407:, to the west of the Legation, and although checked by Amanullah's forces, Habibullah was not prevented from turning towards Kabul on a route which took him past the British Legation. Sir Francis met Habibullah at the gates of the Legation. With the Legation situated between the rebel army and Government-controlled city, the British were effectively isolated. The Legation lost wireless communications with British India, having sent their last message on 16 December which requested the evacuation of women and children.
548:. The operation was accomplished in four stages. Between 18 and 22 December 1928, communications were established, as part of the first phase. The second phase focussed on evacuating women and children of the British and foreign legations. Between 2 January and 19 January 1929, the Royal family were evacuated, in the third phase. Between 20 January and 25 February 1929, the fourth phase concentrated on evacuating other foreign nationals and withdrawal of British, German, French and Italian legations.
96:
463:. Trusk and Donaldson decided to attempt to get to the Legation on foot and they ran between the opposing armies (who were exchanging fire) carrying a generator with them. Both airmen eventually made it to the Legation where they used the generator to power its wireless and re-establish intermittent communications with
565:
The Kabul
Airlift is notable as the first large-scale air evacuation in history, with a total of 586 people of eleven different nationalities being rescued. Considering the limitations of aircraft at the time, operating amidst a civil war, bitter cold, and mountainous terrain, the Kabul Airlift was a
474:
From 19 to 22 December, several DH.9As flew over the
Legation. Although no landing was attempted, a fully working wireless set and other items were dropped by parachute. Evacuation began on 23 December, when a Vickers Victoria and a few smaller planes landed on Sherpur. By New Year's Day 1929, over
478:
Situation deteriorated on
January 14 when Habibullah entered Kabul city, and a decision was made to evacuate the remaining British personnel, along with expatriates from other nations as well as members of the Afghan royal family. The last planes left Sherpur airfield on 25 February, taking Sir
325:
introduced a series of political changes intended to bring about a more
European way of life in his country. Having created a parliament, Amanullah made several speeches to his legislature in September and October 1928 which were directly opposed in the chamber by conservative factions. In the
382:
tribe who were angered by the imposition of various laws, including the requirement to wear
European dress, the rule that required them to send a quota of their daughters to Kabul for education and the impositions of taxes (they had never previously paid tax). The Shinwari attacked
941:
343:, asking him to maintain the air mail service to Kabul and prepare extra aircraft in case of an emergency. Salmond agreed with Humphrys assessment but he lacked suitable aircraft for transporting large numbers within his command, although he did have 24 two-seater
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and his 3,000 disaffected tribesmen entered the conflict. They attacked Kabul on 14 December 1928, capturing the forts to the north-west of the city. Habibullah then advanced on the
391:, including Russian refugee pilots, to bomb the Shinwari. The use of foreign "infidels" to subjugate Muslims roused other tribes to revolt and the country descended into civil war.
455:
which would enable ground-to-air signalling. However, before they could carry out their mission, small arms fire damaged their aircraft and they were forced to land at the nearby
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between 23 December 1928 and 25 February 1929, the first large-scale air evacuation, with a total of 586 people of eleven different nationalities being rescued and taken to
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314:. Aircraft would be required to fly over and in-between mountains that peaked 10,000 feet. In addition, it was winter and temperatures could reach as low as -17Β°C.
138:
532:'s account was published in 1929. In it he confirmed that by 15 February 1929, aircraft types available for the airlift of passengers and baggage, included seven
339:, became concerned about the safety and lines of communication to the Legation. On 3 December Humphrys sent a message to the Air Officer Commanding RAF India,
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mountains that peaked 10,000 feet, and it also occurred during the bitterly cold winter, but the operation was ultimately successful.
