مجموعة ٥/٧٣ "سلاح الجو الأفغاني: تقارير من إعداد الملحق العسكري البريطاني في كابول خلال الفترة من ١ نوفمبر ١٩٤٧ إلى ٣١ أكتوبر ١٩٤٧" [و‎‎١‎٥] (٥٦/٢٩)

1.
HA T >F YEAR LY REPO RT ON AF GHAN AI R 1 ORC
for the per iod I? t May to 3 1 st Cotobe r 19/i
General.
/P^
-^(a) (i) G.M.II (Lt. Gol) Abdur Razaq Khan has been aD^ointed r '"&6mmandant
of the Afghan Air Force and G.M.II Asif Khan has been nn^ointed his 2 i/command
and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Previously the Air Force was
commanded by the C.G.S., this former arrangement was better from my noint
of view and that of the R.A.F. nersonnel as the young Commandant is
inclined to intrigue and muddle, whereas formerly the C.G.S., being an
older and more exnerienced man, ensured that the R,A.F, nersonnel were
treated with consideration. Recent representations by myself have produced
some improvement in the relations between the Commandant and the R.A.F.
personnel, and I am trying, with some success, to convince the Afghans that
someone senior, such as the C.G.S., should resume a more active part in the
direction of the Air Force. It i c honed that by this arrangement, advice
by R.A.F. personnel will be given due weight and that interference in their
actual instruction will be avoided. I have asked chat the R.A.F. senior
instructor be given direct access to a senior Afghan officer such as the
C.G.S. in the same way as is the Commandant.
(ii) Ten Avro XIX aircraft have now been delivered by air to Kabul.
S/bdr Reid flew an Avro to Kandahar and gave demonstrations. The
Governor of the Province was given a short flight. 3/Ldr Reid, at a later
date, again flew an Avro to Kandahar to bring to Kah the wife of the
Governor who was seriously ill. This officer also flew an Avro t°
Peshawar recently taking two civilian mechanics on ar. argent replacement task.
(iii) Kandahar air strip is a fair weatuer one wi-h a dus : surface and
inadequate drainage. The dimensions are aporoxinr ''i9 i .. T 1,200 X 1000 yards.
(b) Squadron Organisation:-
Hind Sqdn.
i
i
i f
No. 1 No. 2
Flight. Flight.
Avro 3qon.
I T
Nc. 1 No. 2
Flight. Flight (incl.
Romeo a/craft).
Training Sqdn ,
I
T
JL
Tiger Moths.
Stearman P.T. 17.
2. (i) Serviceability of Aircraft. The Avro aircraft are often
grounded, through lack of spares. Defects are noi of a serious nature.
The position should improve as spares are novj coming tnrough from Karachi
where they have been held up. The civilian mechanics (on temporary loan)
do the major part of the Avro maintenance, but it is doubtful If they have
achieved much towards training Afghan mechanics in these duties.
(ii) There have been two crashes of Hind airc'af: due to engine trouble.
One plane is probably a ’write off.
(iii) The Romec Squadron is now disbanded as an T'^dependcnt formation
and has become part of the Avro Squadron. Of the 12 Romeos, / are
serviceable and 8 unserviceable due to lack of spares„