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Bulgaria.
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77. The Bulgarian Air Force is at present in a state of expansion and its future development depends on the supply of aircraft promised by Germany. Its paper strength is eight regiments, three of which are at present without aircraft. The present strength is about 18 squadrons, amounting to 215 aircraft, and there are in addition a certain number of obsolescent types, now used for training, which could be formed into squadrons if necessary. There are 54 known aerodromes and landing grounds in the country, and many new sites have recently been surveyed, but owing to climatic conditions most of them are not likely to be serviceable except in summer and autumn. It is reported that about 320 Germans entered the country during April and May under the aegis of the Bulgarian General Staff, and that German wireless transmitters are in operation near Sofia and near Bourgas.
Turkey.
78. The Turkish Government have decided to increase the number of pilot pupils at the Flying Training School at Eskisehir from approximately 150, which is the usual annual output, to 550. Of this increase of 400, 200 will be officers and 200 n.c.os. Candidates are being selected at once, and it is hoped to have the full number under training very soon.
79. A large expansion scheme for increasing the number of mechanics in the Air Force is also taking place. At present the training centre has an annual output of between 30 and 40 officer and n.c.o. mechanics for the Turkish Air Force. To rectify the serious shortage, steps are being taken at once to train 600 mechanics. These will be trained at the Flying Training School, Eskisehir, the Aircraft Depot, Eskisehir, and the Airframe Factory, Kaiseri, each centre of training taking 200 pupils.
Afghanistan.
80. The service of Russian courier aircraft between Tashkent and Kabul has recently been increased from once in ten days to two services a week. The pilots are frequently changed, and about fifty different pilots have been employed during the last three years.
Iran.
81. A new aerodrome is under construction at Pahlavi, on the Caspian coast, 20 miles from Resht. Work on the runways is far advanced, but there are as yet no signs of the erection of buildings.
Japan.
82. The Japanese authorities have announced that a regular weekly service between Tokyo and Bangkok is to be opened on the 14th June. The French refusal to permit flight over Indo-China has apparently been maintained, and it is presumed that this regular service will follow the coastline and will be conducted with a civil version of the military four-engined flying boats. There are still no indications to confirm the recent reports of large concentrations of naval, military and air forces in the Island of Hainan. Considerable work is, however, being done on the long-term development of seaplane bases and aerodromes in the island, which is the natural base for air attack on Southern China, French Indo-China and Thailand.
Netherlands East Indies.
83. It is hoped to increase the strength of the Air Force by purchasing, 144 fighters, 108 dive bombers and 36 reconnaissance aircraft in the United States; this should be enough to produce 14 additional squadrons with 100 per cent. reserve. Delivery of these aircraft is uncertain, but twenty Curtiss Hawk fighters are now being delivered against a previous purchase, and twenty-four Curtiss interceptors, which had been ordered by the Netherlands, are now being: taken over by the Netherlands East Indies.
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