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was an air evacuation of
British and a number of European diplomatic staff and their families conducted by the
184:
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588:- An American military operation to evacuate American and selected Afghan nationals from Afghanistan in 2021
585:
717:
853:
594:- A British military operation to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan in 2021
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272:, by 15 February 1929, aircraft types available for the airlift of passengers and baggage, included seven
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942:"Wings over Kabul β The First Airlift. Anne Baker and Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman"
969:
28:
1052:
Report on the Air
Operations in Afghanistan Between December 12th, 1928, and February 25th, 1929
926:
Report on the Air
Operations in Afghanistan Between December 12th, 1928, and February 25th, 1929
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Report on the Air
Operations in Afghanistan Between December 12th, 1928, and February 25th, 1929
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In 1975, Sir
Geoffrey Salmond's daughter, Anne Baker, published the story of the airlift in
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889:(2003). "7. By Imperial Airways to India 1926:Crisis in Kabul; rescue over the mountains".
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The operation was commanded by Sir Geoffrey Salmond. It was superintended by Group captain
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352:
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With increasing rumours of civil war, the British Minister at Kabul and former RAF pilot,
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From Biplane to Spitfire: the life of Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond KCB KCMG DSO
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288:. The airlift was challenging as it required aircraft to fly over and in-between the
722:. Vol. I. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. pp. 145β147.
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1101:"Afghanistan King Amanullah (video footage includes Vickers Victorias in Kabul)"
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country there were protests from the mullahs and Amanullah was denounced as a
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remarkable feat of endurance for both the airmen and the civilians involved.
265:, leading to British fears that its legation would be isolated and cut off.
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387:, cutting off Peshawar road. Amanullah responded by using his fledgling
502:, air officer commanding Iraq, had arranged for the Victoria aircraft.
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360:
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424:
513:, and flying officers L. H. Anness and C. W. L. Trusk, received the
814:"Evacuation by Air: The All-But-Forgotten Kabul Airlift of 1928-29"
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and after a local check flight had been carried out, it arrived in
367:, the Indian Foreign Secretary. Salmond did request that a single
328:
250:
378:
The first open rebellion against Amanullah's rule came from the
127:
1015:"Afghanistan: 80 years since the British evacuation of Kabul"
852:
Napier, Michael (2018). "2. Policing the empire 1923-1938".
1165:
Non-combat military operations involving the United Kingdom
893:. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Lee Cooper. pp. 196β215.
988:"AFGHANISTAN (KABUL EVACUATIONS). (Hansard, 6 March 1929)"
399:
In the situation of turmoil, an opportunist leader called
257:. The evacuation was conducted after forces of a bandit,
1072:
Foreign Office: Confidential Print Afghanistan 1922-1957
621:. London: William Kimber & Co. Limited. p. 15.
431:
on 19 December. The previous day an unarmed DH.9A of
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as it had temporarily been assigned to transporting
719:
The Royal Air Force: The Trenchard Years, 1918β1929
261:, attacked Kabul in opposition to the Afghan king,
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106:
89:
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73:
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51:
38:
1089:"Escape From Kabul in a Flock of Flying Elephants"
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423:on 17 December. The following day it travelled to
517:. Leading aircraftsman G. Donaldson received the
475:300 women and children were airlifted to safety.
451:to the Legation with the intention of dropping a
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310:was situated outside Kabul. Kabul is 6,000 feet
77:Evacuation of British and other diplomatic staff
685:"The bomber transport and the Baghdad air mail"
855:The Royal Air Force: A Centenary of Operations
694:. Oxford: Professional Book Supplies Ltd: 26.
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1066:. London: William Kimber. ISBN 0-7183-0671-6
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1062:(1988). "Chapter Nine: Over the 'Grim'".
355:. Salmond's only appropriate aircraft, a
85:23 December 1928 – 25 February 1929
27:For the 2021 evacuations from Kabul, see
509:, flight lieutenants D. F. Anderson and
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302:Reforms of AmΔnullΔh KhΔn and civil war
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858:. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 54.
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615:; Ivelaw-Chapman, Sir Ronald (1975).
