British military aviation in Kurdistan

[Royal Air Force]. [Photograph album of Iraq and Kurdistan].

€ 7,500.00

Large-format photographs produced during Royal Air Force reconnaissance flights over Kurdistan, including images relating to the Ahmed Barzani revolt of 1932, the first of the major Barzani revolts and the third Kurdish nationalist insurrection in modern Iraq. The album exhibits an aerial shot of "Sheikh Ahmed's underground retreat" in the Iraqi desert, operations areas at Khurmal and Garzan, as well as two impressive air-to-air photos of RAF Westland Wapiti aircraft of Squadron 55, serial number K1391 flying over Govanda Plateau captioned "Sheikh Ahmid's objective", and serial number J9628 reconnoitering in northern Iraq, along with an image of entrenchments near Kut-al-Amara dating back to the 1916 siege of Kut. Further photographs depict towns, landmarks, major infrastructure and oil operations in Iraq, including the Khanaquin oil refinery, Baghdad pumping station and desert water wells, aerial views of Baghdad with the British Residency, Zobedian's tomb, Muscat, Mahmudiyah, Ramadi, Maudah and Haider-Khana Mosques, Sheikh Maraf's tomb, Erbil, Hindiyah Barrage, the river Tigris, Khanaqin railway station, Lancaster Bridge, Sulaimania, Karind, Mosul, Khanaquin, Diwaniyah, Kialanjah, and Salman Pac pictured from the top of the Ctesiphon Arch, as well as the interior of Khadimain Mosque, horse trams and shots of the local population, concluding with some idyllic sunset views.

RAF 55 Squadron was established in Iraq in August 1920 to perform "air policing" duties. They remained in Iraq for 19 years, on occasion flying air operations against rebellious tribes, including Kurdish groups. The ageing DH.9As were replaced by Westland Wapitis in February 1930, which in turn were replaced by Vickers Vincents in 1937, taking these to RAF Habbaniya in September that year. The squadron finally received modern monoplanes in March 1939, when it transferred to Egypt just before the outbreak of the Second World War.