Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb aircraft of No. 151 Wing at Vaenga during Operation Benedict, 1941

In 1941, an unusual RAF mission was launched. Operation Benedict saw No. 151 Wing, Royal Air Force, with two squadrons of Hawker Hurricane fighters, deploy to Vaenga in the Northern Soviet Union, inside the Arctic Circle.

On 22 June 1941, the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany and its allies. Britain responded by promising support, and No. 151 Wing, comprising Nos. 81 and 134 Squadron, were sent to Russia. Beginning operations in September 1941 There they flew against the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and the Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force), also then trained Soviet pilots and ground crews to operate the Hurricanes. In November 1941 the pilots and ground crews left their aircraft behind and returned to Britain. In five weeks of operations, 151 Wing claimed 16 victories, four probables and seven aircraft damaged. The British and Russian governments gave Operation Benedict lots of publicity, and four members of No. 151 Wing received the Order of Lenin.