Vickers Victoria J8918 and another at Peshawar during the evacuation of Kabul, 1929

Civil war in Afghanistan in 1928 led to fighting in the capital, Kabul. A decision was taken to organise an airlift, starting with women and children, which ended in 1929.

The Vickers Victoria was based on the Vickers Virginia bomber and entered RAF service in 1926. Eight were used on the Kabul Airlift between 12 December 1928 and 25 February 1929. 586 civilians, the Afghan Royal Family and members of the British, German, French and Italian Legations were evacuated to India.