Lt. Pelletier d'Oisy of the French Air Service made a Paris-Tokyo flight with the minimum of preparation in Breguet XIX No.63. He is seen at Baghdad two days after leaving Paris on 26th April 1924. The Breguet XIX, which first flew in May 1922, was one of the most successful interwar types, well over a 1,000 being built, and some in service with the R. Hellenic A.F. fought against the Italians in World War II.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Breguet Br.19 - ФранцияFrance - 1922

The very same day as d'Oisy arrived, Captain Antonia Paes, Lt. Sarmento de Beires and Sous Lt. M. Gouveria, flying modified Breguet 14A2 biplanes of the Portuguese Army, staged through Baghdad on their flight from Lisbon to Macau. Predecessor of the XIX, the Breguet 14 entered French A.F. service in 1917 and had a notable career in W.W.I, on bombing and reconnaissance duties. The type remained in production until 1921, by which time more than 8,000 had been built.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Breguet Br.14 - ФранцияFrance - 1916

More frequent visitors to Baghdad, however, were the standard Breguet 14s of the French Air Service, employed on mail-carrying and exchange flights from Aleppo (Haleb) where the French held mandate responsibilities in Syria. As indicated above, the Breguet 14 operated with great reliability for many years, the last French A.F. examples remaining in service until 1930

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Breguet Br.14 - ФранцияFrance - 1916

On 31st July 1924 Major Pedro Zanni and his mechanic Beltrame of the Argentine Army Air Corps reached Baghdad in this Napier Lion-powered Fokker C IV, named "Ciudad de Buenos Aires", having set out from Amsterdam on a flight to Tokyo. A set of floats was provided for the machine so that the undercarriage could be switched for the final over-water sector. The Fokker C IV first appeared in 1923 and 139 were built in Holland.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fokker C.IV / DC.I - НидерландыNetherlands - 1923

In a bid to make the first round-the-world flight, S/Ldr. A.S.C. MacLaren, with F/O. N. Plenderleith navigating and Sgt. R. Andrews as engineer, set out from R.A.F. Calshot on 25th March 1924. Their Vickers Vulture amphibian, G-EBHO, c/n. 2, is seen staging through Baghdad, with a close-up of the crew.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vulture / Vanellus - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1924

Unfortunately the Vulture crashed on take-off at Akyab, Burma, and a replacement aircraft - the only other Vulture built, G-EBGO, c/n. 1 - crashed while they were attempting to cross the Bering Sea.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vulture / Vanellus - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1924

A busy scene in 1924 as Vickers Vernon J6889 (foreground) of No.70 Squadron prepares to leave for Egypt with the mail. Early Vernons had Rolls-Royce Eagle engines, proved underpowered and were soon re-engined (as here) with Napier Lion IIs
A bustling scene at Hinaidi, south of Baghdad, with mail being loaded aboard the Vickers Vernons of No 70 Sqn for the flight westwards along the Furrow.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vernon - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1921

A 1924 VIP flight at Baghdad. The picture shows the arrival from Egypt of Lord Thomson, Secretary of State for Air, in a Vernon; note aircraft's nose wheel

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vernon - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1921

There was even a home-built making its first flight at Baghdad in 1924, on 10th June. This was the England glider which crashed during trials, but its designer, S/Ldr. Tom H. England, D.S.C., A.F.C., received his reward the next year when he was appointed to the command of No.22 Squadron, then the R.A.F.'s experimental aircraft squadron, based at Martlesham Heath.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: England (Tom H. England) glider - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1924