IRAQ – No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Lot 208
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 2 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 870888
Lot 208 | IRAQ – No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
IRAQ – No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Photograph album. Iraq: 1925-1928.

Large collection of important photographs depicting RAF activity in Iraq during the late 1920s, demonstrating British imperial power. The current collection of photographs centres around the activities of No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron at Hinaidi airbase, equipped with Sopwith Snipes. The dangers of the operations are evident in the photos of various wreckage from crashes and fires. Other units and materiel are shown, including the Vickers Vernon biplane troop transport. An aerial photograph of Hinaidi shows its replacement, the Vickers Victorias, lining up as part of 45 and 70 (Bomber) Squadrons. The airbase was large enough to also house the DH 9As of 8, 30 and 55 (Bomber) Squadrons.



The international and geopolitical importance of Hinaidi is further underlined by photographs showing Danish, Spanish, German, French, Argentine and American aircraft. Of particular interest are photographs and a short typescript description of the England-Australia-England flight by a De Haviland 50 in 1926. The Imperial Airways / Instone air liner Hercules is shown on the London to Karachi route landing at Hinaidi on Sunday 2 January 1927. The collection includes two photographs of King Feisal landing at the airbase.



Folio (340 x 247mm), approximately 206 small (65 x 90mm), 268 medium (140 x 85mm) and 6 large (160 x 210mm) original photographs, mounted on 37 leaves (340 x 247mm), together with a group of loose images comprising 11 large photographs, 3 medium-sized postcards, and 5 small photographs and 1 small postcard. Most photographs with manuscript captions on borders of image and with typescript captions pasted into the album. Contemporary card covers (strengthened with tape on spine, the whole shaken and most leaves loose, extremities lightly rubbed).

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