There are plenty of reasons why you should swing by the open weekend at Montrose Air Station, writes Susan Welsh
Along with hundreds of visitors, there will be a very special group attending this week’s FREE open weekend at Montrose Air Station – a delegation travelling from Russia to attend the opening of the heritage centre’s exciting new exhibition about 24 elite Soviet pilots’ top-secret mission to Scotland during World War II.
Among the delegation will be the head of the Vnukovo Aviation Museum and several descendants of the hero pilots of the 10th Guards Air Division, who were sent to Errol Airfield, near Perth, to learn how to fly Whitworth Armstrong Albemarle bombers in 1943.
Anna Belorusova, granddaughter of Soviet pilot Commander Peter Kolesnikov, knew nothing about her grandfather’s wartime visit to Scotland: “My grandfather died soon after World War II and among treasured possessions at home there was a map of the coast of Britain, a Christmas menu adorned with a thistle and a photograph of him with 10 other Soviet airmen, which was a puzzle to me all my life,” said Anna, whose investigation into her grandfather’s war records led to the discovery that Soviet pilots had trained secretly at Errol, and Hurn in Dorset, from 1943-1944.
Last year, Anna’s research brought her to Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, where she met military historian Dan Paton.
“When Anna told me the story of her grandfather and his fellow Soviet airmen, I knew this would be an excellent subject for an exhibition at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre,” said Dr Paton, who added that the Russian consul-general and vice-consul are also attending the opening.
“We are delighted that The Russians in Scotland exhibition – which will be opened officially on May 15 by the Lord Lieutenant of Angus, Mrs Georgiana Osborne – will be attended by such highly distinguished guests from Russia,” he continued.
“Many of the Soviet pilots’ descendants who are attending the opening ceremony have followed in their father or grandfather’s footsteps and are pilots themselves. I’m sure they will be fascinated by the information, photographs, documents and memorabilia on display at the exhibition, and also by Montrose Air Station’s aviation artefacts, including planes, vehicles and buildings from World War I and World War II.”
Montrose Air Station’s open weekend, which is part of Museums Galleries Scotland’s 2015 Festival of Museums, has a great programme of activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. On May 16 and 17, youngsters can don a flying suit, sit in the cockpit of a Spitfire and see a display of vintage military vehicles, while other visitors have the chance to “fly” a Sopwith Camel via a flight simulator and view the full-size replica of the 1914 aircraft which is being built currently at Montrose Air Station.
Visitors will also be able to step back in time, courtesy of a World War II re-enactment group which is setting up a wartime RAF camp in the grounds of the air station.
“This year’s open weekend will certainly highlight the importance this part of Scotland played in military aviation history, in the UK and all over the world, including Russia,” added Dr Paton.
“We are deeply honoured that the Russian delegation will be making the journey to Montrose to honour their countrymen, the hero pilots.”
The open weekend takes place from May 15-17 at Montrose Air Station, Broomfield Road, Montrose. The centre is open 10am-4pm, Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 4pm on Sunday. Admission this weekend is free of charge. Contact 01674 678222 or visit www.rafmontrose.org.uk