TRAVEL

Yaroslavl is the most memorable treasure within the popular Golden Ring of Old Russian cities. Historical Centre of the City – UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a “must” for those who are interested in Russian history, architecture or culture.

In the 11th century, Yaroslav, Prince of Rostov and later the famous Prince of Kiev, founded a Christian fortress at the point where the River Kotorosl flowed into the Volga, thus guarding Rostov’s trade waterway. According to legend, the prince went out hunting and killed a very big bear. To commemorate this event he founded a fortified town, Yaroslavl, and the slaughtered bear became a symbol of the town. In fact, the truth is much more prosaic. The Finn-Ugric settlement that had long existed on the spot was destroyed, along with the bear that the inhabitants worshiped, but the town named after Yaroslav the Wise still features a bear on its coat of arms. Over the following centuries Yaroslavl grew in size and strength. For a while it has been even a small independent principality, but after the hardships suffered under the Tartars and internecine wars, it sought protection under the wings of the powerful principality of Moscow.

I remained at Cranwell for two years. During this time, apart from ceremonial duties (I was one of the thousands of servicemen who were involved in the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, among other things) I was engaged in engineering work of one sort or another with the Chipmunks at the College. Apart from day-to-day servicing and marshalling, more in-depth servicing was carried out at regular flying hour intervals. We also had rectification work to carry out for any defects which might occur. At the end of my two years, I found I was posted overseas, to the MIddle East.

I was despatched to RAF Khormaksar, in Aden, and found that I was to be employed on Strike Wing, working on Hawker Hunters. When I arrived in Aden, in August 1965, there were 2 full Squadrons, No’s 8 and 43, and a flight, No 1417. These were all operating Hawker hunters of one mark or another. There were 3 marks in use in Aden. These were mainly FGA9, FR10 and T7. I was not involved in the daily serving of these aircraft as I was posted into the Scheduled Serving Flight.