As the people of Russia took time to remember the sacrifices made by their country during World War Two, poignant ceremonies were held in Perthshire and Dundee.
Monday was the 71st anniversary of V Day in Russia and the role played by Russian airmen who trained at Errol airfield was marked by an international gathering.
Local people who remembered the exotic band who came to the small village in 1942/43 joined with staff from the Russian consulate in Edinburgh and local politicians to lay wreaths at the airfield.
The presence of 60 Russian pilots, navigators and engineers in the Carse of Gowrie was recalled by Consul General Andrey A. Pritsepov who said: “The hero pilots of Moscow Special Assignment Airgroup took part in many missions which would be considered impossible in modern times.
“During the war those were truly legendary sorties because of the self-sacrifice and bravery of these Soviet aces.
“That is why we are so keen to pay tribute to the Soviet pilots who came to Scotland and to their British hosts and by doing so to pay respect to everyone who fought for our freedom.”
The Russians were trained in the use of Albemarles, British-built aeroplanes, and although under the watchful eyes of KGB officers, managed to make friends with their British counterparts and even visit local haunts like the Palais in Dundee and The Salutation Hotel in Perth.
A memorial was established at Errol to remember all the Russians and the crew of an Albemarle from the airfield who were killed after crashing near Fearnan in Highland Perthshire.
Trees have been planted and local aviation enthusiast Bradley Borland, 72, said: “Now, as the history of the Russian airmen in Scotland is being fully unfolded, they have got their own memorial ‘corner’ here where their heroic fightings on the Eastern Front are commemorated and where they are to be remembered from now on.
“These birch trees, Russia’s national symbol, which we planted here will grow with time and I hope that this annual ‘lest we forget’ forget ceremony, will be a good reminder for younger generations present here today.”
A flypast of the ceremony was made by aircraft from the Scottish Aero Club at Scone.
Earlier in the day the Russian delegation attended another event at the Dundee International Submarine Memorial in the city quay.
Held annually at the memorial, it honours more than 20 million Russian citizens who lost their lives between 1941 and 1945 and in particular, the crew of the Soviet submarine B1 which was lost with all hands while on passage from Dundee’s wartime submarine base to join the Soviet Northern Fleet.
