Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

891.248/3–1249: Telegram

The Ambassador in Iran (Wiley) to the Secretary of State

secret

Tehran, March 12, 1949—3 p. m.

282. My 266, March 10.¹ Have discussed with British Ambassador and British Air Attaché question of jet planes and training desired by Shah. British here do not seem foresee any active program in near future, owing fact Iran would have pay cash, lack of sufficient Iranian personnel with necessary qualifications including knowledge of English, and other considerations including availability of jet planes for Iran and possible complications arising from presence our ArMish.

Embassy is forwarding details, as received by MA Office from British Air Attaché Innes, of alternative schemes proposed to Shah February 23 which conform very closely to those outlined paragraph 2 London’s 4776 to Department November 8.² Alternatives are:

(1) Three wings, comprising three squadrons of 12 jet planes each, or a total of 108 planes calling for a complement of 2000 men and 160 officers, as well as radar, GCA, transportation, and other equipment, the 160 officers and 1500 of the men to be trained in UK providing they are thoroughly conversant with English; and

(2) One wing comprising four squadrons of 12 planes each or a total 48 planes, this unit to be completely mobile and requiring a complement of 1600 men and 65 officers, the officers and 800 of the men to be trained in UK, again provided they have necessary knowledge of English.

Significant feature of above as outlined by Innes is that he states decision has been taken by us and that we do not desire provide these planes or training and have given UK “green light” on whichever program they and Shah decide upon. British Embassy has had no indication of Shah’s preference. Innes believes, however, that in view of language difficulty Shah may propose contract training in Iran by representatives of UK commercial firms similar to Hurricane training group previously sent here.³

Repeated London 6.

Wiley

1. Not printed; it advised that the Shah had disclosed to Ambassador Wiley that he had definite plans for British training of 866 Iranian officers and men to maintain three wings of jet planes (891.001 Pahlavi, Reza Shah/3–1049).
2. Not printed; paragraph 2 read as follows: “[British] COS have reviewed promise to Shah while [at] London to provide him with phased training plan for 200 aircraft and although plan has been drawn up, COS finds that apart from difficulty of finding Iranian pilots it will not be possible ‘for some years’ to build up Iranian Air Force with British aircraft on scale 200 suggested by Shah who had in mind three wings of Vampire 5’s. Phased plan for this number clearly shows difficulties inherent in such an ambitious program. In consequence COS is preparing more modest second plan, involving ‘mobile wing of four squadrons’ which it feels Iran ‘might be able to afford’ and for which Iranian pilots might be found.” (891.248/11–848)
3. London, on March 18, reported the feeling of the British Foreign Office that the British Air Attaché “may not have made sufficiently clear to Shah that alternative one is ‘largely academic’ and that chances UK being able sell jets Iran have deteriorated since Shah broached idea.’”(Telegram 1063, 891.248/3–1849)