§ Mr. VIANTasked the Secretary of State for Air the number of machines that have been written off charge as a result of enemy action during the period 2128W of 1st January to 18th November, 1926; who were the enemies; and what were the circumstances and the nature of the service upon which the aeroplanes were at the time employed?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to the first part of the question is one aeroplane. As regards the remaining parts of the question, the aeroplane was carrying out a reconnaissance in the Sulamanie district of Iraq on the 14th June to locate followers of the rebel Kurdish chieftain, Sheikh Mahmud. The aeroplane had a forced landing, and was seized, looted, and destroyed. The occupants were held in captivity for some months by Sheikh Mahmud, but were eventually released.