As the "Russian devils" bombed vakhabitov in the Holy city of Mecca

Interbellum (the period between the two world wars) will be remembered by many a local, but very interesting conflict. Some of them get lost among more well-known counterparts like the war with Finland or the civil war in Spain. And it's gone fairly interesting episodes.

As, for example, air strikes on the Muslim Holy city Mecca, executed by Russian pilots. However, true followers of Islam, the event excited a little — they have traditionally been diverted to the usual squabbling with each other.

The end of the Civil war in Russia the win for the red led to mass emigration from the country. A special position in it occupied by the former whites. Left Russia out of disagreement with the Bolshevik ideals or concerns for their safety, they (like the White movement during the war) did not have a single plan or center. This has led to its "spreading" around the world — from China to the United States and even Polynesia.

In 1925, the commander of the army of the Hijaz ordered to bomb the Holy Mecca

Many of the white was a professional military to the bone. Not that they don't know how — but what they were, could not lead to anything, except a sharp decrease in income and social status. Some, of course, went into the business, but is by definition a thing that is not obtained at all, especially if you emigrate from Russia came only with almost empty pockets. The result was the presence in the different countries of the world layer of people, well trained to fight, and often unhappy. In terms of General repletion of battles in the First world war, it was the perfect candidates for recruitment to the endless local wars.

Another consequence of the great war in Europe was the collapse of many empires. One of them was the Ottoman. A whirl of rapid events, the Turks managed to reformat the fact that they have remained in the national government, thereby leaving unattended many peoples beyond its borders. Some areas were totally unprepared for statehood. Their population was a nothing more than a group of tribes — scattered, ready to fight each other. One such territory was the Arabian Peninsula.

Lawrence of Arabia — British intelligence officer

The British, for example, acted in the Kingdom of the Hijaz, helping the king to modernize the armed forces. The role of pilots and mechanics first tried to hire British people, but they quickly realized that the service in the desert — not sugar, and left home at the first opportunity. Another thing white Russians — their poor living conditions drastically lowered requirements and increased ruggedness. One such person was Russian aircraft mechanic by the name of Maximov, who worked as a taxi driver in Cairo. In 1921 he was approached by Sam Lawrence of Arabia, who continued to "stir up trouble" in the Peninsula and after the First world war.

British spy acted effectively — a ride on a Russian taxi, he paid Maximov as much as he would not earn for a few months. Then followed refreshments lunch in one of the best restaurants in the city, and was offered a place in the air force of the Hijaz. In fact, Maksimov had to raise these forces to a new level — materiel were extremely worn, and the Arabs needed a decent mechanic. White Russians thought for long — the good, the Englishman promised huge even by European standards, wages and personal stone house in the Hijaz.

Former officers of the White army helped to create the fleet of a distant country

In the Hijaz flocked and other retired Russian pilots. King Hussein bin Ali had not been cheated of money, but the trick was different. It was immediately clear why this work was not signed the European pilots. The fleet of the Kingdom was a rare stuff — up in the air on these planes was simply terrible. First, in the Kingdom had 9 aircraft — half were deemed illiquid by the same Maximov. The other half demanded a mountain of spare parts and major repairs. To be in the Hijaz instantly these parts could not, and to fly was necessary. So I had to get out, which, of course, were not added to the reliability of the resulting designs. To fly them were not ready even white Russians — many of them left. But the rest is boring certainly was not.

In the spring of 1924 the war began between the two kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd adjacent. The beginning was good, but by August, things got worse — the enemy rallied and began a full-scale invasion. In October it became very bad — the enemy forces took Mecca. The king of Hejaz decided to use the last resort and sent the Russian driver Nikolay Shirokov to bomb the Holy city. He was flying reconnaissance aircraft DH.9. But the bombing was a serious technical problem.

Ruler of Najd, king Ibn Saud

In the Kingdom absolutely was not bombs, it was assumed that the aircraft will only be used for reconnaissance and emergency communication. But the situation was serious, and the Arabs insisted that Shirokov bombed what we have — upgraded grenades and shells. Converted by the Arabs. The enthusiasm of such a set did not cause sooner or later transformed on the spot device would be pulled under the plane. In addition, Shirokov reasonably pointed to the fact that, most likely, the grenade will explode long before they hit the ground. And well even if the shards don't hurt the plane. And to fly at low level on a fairly unreliable biplane it will not be exact. But all this is little worried about the Hejaz authorities.

It is suggested Shirokov generous bonus with them, the salary was increased twice, up to 60 pounds of gold per month. By the standards of the average pilot it was nearly unimaginable money. In addition, the pilot was issued a kind of a psychotherapeutic agent for a restful sleep — as much as a bottle of whiskey a day.

Such bombers DH.9 flown by Russian pilots during the war of the Kingdom of the Hejaz with the Kingdom of Najd

After such incentive Shirokov was to fly at low level and throwing grenades. Additionally, there were machine-gun attacks from the place of the observer that produced a serious psychological effect on the enemy cavalry. Its clusters was the most coveted goal in some cultures, animals were not prepared for the sight and sound of aircraft, and ran only one rumble motor.

The appearance in the sky of Saudi airplanes drifted accumulations of the Wahhabis bombs and shot them with machine guns, marked a turning point in the war

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Shirokov was bombed Mecca to 18 January 1925, when during one flight on his biplane DH.9 whether something is broken, or prematurely detonated a homemade bomb. Russian pilot was not alone this day with him flew Omar Shakir, a Syrian-born journalist, known for his anti-Ottoman articles. When the problem of the Turks disappeared by itself, he moved on to the Kingdom of Najd. He really wanted to hurl a bomb into an enemy — perhaps that is the technical unpreparedness of Umar and caused the premature explosion.

The Arabs did with the corpse of the pilot in his typical manner — cut off the head, put on a spike and happily toyed with her on their positions, showing that the "flying devil" is not so terrible as it seemed. Hejaz surrendered in December of the same year, and in January 1927 and disappeared from the world map. But the Arabs continued its long civil war, many tribes required pacification. Russian airmen continued to fight in these wars and serve the Arab of the air force as trainers, even after the Second world war.