Abstract: The file’s correspondence, papers and other items relate to unauthorised flights and emergency landings in Saudi territory by British aircraft. The principal correspondents in the file are the Political Agent in Bahrain, the Political Agent in Kuwait (these two posts being held by a number of incumbents during the period covered), and representatives of the Californian Arabian Standard Oil Company [CASOC].Most of the file’s correspondence relates to two specific incidents. The first, taking place in January 1942, involved the forced landing of an Royal Air Force (RAF) Blenheim aircraft at El Khabur or Al Khobar [Al Khubar] in Saudi Arabia, and the subsequent presentation by British officials to the Shaikh of Al Khubar of a silver tray, in recognition of the assistance given by him and his people. Photographs of the tray and its inscription are found on folios 10A-10C. A second incident, involving the emergency landing of three RAF Hurricanes in salt marshes at Ras es Safaniyah [Safaniyah] in April 1942, led to negotiations with Ibn Saud, and subsequent efforts by the Political Agent in Kuwait and CASOC representatives to first retrieve the pilots and then salvage the planes.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence starts on the front cover and finishes on the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio (except for ff. 10A-10C, which are on the verso side). The following foliation anomalies occur: 1 and 1A; 10, 10A, 10B, 10C.
Abstract: The letters, telegrams and other papers in the file relate to various forced landings or crashes of Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft, as well as other incidents involving the RAF, in and around the Gulf, during and immediately after the Second World War. The principal correspondents in the file are the Political Agent in Bahrain, the Political Officer on the Trucial coast (both posts being occupied by numerous incumbents), and a number of RAF officials.The key events and topics discussed in the file are: reports of a crashed Blenheim aircraft near Dohah [Doha] in December 1941; reports of a missing Boston aircraft in May 1942, and the subsequent discovery of it having made a forced landing on the Persian coast while skirting prohibited airspace above Bahrain; reports of a crashed Bisley aircraft near Sharjah in March 1943; the recovery of aircrews and salvage of aeroplanes; the treatment of aircrews by local inhabitants, including payments to guards requested to protect crash sites; and an incident in February 1942 in which a man was accidentally killed at the bombing range at Sharjah.Physical description: Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using pencil numbers written in the top-right corner of each recto. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1, 1A.
Abstract: The file contains copies of telegrams sent amongst British officials in the Gulf, in response to an American aircraft reported lost along the Arab coast, while flying on en route between Abadan and Karachi. A telegram sent by the British Agent at Sharjah to the Political Agent in Bahrain, dated 30 July 1945 (f 6), states that the wreckage of the aircraft was found 13.5 miles southeast of Dubai, and that the bodies of the three crew members were recovered for burial. Specific details of the flight (aircraft type, flight number) are not given.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Papers relating to the burial at the Christian Cemetery in Bahrain of Lieutenant Peter Dabney Heinemann, who died in a flying accident at Bahrain in December 1931. The correspondence records the subsequent upkeep of his grave by representatives of the American Mission in Bahrain, financed by annual payments submitted to the Political Agent at Bahrain by the deceased man’s parents, Robert Dabney and Margaret Heinemann.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 56; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 1-55, ff 10-18. One is written in pencil, but not circled; the other is circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. Attachments are foliated as follows: 12A, 20A, 21A, 47A.
Abstract: The file contains a small number of papers related to the crashes of Royal Air Force (RAF) machines in neutral countries; the file focuses on neutral countries of interest to the India Office. The vast majority of the papers focus on a single incident in September 1939: the crash landing of an RAF plane near Chahbar [Chabahar] in Iran. Two other incidents briefly mentioned are as follows: a missing Hannibal aircraft lost around the Persian Gulf in March 1940, and the crash of a Blenheim aircraft in Thailand 29 September 1941.The main correspondents are as follows: HM Minister at Tehran, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and representatives of the External Affairs Department of the Government of India.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 for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 26; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.