مجموعة ٥/٧٣ "سلاح الجو الأفغاني: تقارير" [و‎‎٥‎٢] (٤٣١/١٠٣)

9 Conti,
■tactfully in oxercrising the increased powers piven to him^
The Allied victories in Europe and the Far East have increased
British prestige in air force circles, and many officers now
hope that t»h« Afghan Government will bo able to purchase now
aircraft ana despatch a number of officers to India r v oven
Great Britain for training* There has als^ been some
un-informed. talk amongst Afghan air force officers about the
the purchase of American aircraft, and the despatch of officers
to America for training. Distrust and fear of" Russian
intentions continues to be expressed by air force officers,
but it is possible that some of their statements are made with
a view te securing opinions about Russia from British people
in Kabul.
i-G. Onl TIS H INS TRD CTO R3 *
(a) ^ Mr* H. Bradley, Messrs Hawkers fitter" and rigger,
left .*abul for England 22nd April, and was temporarily
repla.eea by ’warrant Officer R. Blytn, R fli ..F., wno arrived in
Kabul from India, on 7th July i946. Mr^ Blyth is still attached
to tiiv iifghan air force and is prepared to stay until March
1946. Ho is also considering accepting a more permanent
attachment to the Afghan air force providing questions
concerning his pay, family allotment, war gratuity, and pension
c^n be^settled. After he came to Kabul the R.a.F* pay and
ostablisHaent autnorities in In ia disoxiarged him from the R„AoF
stopped his family allotment, and informed him that his services
in Kabul would not count for pension or war gratuity. Mr* Blyth
has 18 ( years service in the R.A S F. This problem has boon taken
up with the Air India an i the matter has been referred
to the Air Ministry, London. The solution appears to lie in
allowing R.A.F« personnel attached to the Afghan air force to
c unt their services in ICabuI. as if they wore serving with
the R./x.F. in Indio c
(b)
attached to
;ing Commander B.M.King, R.A.F., pilot instructor
, ^ Afghan air force has extended his contract with
the Afghan G&vornmont for a further year up to September 1946r
(c) The contract of Mr, H. Pearson, Messrs Rolls Royco
5 n dineer, expired on September j. 945 an» he wishes to return to
Mn^land as soon as ^.ossiole. He "Nets prepared to serve in Kabul
lor a further pertod providing tne Afgna.n Government would
increase nis salary by £200 ^er annum. Tnis tney refused to \o,
Messrs Rolls Roycc -were asked to provide a relief for Mr. Pearson
but were unable to find :>ne except at a very hign salary.
India ^ i-c ye now agreed eo provide a relief for ivir,
Pearson and it is a oped that *ie will reach Kabul in
future, iha Afghan Government agreed to retain iva •
any pay for his services on the seals of his former
until suen time as a relief for him can be found or
England obtained for him.
the near
Pearson
contract
a passage to
(-0 The difficulties and expanse attached to finding
instructors from civil firms in England f >r the Afghan air force
v r erc ^.ointo 1 )ut ^ tno iifgnan Government c-arliei* in the year
and it vas suggested that it would prove more economical for
them and better fr m a disciplinary point of view if they would
m future accept British instructors from the R.A.F. in India.
Reliefs could also bo found more quickly, and the R*A.F. instruct
rs wpu^^ work mo.ye amj.cably with the British pilot instructor
than civilian instructors arc likely to do. The (Ministry of
Defence have now intimated tivat they are prepared to accent
British instructors from the in inW, and oxi resscd the
hope that the R.^-.F. in India will do all they can to assist the
■g^ohan air force by providing efficient instructors, giving
f ? r Afghan air force personnel in ln^la and b-
ofiering taeir advice on air matters generally.