893.796/6–744
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Penfield) to the Secretary of State 52
[Received June 30.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I am reliably informed that six Soviet military aviation advisors to the Chinese Air Force left Chengtu yesterday by Chinese Air Force plane, en route to Russia. This group is said to include Colonel Parhomenko and three other aviators, Colonel Kazakoff, understood to be an outstanding aviation engineer, and a secretary.
It is understood that the members of this group were the last remaining Russian military aviation advisors in China (with the possible exception of Sinkiang), that they are leaving because “their contracts have expired”, and that they will not be replaced. At least some of them have been here for over three years.
During recent months, at least, these advisors apparently did very little. They resided at the Officers’ Moral Endeavor-W. A. S. C. hostel at Chengtu but ate in their own rooms and had absolutely no contact with any of the American military personnel residing there. In spite of their relatively long stay here none of them learned any appreciable amount of either English or Chinese. So far as is known their departure is regretted by no one.
Respectfully yours,
- Approved by the Ambassador in China for transmission to the Department.↩