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Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: reports by British Military Attache Kabul 1 November 1947 to 31 October 1947’ [‎16r] (31/56)

The record is made up of 1 file (27 folios). It was created in 26 May 1948-29 Nov 1949. 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. .

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- 2 -
2• (Gontinued) .
(iv) The Hind Squadron has done very little flying this year due to
a lack of balanced spares. Of the 17 Hinds 11 are servicealle. The
question of Hind snares is being taken un.
(v) The Training Squadron is equipped with Tiger Moth aircraft.
Of the 8 Tiger Moths, 5 are serviceable and 3 unserviceable. ^ Little
flying has been done due to lack of snares. The ’"hole question of snares
is to be reviev/ed again.
•»>
(vi) The Stearman P.T. 17 is serviceable but difficult to fly at
these altitudes and i 0 seldom used.
3• Airnort or Landing Ground I mpro vement.
(a) The only improvement that has taken place during the pexiod under
review is at the Khwaja Rawash airfield, where ground has been^ levelled
to give an additional run of 300 yards in a N. Tr . - S. ln . direction,
airfield is one of two in Kabul).
(b) Two large hangars are under construction under the supervision of Ma,i.
F.E. Donnithorne, a retired Army engineer under contract to the Afghan
Government. One hangar is complete except for doors at either end, ana
overall painting. The second is half completed.
(c) Morrison Knudsen (American Engineers employed by the Afghan Government
on many engineering projects), have offered to make the Kandanar axrf-eia
fit for all weather. So far the Afghans have not approved tnis offer but
will probably do so when they start a civil service.
4• Civil Aviat ion.
(a) The question of an internal Government air service is t' : ng seriously
considered by the Afghans, T,1 ith but few pilots trained in -lying A.vro-,
the Afghans are not ready to start yet.
(b) The Russian courier plane has made regular flights using Dakota
aircraft. On one occasion it was reliably reported that a Russian made
Dakota was used. This aircraft found difficulty in taking off and since
then only American Dakotas have been used.
(c) One or two INA aircraft have flown in to Kabul, these ouanes having
been chartered by the Indian Embassy,
(d) One R.P.A.F. Dakota flew to Kabul bringing a ’good will 1 party of
Pakistan officials.
5. Efficiency of Afghan Pilots.
(a) The flying efficiency of the Hind Pilots is deteriorating due to
lack of flying time.
(b) There are 9 pilots trained in flying the new Avros of which one is
rated above average, 5 average and 3 below average.
(c) A certain amount of dive bombing has been carried out b,.t the standard
of skill displayed was poor.
(d) Formation flying was carried out at the Afghan Independ r ace
celebrations after some practice. The standard of flying ..gain poor.
4. R. A.F. personnel seconded to the Royal Afgh an Air_F oP£_ ; -
(a) S/Ldr G.F. Reid, D.F.C., carries out pilot instruction .nail types
of aircraft used by the Afghans. He acts as G.O. of the refining
R.A.F. personnel. His advice is sometimes sought on all ma' ters connected
with the Afghan Air Force, quite apart from pilot instruction affairs.

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Content

The file contains periodical reports by the British Military Attaché at Kabul (Colonel Alexander Stalker Lancaster and J H Prendergast) on the Afghan Air Force, covering the period 1 November 1947 to 31 October 1949.

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 include policy discussion related to the maintenance of British instructors at Kabul.

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 (27 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file. A set of file notes is present at the beginning of the correspondence (folios 26-27). Serial numbers in red ink, which occur throughout the file, refer to entries in the notes.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 28; 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.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: reports by British Military Attache Kabul 1 November 1947 to 31 October 1947’ [‎16r] (31/56), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2035, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039501280.0x000020> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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