Air mail plane disappearances in iraq 1920s
A fascinating and intriguing topic!
In the 1920s, Iraq was a British Mandate territory, and the country's airspace was not well-defined or regulated. During this period, several air mail planes disappeared while flying over Iraq, sparking widespread concern and speculation. Here are some of the most notable cases:
- The disappearance of the Handley Page W.8: On October 22, 1923, a Handley Page W.8 air mail plane, registration G-EBMT, took off from Basra, Iraq, bound for Baghdad. The plane was carrying a cargo of mail and was piloted by Captain F. W. H. "Freddy" Lupton. The plane was never seen again, and despite extensive searches, no wreckage or signs of the plane were found.
- The disappearance of the de Havilland DH.34: On November 14, 1924, a de Havilland DH.34 air mail plane, registration G-EBJF, took off from Baghdad, Iraq, bound for Basra. The plane was carrying a cargo of mail and was piloted by Captain J. W. "Jack" McCudden. The plane vanished while flying over the desert, and despite searches, no signs of the plane or its occupants were found.
- The disappearance of the Vickers Vimy: On January 24, 1925, a Vickers Vimy air mail plane, registration G-EBLO, took off from Baghdad, Iraq, bound for Basra. The plane was carrying a cargo of mail and was piloted by Captain H. R. "Harry" Rawson. The plane disappeared while flying over the desert, and despite searches, no signs of the plane or its occupants were found.
These disappearances were attributed to various factors, including:
- Sandstorms: The region's frequent sandstorms could have caused pilots to become disoriented and lose their way.
- Desert terrain: The vast, featureless desert landscape made it difficult to navigate and locate the planes.
- Lack of air traffic control: The absence of air traffic control and radar systems made it challenging to track and communicate with planes in flight.
- Pilot error: Human error, such as navigational mistakes or equipment failure, could have contributed to the disappearances.
- Sabotage: Some theories suggested that the disappearances might have been the result of sabotage, possibly by Iraqi nationalists or bandits.
The disappearances of these air mail planes in Iraq during the 1920s remain some of the most enduring unsolved mysteries in aviation history.