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'File 2/10 II. AVIATION. B. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay etc.' [‎97r] (206/611)

The record is made up of 1 volume (302 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1933-1 Mar 1935. 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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Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Conaulatt/
~ u scatf «54th January 1934•
ujAttUfa tcwxmudjoc luAiuuiij* buu,
I am afraid Air Headquarters will think that I have
been inordinately long in informing them of date ac for
the reconnaissance in hand*
2. Thia has been due to the difficulty in getting
touch with the elusive dheikh of Masirah, a difficulty
further enhanced by the *Id and by bad weather.
3* The 3heikh, as the Council anticipated,was not at
Jur where he is so often to be found, and the message has
h&u to go on down by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. to i^asirah, where it was hoped
to catch him over the »Id celebrations and before he again
disappeared in pursuit of his livelihood i.e. fishing.
4. iuasir&h is the biggest dheikh between that place
and kurbat and his presence with us is absolutely essential
as the bur bheikhs in themselves are XiOt big enough men
to run the show.
5« The Council hope that a reply will be received
to-day but, as I pointed out in ny ho.C/240 dated 19th
*>ecember 1933 to the Hesident, I anticipated long delays
in getting affairs moving and asked for at least a month's
warning for the proposed reconnaissance.
6. As regards numoers, the Council considered that
you would require at least twenty men ^labour; for the job
in hand, hence the necessity for a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. . Apart from this
the bultan lias ordained that eight local sheikhs holding
sway (sic; in those parts must accompany the expedition.
7. daiyid ch&hab, His ^ignness's uncle (and personal
representative) is deputed as the Council member in charge
of operations. Apart from naving to maintain his position,
Commodore v« D. Cunningham, c.b.m.,
Air headquarters,
Baghdad*

About this item

Content

The volume contains correspondence in the form of letters, telegrams and reports related to the Air Headquarters, Iraq, planning to carry out ground reconnaissance for landing grounds and refuelling stations mid-way between Masirah and Murbat. The volume also includes instructions for landing ground reconnaissance at Sauqrah Bay [also referred to as Sukra Bay or Khor Gharum]. The instructions include descriptions of two possible landing grounds at the site.

The volume also contains correspondence regarding the following:

  • Obtaining the Sultan of Muscat and Oman’s permission in order for the work to take place
  • Arrangement for a member of the Muscat and Oman, Council of Regency, as well as some Shaikhs, particularly the Shaikh of Masirah, Khamis bin Hilal, and other individuals to accompany the reconnaissance team
  • The building of oil and petrol store at Murbat
  • The proceeding of two dhows from Muscat to Masirah with a supervisor, labour and materials to carry out the remarking of Masirah Island landing ground, and two dhows from Muscat to rendezvous with the sloop for the marking of landing grounds in Sauqrah Bay
  • Reports on the reconnaissance took place in February and November 1934. The February work report contains information about Masirah Island that have been gathered from Shaikh Salim bin Nasir Al-Maj‘ali.

Folios 280 to 298 of the volume consist of 19 black and white photographs which are placed in one envelope (f 299a). These are aerial photographs, and they are most likely related to the Royal Air Force (RAF) reconnaissance for landing grounds in the area between Masirah and Murbat. The front side of these photographs is dated November 1933, and the reverse side of each of them has a Royal Air Force stamp dated December 1934.

The main correspondents in the volume are the Air Headquarters, Iraq; 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; 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. , Bushire; and the Government of Muscat and Oman.

Extent and format
1 volume (302 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 299; 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 flyleaves.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 2/10 II. AVIATION. B. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay etc.' [‎97r] (206/611), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/87, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100074345206.0x000007> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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