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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎10r] (30/474)

The record is made up of 1 volume (233 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1926-22 Dec 1931. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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cowmzmiAL.
Ho. 9
??TOTM
To
Political Ageney and Coneulat*,
Muecst 20th January 1927.
Major G. P* Mtirphy, I.A.,
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. and TT.B.M^s Consul, MUSCAT ,
The Hon *ble the PoliticoJL Resident
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
BU3HIHE.
VTith reference to your MemoranduM Ko.6-S,dated the
10th January 1927,i have the honour to report aa follows.
(1) In my opinion it would be advisable to obtain
*
the permission of the Sultan before any such reconnaissance is
carried out but I do not anticipate any objection from him*
(2) The proposed reconnaissance appears to ae
practicable as far as the Batineh Coast is concerned as far
south as Beit al FadeJ and provided the route kept well to the
coast no difficulty should be e:q>erieneed in obtaining suitable
landing grounds and water* There is a tolerable amount of secu-
guards
-rity along here but of course suitable/grarasat* would have to be
provided for any refuelling groun^ds which may be established*
The nature and number of such guards would depend on the posl-
-tion of the refuelling grounds*
(3) If it is intended to fly across the Oman penin-
-suia via the Biraiml oasis it may be remarked that this sountry
has never been surveyed topographically and as far as I can
gather has been visited by very few travellers - delisted in
1836,Colonel Miles in 1876 and Sir P*Z*Cox in 1905*
The tribes ef Birairai are friendly towards Muscat from whom they
reeeivs an annual subsidy.
(4) I think the establishment of suitable landing
grounds in the Huus al Jibal would be difficult if not altogethc
out of the question owing to the mountanuous nature of this die-
I
I
h>
f

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Content

The volume contains correspondence related to the Air Staff Intelligence, Air Headquarters, Baghdad’s request for information to be obtained from Muscat regarding the possible establishment of a subsidiary air route from Iraq to India via the Arabian side of the Gulf. The required information was concerning the straight line Mirfah-Biraimi-Khaburah. Arrangements were made for some Royal Air Force (RAF) representatives to visit the region accompanied by a doctor, and Bertram Sidney Thomas, Financial Advisor to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

The correspondence contains information on the estimates of the cost of the journey including hire of camels; cost of feeding men and camels; presents to be given to the Shaikhs; wages and foodstuffs, coffee etc.

Letters were sent to various Shaikhs and Walis in Sohar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Baraimi [Buraimi] and other regions, asking them to assist the Royal Air Officers while conducting their work. The correspondence contains letters of certain Shaikhs such as Shaikh Salim bin Diyin [Dayyin] Al-Ka‘bi and Shaikh ‘Isa bin Salih Al-Ḥārithī [Al Harthi] negotiating the terms for them to accept the RAF work to take place. It also contains reports about the troubles made by some of the Bedouin tribes.

Bertram Sidney Thomas reported on his observation on the proposed seaplane flight along the south Arabian coast. He also sent a report (ff 82- 130) to the Sultan and the 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. on the proceedings of the RAF Trans-Oman Expedition which he conducted from Sohar to Sharjah between 12 May and 3 June 1927. The report is in two parts covering the following: preliminary situation; itinerary of expedition; description of country passed through; tribal situation and Ibn Saud; personalities; tribal considerations and the air route.

The volume also includes correspondence with the Sultan of Socotra regarding the construction of landing ground in his territory near Qishn. It also includes correspondence about the Air Ministry’s interest in extending the reconnaissance to establish landing grounds along the southern coast of Arabia.

Among other correspondents in the volume are: the 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. , Muscat; Muscat and Oman, Council of Ministers; and C Hilton Keith, Squadron Leader RAF, Sohar.

Extent and format
1 volume (233 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 229; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎10r] (30/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066728591.0x00001f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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