A cold war ballet

Early in the Cold War I (pictured) was stationed with the 406th Fighter Interceptor Wing of the US Air Force at RAF Manston in Kent. My specific unit was the 406th Air Police Squadron whose primary function was the protection of the base and the several combat-ready F-86D fighter aircraft.

One day, in October 1956, I was on duty as the Base Security Flight Leader when I received an order from the Command Post to meet and secure an incoming passenger aircraft. Speeding to the flight line, our response team arrived just seconds before a large passenger jet sat down on the runway. Once it had stopped, just off to one side of the runway, we surrounded it, not quite sure what to expect. I did not recognise the aircraft or its markings. A contingent of our Wing’s top brass arrived just after our security team.

Eventually, a young female passenger emerged, conversed briefly with a senior staff person and returned to the plane. The exit door had opened and closed very quickly, so no one else was seen. Several hours later the mysterious intruder departed.

Afterwards I learned the aircraft (pictured left) was a Russian TU104 passenger jet carrying the Bolshoi Ballet to London to perform at the Royal Opera House. This was the first such cultural exchange since the Cold War had begun.

The plane had been allowed to land at Manston because London was shrouded in a dense fog. The young lady was an English-speaking member of the troupe. No one else was allowed off the plane because of the fear of defections.