149 consisted of 10 officers and 30 other employees of various ranks. In the evening of 14 June 1949, two formation aircraft undertook the flight over the designated area. The other two could not make it as they were not technically fit to fly. The flights were conducted at low altitude over Sharjah and Ajman. The aircrafts flew in circles coming from a high position to about 200 feet above ground. Then they flew over Um alQuwain and headed for Ras al-Khaimah. From there, they flew to al-Rams where circular and low level flying was undertaken. Then they continued across the length of the western side of mount al-Fayah. Additionally, they flew over Dubai and over the coast of Abu Dhabi in a similar low altitude fashion. From there, they headed for Liwa where some palm-trees and huts could be seen scattered here and there, but no big village could be seen in the open area of Liwa.2 This show of power caused many people to think that all the sheikhdoms will be divided and the borders demarcated, and that the planes flying about had been sent to take pictures for the same purpose.3 In order for the local Sheikhs not to misunderstand the mission of the air show, the communication officer of the air team asked the Sharjah Agency clerk, Mr Ali al-Bustani, to make arrangements for the team to visit the Sheikhs of Sharjah and Dubai. As a result, in the evening of the day of the first air show, ten pilots who came from Habbaniyyah, together with the communication officer and Mr al-Bustani, paid a visit to Sheikh Muhammad bin Saqr al-Qassimi, then they went to meet Sheikh Saeed bin MaktouminDubai. Their receptionwas very friendly. TheAirCommander of Bahrain informed the Sheikhs of the areas flown over earlier that day during the morning show and said the same was going to be done the following morning. Both Sheikhs were invited to attend the next-day air show. Sheikh Muhammad bin Saqr al-Qasimi firmly refused to attend. However, upon insistence from Mr Ali al-Bustani, both Sheikhs agreed to check the planes prior to their morning flight. 2 Ibid.,p.13. 3 Ibid.,p.15. THE SONGS OF THE CITY
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