Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎128r] (255/644)

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(6) Personnel.
496. Major G. D. Pybus proceeded on 107 days’ leave on the 30th September
and returned on the 14th January.
^ 497. Mr. A. C. Trott, the oriental secretary, officiated as military attach^
ysA'ing the period.
498. Major H. J. Underwood, officer language student, left Isfahan for
India on the termination of his period of study duty on the 12th November.
(7) Foreign Colleagues.
499. Captain Neshati Nasif Bey arrived on the 29th April to take up the
appointment of Turkish military attach^.
500. Captain Nuri Bey, assistant military attache, has left and the appoint
ment will not be filled.
(B) A ir Force.
501. The year under review has seen a further increase in the number of
machines in possession of the Persian air force. From an establishment of
54 machines in 1933, it has increased in size until in December the total establish
ment was 68 machines.
502 Of the order placed with the Hawker Engineering Company in 1933
for 30 machines of the “Audax” and “Fury” types, 18 machines have been
delivered to the Persian Government, leaving 12 machines still to be delivered to
complete this order. Of this number, 8 have arrived at Ahwaz to be assembled
and flown to Tehran. A further order for an additional 30 machines of the
“Audax” and “Fury” types has been placed with the Hawker Engineering
Company to be delivered during 1935. In addition, orders for a furthei 20
D.H. Tiger “Moth” machines with Gipsy Major 130 h.p. engine has been
placed with the De Havilland Aircraft Company; 10 of these machines ha\e
arrived at Ahwaz to be assembled and flown to Tehran. Thus, apart from further
casualties, when all machines now on order have been delivered the number of
machines in the possession of the Persian air force will be 148.
503. Colonel Alls Nordquist, Swede, air adviser to the Persian Government,
tendered his resignation, which has been accepted. He left Tehran on the
18th April. It appears that one of the chief reasons for Colonel Nordquist’s
resignation was that he insisted on direct access to His Imperial Majesty the
Shah. This was refused.
504. Colonel Bever, a Belgian air force officer, succeeded Colonel Nordquist
as air adviser to the Persian air force. He took up his duties on the 1st July.
505. Five Swedish air force officers were engaged by the Persian Govern
ment as pilot instructors to the Persian air force. They arrived during January
1934 and resigned in July 1934. It is understood that the reason for their
resignation was that while one of tneir colleagues (Second-Lieutenant J^kolais)
was instructing a pupil the wheels of the machine struck the mound of a qanat
while landing, causing considerable damage to the under-structure of the machine.
Later Second-Lieutenant Skolais received notification that his services had been
dispensed with. Representations were made to the Persian Government through
the Swedish Charge d’Affaires protesting against Second-Lieutenant Skolais's
dismissal, and pointing out that three months’ notice was required by contract
under which these officers were engaged. Satisfaction was not forthcoming. The
officers were dissatisfied over other incidents and at the geneial tieatment accoided
them and, realising that they could not work under such conditions, tendered
their resignation.
506. Six Belgian pilot instructors have been engaged by the Persian Govern
ment to replace the Swedes. Four of this number have already taken up their
duties and the remaining two are expected to arrive during January.
507. Five machines of the Hawker “Audax ” type, under the command of
the General Office Commanding the Persian Air Force, left the capital for Angora