http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/milestones- ... /1922.html
30 September
Following earlier British reverses during September 1922, a Turkish Army detachment crosses into Iraq and established a post at Koi Sanjak, within 40 miles of Kirkuk. After an ultimatum dropped on the post is ignored, air action begins against Koi Sanjak and the neighbouring villages and the Turkish detachment is forced to withdraw.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/path ... r_iraq.htm
Early in 1922, however, Turkish activity increased on the Kurdistan frontier, and though the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief was enabled to check this activity to a very great extent by his use of air forces, there were still elements in the situation which led the Air Staff to think that aerial action had not achieved the full results of which they believed it capable. For example, the Turks were still in occupation of Rowanduz, there was in January 1922 an instance of a Levy Force being exposed unduly to the attack of tribesmen, and finally, in August 1922, there was the use of a column of regular troops in the Rania district - a policy regarding which some misgivings were felt.
On this last occasion in particular the Air Staff considered (and their opinion has since been confirmed by the report of the local political officer) that full advantage was not taken of the rapidity with which air forces can be brought into action, but they recognised the difficulty which the soldier must experience in placing primary reliance on a novel weapon with the independent use of which he is comparatively unfamiliar. In the case of a military commander, there must always be a natural tendency to make use of troops if they are available. It was for this reason that the stipulation was made in the original scheme for air control of Iraq that the officer in command must be an air officer, who by reason of his training and trend of mind would place almost exclusive reliance on air power, for on this alone the feasibility of the scheme of defence depended. It was always, therefore, their belief that with the assumption of control on the 1st October, 1922, of the forces in Iraq by Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Salmond, an even better use would be made of air forces. This belief has received rapid confirmation. In a telegram dated the 21st October, 1922, the High Commissioner for Iraq reports as follows:-
"At the present moment Turkish elements have withdrawn from practically every place to which they had penetrated (including, it is reported, Rowanduz), and there are signs that a complete withdrawal is in progress. This withdrawal is due to remarkable effect which has been achieved by vigorous and sustained air audacity which has been in progress for the last few weeks. That no order to withdraw has been received is indicated by fact that on the 17th October Commander of Rowanduz Garrison was in Qala Diza holding conference at Pizhder leaders. Qala Diza was bombed the same date, and Euzdemir withdrew. Turks have been driven by air action alone, unsupported by land forces, from districts Koi Sanjak, Rania, Qala Diza and Bira Kapra in the north. Reoccupation of Koi Sanjak by Political Officer and Police without any opposition was entirely due to previous aerial action, and the general situation as regards Turkish aggression, which had given rise to considerable anxiety, is now to a large extent restored. I am emphasising at this early date, after change of command, remarkable success which has attended a free and vigorous use of our aerial resources because I consider it of importance that the Turks should not be allowed to claim any credit for a withdrawal which has been forced upon them."
....H. TRENCHARD,
Chief of the Air Staff.