"ملف ٣٧/١٦أ- I تدابير مكافحة الجراد الصحراوي" [و‎‎٢‎٤‎٣] (٩٠٠/٤٨٥)

Minutes n f the .
» on Friday, ki^nd Jw
i\2iti-Locust Measures
.. . at G.H.'l., P.A.I.C.
, 1943, at 10.00 hours re
be taken in South "ersia.
Present:-
Brig. Elrington, B.G.S. - Chairman.
Brig. Beddington, D.Q.M.G.
Col. Thurburn, Col. Q.
Lt .—Col. Cup page, A.Q.N. .G.( .1.)
Major Gator, G.H.Ci. (Liaison Officer)
Capt. Little,
Gnoup-Capt. Pyne, K.A.F.
F/Lt. de la Hoyde, H.A.F.
M.O.B. Lean, Locust Officer, Persia.
Major Hodder, M.E.S.C.
Following upon informal talks held with the C.-in-C. and the A.O.C.,
w ere it was agreed that both the Army and Air Force would lend willing
oL 7 port, within the limits of equipment available, to the Anti-Locust Campaign
to be conducted in Khuzistan and Fan* this spring, this Meeting was called to
discuss tlje details of the assistance to be offered in this campaign.
TIIE CHAI-KMAN opened the proceedings by stating that the C.-in-C. had
agreed to send the C.X.H., supplemented by sane Pioneer labour, together with
the necessary transport, to operate against locusts in the Khuzistan area with
a base at Ahwaz.
Discussion then arose as to the assistance to be offered by the R.^.F.
and Gp.-Capt. PYHE stated that two or three aircraft could be made available.
In the first place they could be used for reconnaissance purposes and later be
adapted for the distribution of poison in the more inaccessible areas; also for
spraying flying swarms with new insecticides if these could be made available.
The area to be reconnoitred stretches from Dizful to Bandar Abbas, and Gp.-Capt.
PYNL considers Ahwaz to be a suitable base.
It was then agreed that the entire operation should be commanded by
the U.C., C.I.H., with Mr. Lean as technical advisor.
Mr. LEAN considered that Behbehan might prove a better base H.Q., being
more central, but Brig. BEDDIHGTON and Gp.-Capt. PYNE favoured Ahwaz in view of
better road communication and a better air base, and this was then agreed upon.
Mr. LEAN then asked whether sandbags could be made available for
transporting the bait and suggested that a quantity in the neighbourhood of 4,000
would be sufficient. Brig. BLDDIMGTON replied that these should be made avail
able immedietely ©t Ahwaz, likewise shovels, etc.
Brig. KLRI !GTON then said that an officer emd a small detachment from
the C.I.H. would be sent to Bushire to liaise with the Persian anti-locust unit
operating in Fare. They should be in wireless communication-with their H.q« at
Ahwaz and keep them informed of progress of the operations conducted by the
Persians. Instructions would be given forthwith for the C.I.H. to prepare to
move. Gp.-Capt. PYNE said the aircraft would first have to be fitted with
dust-hoppers, and Major HQDDLR; agreed to contact Air-Commodore Betts Immediately
upon his arrival in Cairo, requesting him to despatch by air to Shaiba the two
Russian dust-hoppers now in his possession, together with the blue prints of the
Amerixan hoppers.