PARACHUTE AS DECOY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1929, Page 6

PARACHUTE AS DECOY

PLAN TO DROP A WIRELESS SET.

UNARMED PILOTS AMID BULLETS

LONDON, October D

The intensely dramatic experiences which bel’el the beleagured British in Kabul and the Royal Air Force pilots who flew from India to aid them during the Afghan rebellion last winter.are described in a report by tlie Indian Government issued to-day by the Stationery Office.

The report primarily deals with the achievement of the Royal Air Force in evacuating 586 British and other men, women and children from Kabul.

Details of the story were given in cables during the anxious period while the British Legation was under fire, when tlie usurper and present ruler, Amir Habidullah, was fighting for the throne which King Amanullah had abdicated. The report shows how the occasion provided the first opportunity in history for the co-operation of different Air Commands of the Empire. THE RADIO THAT STOPPED. The following are among the most thrilling passages in the report:—

“ On Tuesday, December 17 . . . tlie only remaining means of communication witli the British Legation, through Afghan Wireless,' ceased abruptly during the transmission of an urgent message from Sir Francis Humphry.? (the British Minister). iA

"To prevent any aceustatioh of intervention in the rebellion or espionage being levelled against us, every machine that went up did so unarmed and' without cameras. All offensive weapons were stripped off . . .; and'the pilots carried no revolvers. ■ j “ Ground strips spread outside the Legation said, ‘Do not land,! ‘ Fly high,’ ‘ All’s well,’ ‘ NYe are confined to the Legation.’

‘ The 'pilots of No. 70 Squadron . . . navigated their aircraft faultlessly, landing at Kabul aerodrome 6,600 feet above sea level and taking off with maximum loads. The necessity of flying at high altitudes to clear the passes and avoid continuous rifle fire to which they were subjected from the ground involved flying for long periods at temperatures far below >’iero. ' “ Through the instrumentality of the

;t ßoyal , Air Force (wrote Sir Francis TTumphrys) Kabul has been saved from a horrible tragedy.’-’• • • • - - ’ Plans were made to drop a wireless

transmitting set into the Legation. The

'prdb'iem was to prevent tlie aeroplane from, being shot down when it descended low enough., to,make., sure that ,the parachute bearing the set should fall within the Legation grounds. . Two machines were therefore to he sent, one .Ij9 drop a parachute laden with rubbish as, a decoy, while the other aeroplane swooped over with the wireless set. But. the evacuation began and the plan was given,-up. ; -

Other points in {lie report are: “ The outstanding feature of these operations is the fact that India was able successfully to draw upon fnipprin] [•Air resources in Iraq to perfofirt a task i hP°n her’own frontiers, afrdiihat Iraq ..ip,, turn, Aras able to her temporary deficiency Air Force ; l?y... : drawip upon tiof Middle East r Comma ml. . foi'

/'ibr‘iT l, . c ()f thei§ij/'il war in and;; VWV KabSil, might, time, have dw.'elopedyjnto uncopfilolled massacre' .-.and chaosjy ■ «.(-‘.‘.The first- victims of- such a situa-- , timi; might; well have bejen. the foreign’s<js—colonies, traders, employees and > the.-Legations. ...

“The advantages of heavy trail,spor aircraft were clearly displayed.

“ r liie uses of heavy transport aireralft are so many that they could' be adapted to practically every difficult situation which may arise.”