In 1942-3, the Moscow Special Assignment Airgroup of the Soviet Air Force (No. 305 FTU) was based at RAF Errol airfield in Perthshire (near Dundee). Comprising 60 Russian pilots, navigators, and engineers the ‘ferry’ unit flew British Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle (twin-engine transport aircraft – part of a contract of 200 ordered by the Soviet Air Force). Trained by RAF 305 Ferry Training Unit (14 December 1942-30 April 1944), the Moscow Special Assignment Airgroup flew daring missions on the Eastern Front during the Second World War.
A memorial has been established at the airfield to acknowledge the loss of Russian airmen (during training) in an Albemarle crash near Fearnan in Highland Perthshire and the bravery of the Moscow Special Assignment Airgroup. The memorial includes a number of birch trees – the birch being Russia’s national symbol.