I Th<^ dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. plan.
II A1 Sa’id plan.
I If "^y dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , two should >e enployed.to
proceed to Masirah^or (Ghu^^at Hashish) and retain its
petrol and oil on hoard pending the arrival of the
seaplanes. The other to proceed to Mur "bat where it
could retain or land the petrol and oil as may he
desired.If these dhows left Muscat on 1st October
time should hs allowed for the ^rr-jrvAl of the Murtoat
one.This would seen to necessitate the flight being
held hack to the second half of the month.
II Al Sa’id, If A1 Sa*id and not dhows are
to employed she could prceed direct to Murhat
make an oil and petrol dump there in the State fort,
then turn "back to GhubDat Ha*hish(or Masirah)with the
balance of oil and petrol aboard to await the arrival ,
seanlanes. Hy leaving Muscat on 1st Octor'er, she should
accomplish this work "by 8th October thus making it
possible for the flight to commence from Muscat on or
soon after 8th October as may b@ desired.
Should the k.A.f.consider th® expense of the
latter scheme justified,it would appear to have the
advantage of their having an assuraance of fuel at
bfore leaving Macirah*and in the event of a
nation I presume could be wirelessed to the seaplanes
before they left Muscat. Yours sincerely
Yours Sincerely
/fWl C\tL^c<d‘

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Content

The volume contains correspondence related to the Air Staff Intelligence, Air Headquarters, Baghdad’s request for information to be obtained from Muscat regarding the possible establishment of a subsidiary air route from Iraq to India via the Arabian side of the Gulf. The required information was concerning the straight line Mirfah-Biraimi-Khaburah. Arrangements were made for some Royal Air Force (RAF) representatives to visit the region accompanied by a doctor, and Bertram Sidney Thomas, Financial Advisor to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

The correspondence contains information on the estimates of the cost of the journey including hire of camels; cost of feeding men and camels; presents to be given to the Shaikhs; wages and foodstuffs, coffee etc.

Letters were sent to various Shaikhs and Walis in Sohar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Baraimi [Buraimi] and other regions, asking them to assist the Royal Air Officers while conducting their work. The correspondence contains letters of certain Shaikhs such as Shaikh Salim bin Diyin [Dayyin] Al-Ka‘bi and Shaikh ‘Isa bin Salih Al-Ḥārithī [Al Harthi] negotiating the terms for them to accept the RAF work to take place. It also contains reports about the troubles made by some of the Bedouin tribes.

Bertram Sidney Thomas reported on his observation on the proposed seaplane flight along the south Arabian coast. He also sent a report (ff 82- 130) to the Sultan and 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. on the proceedings of the RAF Trans-Oman Expedition which he conducted from Sohar to Sharjah between 12 May and 3 June 1927. The report is in two parts covering the following: preliminary situation; itinerary of expedition; description of country passed through; tribal situation and Ibn Saud; personalities; tribal considerations and the air route.

The volume also includes correspondence with the Sultan of Socotra regarding the construction of landing ground in his territory near Qishn. It also includes correspondence about the Air Ministry’s interest in extending the reconnaissance to establish landing grounds along the southern coast of Arabia.

Among other correspondents in the volume are: 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; Muscat and Oman, Council of Ministers; and C Hilton Keith, Squadron Leader RAF, Sohar.

Extent and format
1 volume (233 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 229; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. 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
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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎166r] (342/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066728594.0x00008f> [accessed 17 July 2026]

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