Coll 5/55 ‘Afghanistan: Supply of Aircraft to Afghan Govt: Contract between Air Ministry & Hawker Aircraft Ltd’
- Holding institution:
- British Library. India Office Records and Private Papers
- Data provider:
- Qatar National Library
- Title:
- Coll 5/55 ‘Afghanistan: Supply of Aircraft to Afghan Govt: Contract between Air Ministry & Hawker Aircraft Ltd’
- Date:
- 1937/1944
- Description:
- Abstract: The file documents the drafting of a contract between the Air Ministry and Hawker Aircraft Limited for the purchase of eight Hawker Hind aircraft, associated aviation equipment, and weaponry, for resale to the Afghan Air Force. This includes a deal for a supply of munitions from Air Ministry stocks. A number of drafts of this contract can be found throughout the file; the contracts include detailed schedules listing and pricing the equipment desired by the Afghan Government. Supplementary correspondence related to the dispatch of British instructors to Kabul, the financing of the purchase by the Government of India, and the provision of aviation training in India for the Afghan Air Force, has also been included.The subsequent process of shipping the aircraft and associated equipment from England to Kabul via Karachi towards the end of 1937/early 1938 is also partially documented by the correspondence, as are the associated customs delays at Karachi. Furthermore, the file includes correspondence recording repayments made by the Afghan Government to the Government of India. This includes the payment of an insurance claim resulting from damage to the aircraft during shipment to Kabul.Extracts from various reports have also been filed within, they generally report on the Afghan Air Force. This includes reports of flights made using the aforementioned Hinds, accidents and damaged incurred to aircraft, and use of aircraft in military action.The main correspondents in the file are as follows: HM Minister at Kabul (William Kerr Fraser-Tytler), the Counsellor at the Kabul Legation (Arthur Ernest Henry Macann), officials of the Air Ministry, officials of the Foreign Office, officials of the India Office, and representatives of the External Affairs Department of the Government of India. A small amount of correspondence with the Collector of Customs at Karachi, R & J Park Limited, and Eastern Express Limited, can also be found within.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 618; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
- Language:
- English
- Type:
- Archival file
- Type (Narrower):
- Other Texts
- Type (Broader):
- Text
- Subject:
- Arms sales
Military aircraft
Hawker Hind (Bomber)
Contracts
Afghan Air Force - Geographic region:
- Kābul
- Rights:
- رخصة المشاع الإبداعي لأغراض غير تجارية
- Identifier:
- 81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000223_ar
81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000223_en
IOR/L/PS/12/2009
IOR/L/PS/12/2009