§ 18. Mr. MANDERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the circumstances under which casualties occurred to No. 55 squadron, Royal Air Force, in Iraq; whether the aeroplane was engaged on active service; 333 if so, whether the British Government was consulted and gave its permission; and what was the object of the operations in which British aircraft were engaged in another country?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe information received indicates that the aircraft was fired at by disaffected tribesmen under the impression that it belonged to the Iraqi Air Force. The aircraft was not, of course, participating in operations undertaken by the Iraqi Government, but was carrying out an ordinary reconnaissance flight to obtain information for the Air Officer Commanding.