Avro Anson, part eleven, Middle-East users

The Avro Anson is a British multi-role, twin-engined aircraft that, with more than 11.000 machines manufactured, it saw action with many countries all around the globe. It was used by the next countries:

• Israel: An unknown number of Anson Mk.I were sent to Israel in 1948 acquired in the British civilian market. They were used by the No. 114 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force in the multi-engined, navigation trainer role, where they enjoyed an excellent safety record. All of them were written off in early 1956 and were used for fire dump exercises or were scrapped.
• Iran: When Iran declared War on Germany on 9th September 1943 forty-eight Ansons Mk.I were delivered to the Imperial Iranian Air Force via the maintenance unit stationed at RAF Habbaniya, in Iraq. They were delivered in three batches between May 1944 and June 1945 to equip the No.1 (Bomber) Squadron based at Doshan Tappeh Air Base, near Tehran. By 1945 the squadron was, most probably, operational. Additionally, a single Mk.XII was provided for the personal use of the Regent of Iran.
• Saudi Arabia: A single Anson Mk.I was operated by Airwork Ltd. before August 1948 at Taif, in the Mecca province. It was assigned to the British Training Mission but, by December 1949 it was already scrapped. As we couldn't find any graphical evidence of this airplane, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Syria: Six Ansons ended up in Syria from unknown origins (most probably second-hand markets) between 1948-1949. Two of them were converted for bombing purposes and were employed in the First Arab-Israeli War in May-June 1948. Some reports claim that they were armed with two 0.303 in machine guns placed in the rear turret and carried a bomb load of up to 500 lb. We couldn't find any graphical evidence of the Anson with the Syrian Air Force, so the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Turkey: Before the beginning of the War, in 1938, Turkey ordered a total of 25 Ansons. The first six ones were shipped to Turkey in May 1940 with the remainder of the order not being delivered. They were assigned to the Air School in Eskisheir, in the homonymous province, to replace the De Havilland DH.84 Dragon. The Ansons were used as bomber trainers and light transports. It's interesting to point out that the entrance door was placed on the starboard side of the rear fuselage. The last two Turkish Ansons were written off in 1946.

Sources:

1. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 53 - Avro Anson

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson