Skip to item: of 522
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 5/85 ‘Airfield at Dharan for U.S.A.A.F.: Proposal to construct new airport at Bahrain (Hamala)’ [‎223r] (446/522)

The record is made up of 1 file (259 folios). It was created in 17 Mar 1944-14 Nov 1947. 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.

Apply page layout

DRAFT EXPRESS LETTER
TO? SECRET
t<T M-i7C||^
Froms Secretary of state for India.
To* 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. ,
repeated to Gorerninent of India, External
Affairs Department, and 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. , Bahrain.
R0C:T1944'
#
Please refer to Jedda telegram 157 IDth
forwarded under EXT.2156/44 of 19th May ^kkj regarding American
request for permission to construct airfields in Saudi Arabia.
%. On October 3rd A.O.C. Middle East telegraphed stating that
message had been received^by local U.S.A.A.F. authorities(from
Washington) requiring them to arrange immediately for the prorision
r/Uf~
of Very Heavy Bomber Airfield at Dhahran^ / Iteply bad been sent
A-o-'- s 1*,
to Washington dequesting that proposal should be put as firm
/-
requirement to British Chiefs of Staff. until such proposal
is received no action is being taken by British authorities either
at Washington or London.
Meanwhile, matter has been considered here/under following
heads
(a) Our transport interests *
Air Ministry consider that it would be advantageous to have
large relief aerodrome of this kind provided it did not add to
our maintenance difficulties in the area. Same relief could,
however, possibly be afforded at perhaps less cost by Americans
developing Abadan. As regards Bahrain, trouble is at present
being experienced with use of runways by heavy aircraft, though
by use of steel planking it is hoped that airfield will be fit
^ h^C/tvy
for use /by February next. * To provide full length V.H.B. runways
however, at Bahrain, would be major undertaking of many months
and airfield would meanwhile be largely out of comnission. (I am
replying separately to your express letter No.c/209 °f 30th August
in this eennoot.ioft$ y
-
/(b)

About this item

Content

The file is concerned with proposals for the construction of an airfield – suitable for very heavy bombers – at Dhahran by the United States Army Air Transport Command as a wartime necessity, and applications from the United States to the United Kingdom for the latters support in obtaining permission from Saudi Arabia. See folios 239-241 for a brief on these proposals.

The file also contains papers related to proposals for the post-war civil operation following the construction of the airfield, and the transfer of ownership from the United States to Saudi Arabia. Related papers concern proposals from Trans World Airlines for the development of civil aviation in Saudi Arabia, and counter proposals from the British Government for a civil air mission. This includes the use of Dhahran by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

A typed copy of a report by a Ministry of Civil Aviation Technical Survey Party on aerodromes in the Middle East and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (1947) has also been included: see folios 26-55. The minutes of a subsequent meeting held by the Civil Aviation Planning Committee on 1 April 1947 to discuss the reports findings can be found on folios 18-19.

The main correspondents in the file are as follows: HM Minister at Jeddah (Sir Laurence Grafftey-Smith), officials of the Foreign Office, officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 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. (Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947).

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 (259 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 (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 260; 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

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 5/85 ‘Airfield at Dharan for U.S.A.A.F.: Proposal to construct new airport at Bahrain (Hamala)’ [‎223r] (446/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2052, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043044461.0x000031> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100043044461.0x000031">Coll 5/85 ‘Airfield at Dharan for U.S.A.A.F.: Proposal to construct new airport at Bahrain (Hamala)’ [&lrm;223r] (446/522)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100043044461.0x000031">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x00024e/IOR_L_PS_12_2052_0448.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x00024e/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image