Kabul airlift of 1928–1929
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kabul Airlift was an air evacuation of British and a number of European diplomatic staff and their families conducted by the Royal Air Force from Kabul 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 India.[1] The evacuation was conducted after forces of a bandit, Habibullah Kalakani, attacked Kabul in opposition to the Afghan king, Amanullah, leading to British fears that its legation would be isolated and cut off.
Kabul Airlift | |
---|---|
Part of Afghan Civil War (1928–1929) | |
Location | |
Commanded by | Sir Geoffrey Salmond |
Objective | Evacuation of British and other diplomatic staff |
Date | 23 December 1928 – 25 February 1929 |
Executed by | United Kingdom |
Outcome | 586 people evacuated |
Casualties | None killed |
Directed by Sir Geoffrey Salmond, by 15 February 1929, aircraft types available for the airlift of passengers and baggage, included seven Vickers Victoria aircraft, one Handley Page Hinaidi, 24 Airco DH.9As and two Westland Wapitis.[2] The airlift was challenging as it required aircraft to fly over and in-between the Hindu Kush mountains that peaked 10,000 feet, and it also occurred during the bitterly cold winter, but the operation was ultimately successful.[3]