Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎169v] (338/807)

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5. Aerodromes.
(i) A consular report from Shiraz states that the Shiraz aerodrome has now
been put into a serviceable condition. The surface is reported as being exce en ,
boundaries clearly marked and the air sleeve renewed. 1 he road leading tiom e
town to the aerodrome has also been repaired. .. . ,
(ii) The emergency landing grounds at Qum and Dihjan have been repaired
and re-marked.
6. Japanese Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 8 (current), paragraph 4. Mr. Sanjii
Tsuroka, representative of the Japanese Foreign Office at the wedding celebiations
of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, visited Kabul by air, returning to
Tehran on the 11th May. , , ™ p t
The Japanese aeroplane Soyokazi left Tehran on the 14th May for Japan
via Bagdad. The Japanese Foreign Office representative was the only passenger
travelling besides the crew, the remainder of the delegation having departed
for Europe.
It is interesting to note that the Japanese delegation were about the tirst to
arrive for the celebrations and the last to leave. There is a strong rumour that
they have obtained certain flying concessions over Iranian territory.
7. The Anglo-Iranian OH Company.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 9 (current), paragraph 10. The press
campaign against the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company has ceased as suddenly as it
had begun.
Negotiations for the proposed concessional area (vide Intelligence Summary
No. 3 (current), paragraph 5) are for the time being at a standstill. Popular
feeling in the country is against the company.
8. The Iranian Air Force.
(i) It is reliably reported that the Iranian air force is to be reorganised into
regiments of three squadrons each as follows :—
1st Regiment: Qila Murgha.
2nd Regiment: Tabriz.
3rd Regiment: Meshed.
4th Regiment: Ahwaz.
5th Regiment (cadre) : Doshantappeh.
Flying school : Mehrabad.
(ii) On the 17th May a “ Hind ” machine, landing indifferently, smashed its
wings and undercarriage. The court of enquiry, which was presided over by the
acting Minister of War, three generals, one test pilot and Mr. Knight, technical
adviser, tried to blame the accident on the wrong assembling of a retaining bolt
held by a split pin under the fuselage. Mr. Knight refused to agree and the
court adjourned.
9. Turkish Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 9 (current), paragraph 9. Further
details are now available of the unfortunate accident to the Turkish air squadron
of “ Vultces ” returning to Turkey on the 28th April.
The Turkish authorities admit that it was an error of judgment on the part
of the officer commanding the squadron to have started from Tehran on the day
in question. Meteorological reports from both Tabriz and Diarbekr stated that
there was thick mist near Tabriz. In the two machines that crashed two
mechanics were killed, the pilots and assistant pilots managing to jump clear,
using their American-make parachutes.
The mechanics were seated in the rear of the machines and presumably could
not force open the side doors because of the air pressure. The interment of the
two mechanics took place in the Turkish air force cemetery at Karakoshe, Turkey.