Skulte military bomber

“In some places, the work was left unfinished, and, for example, an impressive pedestal still stands on the hill near Ērgļi, where a T-34 tank once stood. The base was not demolished, but it also did not find a new use and currently simply serves as a popular gathering place for local youth, as evidenced by the amount of empty containers in the area. However, there is a place in Latvia where such a “monument” still stands and is even considered a local pride. We are talking about Skulte – not the one near Limbaži in Vidzeme, but a small village in Mārupe municipality, right behind the “Rīga” airport. During the Soviet era, a garrison of the Baltic Fleet’s naval air forces was located here, but Soviet officers lived in the village. In 1978, a monument was erected here to the pilots who bombed Berlin during World War II. The monument itself had no direct connection with the bombing of Berlin – it was an IL28 aircraft that had served its time. “Nobody bothers anymore,” is the most common answer from the people of Mārupe when approached. Some people can’t even imagine what “monument” they are talking about. Skulte is located far from the center of Mārupe and major roads. Sometimes, the curious come here to watch planes take off and land near the airport. The “miracle” of Soviet technology exhibited in the center of the village really wouldn’t bother anyone, unless they tried to make politics out of it. Recently, articles appeared in the Russian-language press about the heroic battles of local veterans against the evil nationalists who were trying to do something bad to the plane, but the “monument” itself was given a politically symbolic meaning.

“This soldier plane has seen a lot in its life. And even now it is on the front lines in a NATO country,” local activist Nikolai Gushchin tells the weekly edition of the newspaper “Vesti.” He invokes NATO as an old enemy several more times.

“I remember once three men came and started talking about something. I asked what they were interested in. Is it war history? They looked at me strangely and said: we heard that the prices of non-ferrous metals have risen… (..) Then I replied with the following: there are three of you here, and if you touch the plane, then in the morning you will find three heads at the monument, and tell the others about it too. I am a former department commander, and Skulte is mostly inhabited by military pensioners, they have nothing to lose. We will defend our honor and dignity at any cost!” Guschin himself rushing to the plane every time he is informed about a suspicious person near it.

The editorial office of “Latvijas Avīze” was contacted by reader Kārlis, who believes that this publication contains open threats of violence. “By what right can he make such a statement? Why is no one allowed to touch that plane, is it his property?” the reader asks. As is known, various military facilities tend to interest not only non-ferrous metal thieves, but also, for example, teenagers who might try to climb up. It would be bad if local “head-pullers” showed up at that moment.

The local authorities are also opponents of the plane, but they will not dare to do anything, believes N. Guschins. “The officials know that if they order the plane to be shot down, they will be very badly off. Here in Skulte, everyone knows each other,” the activist threatens. Later, he specifies that no local will vote for such deputies in the local government elections.”