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554:Wings over Kabul β The First Airlift
482:The whole evacuation was done in 84
618:Wings Over Kabul: The First Airlift
296:Background and the Afghan civil war
940:Hildred, William (February 1976).
692:Royal Air Force Historical Society
439:C. W. L. Trusk and accompanied by
25:
1012:Farmer, Ben (25 February 2009).
415:The requested Victoria departed
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1087:OβConnor, Derek (22 May 2018).
308:British Legation in Afghanistan
1049:Salmond, Sir Geoffrey (1929).
923:Salmond, Sir Geoffrey (1929).
657:Salmond, Sir Geoffrey (1929).
479:Francis Humphrys to Peshawar.
1:
1075:. Foreign Office Files. 1957.
1170:Afghan Civil War (1928β1929)
157:Afghan Civil War (1928β1929)
46:Afghan Civil War (1928β1929)
743:Baker, Kevin James (2011).
395:Effects on British Legation
1186:
749:. Rosenberg. p. 154.
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26:
958:10.1017/S0001924000033571
716:Philpott, Ian M. (2005).
534:Vickers Victoria aircraft
274:Vickers Victoria aircraft
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18:Kabul Airlift (1928β1929)
1064:RAF Operations 1918β1938
946:The Aeronautical Journal
586:Operation Allies Refuge
561:Historical significance
683:Jefford, Jeff (2000).
1155:20th century in Kabul
371:be detached from the
205:Red Army intervention
1105:www.britishpathe.com
828:Air University Press
538:Handley Page Hinaidi
530:Sir Geoffrey Salmond
500:Robert Brooke-Popham
443:G. Donaldson flew a
375:and flown to India.
357:Handley Page Hinaidi
337:Sir Francis Humphrys
278:Handley Page Hinaidi
270:Sir Geoffrey Salmond
110:586 people evacuated
68:Sir Geoffrey Salmond
1135:1929 in Afghanistan
1130:1928 in Afghanistan
581:1929 in Afghanistan
576:1928 in Afghanistan
498:. Air Vice-Marshal
441:Leading Aircraftman
401:Habibullah Kalakani
319:King of Afghanistan
259:Habibullah Kalakani
746:War in Afghanistan
525:Published accounts
459:landing ground at
317:At that time, the
29:2021 Kabul airlift
992:api.parliament.uk
865:978-1-4728-2539-1
756:978-1-921719-12-7
592:Operation Pitting
511:R. Ivolaw-Chapman
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952:(782): 86.
887:Baker, Anne
810:Roe, Andrew
613:Baker, Anne
496:R. P. Mills
435:piloted by
411:Air actions
373:RAF in Iraq
345:World War I
118:None killed
57:Afghanistan
1124:Categories
1093:HistoryNet
599:References
290:Hindu Kush
115:Casualties
1030:16 August
997:17 August
974:115800604
966:0001-9240
836:1463-6298
830:: 21β38.
700:1361-4231
469:Miranshah
389:Air Force
385:Jalalabad
359:, was in
323:Amanullah
263:Amanullah
230:3rd Kabul
225:Unai pass
190:2nd Kabul
180:1st Kabul
74:Objective
1150:Airlifts
1111:20 March
1024:Archived
812:(2012).
570:See also
544:and two
490:Aviators
465:Peshawar
429:Risalpur
380:Shinwari
351:and two
347:vintage
284:and two
220:Ghurband
52:Location
44:Part of
1107:. PathΓ©
484:sorties
461:Sherpur
421:Karachi
361:Baghdad
200:Bamiyan
107:Outcome
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425:Quetta
276:, one
970:S2CID
826:(1).
688:(PDF)
540:, 24
449:Kohat
329:kafir
280:, 24
255:India
251:Kabul
249:from
215:Tagab
1113:2022
1032:2021
999:2021
962:ISSN
895:ISBN
860:ISBN
832:ISSN
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696:ISSN
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417:Iraq
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