Family’s poignant journey

THE family of a Russian who served at a Perthshire air base during the Second World War have made an emotional journey following in his footsteps.

Relatives of flight mechanic Peter Petrovichev, i ncluding h i s s o n Va l e r y, w e r e among the dignitaries who gathered at Errol Airfield to commemorate the role of 60 Russian pilots, navigators and engineers who were based in the Carse of Gowrie.

Local people have helped keep the memory of the group, who came to the village in 1942-43, alive and there is a memorial to them at the airfield.

“It is a big honour for me to be here,” said Valery.

“My father barely told of his deeds at the front.

“Like his fellow airmen he believed that he was simply doing his job.”

“I followed in my father’s footsteps and became an airman.Today my dream of many years has come true.

“I am standing here where my father was during the Second World War.”

A flypast was made by the Scottish Aero Club which is based at Scone.

A major investigation was launched a week ago today aftter a gang used a stolen car to crash into the doors of the Co-op store in Panmurefield.

Officers believe at least two people were involved in the raid.

The thieves used the car to prop open the doors of the shop and loaded the vehicle with cigarettes and alcohol before making off.

The car involved was a black BMW, which had been stolen from a family’s driveway in Silport Place, Carnoustie, earlier the same day.

Police have also linked the 5-Series saloon to an attempted break-in at the Size clothing store in Dundee city centre just minutes before the Co-op was targeted around 4am on Thursday.

The fashion retailer’s premises were left with a broken window, although the culprits did not manage to gain access to the store.

The stolen BMW was found abandoned the next day in a car park on Happyhillock Walk, several miles from the scene of the Co-op raid.

Police recovered it after a local resident saw an appeal in the Evening Telegraph and recognised the car’s number plate.

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Wales, who is investigating the incidents, told the Tele today that officers had yet to make a major breakthrough — but added he hoped test results and CCTV footage could provide the vital piece of information needed to catch the gang.

He said: “The progressing.

“Although we would normally do something to mark the week anniversary, it happened at 4am, so there

POLICE probing a ram-raid at a supermarket are waiting for the results of forensic tests as they bid to make a breakthrough in the case.

investigation is