On this day in 1956, the Royal Air Force dropped 250 loaves of bread to relieve the isolated villagers of Prodromos, some 4,000 feet up in the Troodos mountains.
Cyprus was in the grip of a cold snap, with snow in the mountains.
The bread, which came mostly from RAF messes, was canvassed at short notice, before an Anson aircraft left Nicosia airfield on a gradual ascent on the mercy flight.
Shortly after they landed, the Anson’s crew of three officers told press representatives that the villagers waved their hands as they saw the plane.
All three, Flight Lieutenants A. A. Fenn and V. Taylor, and Flying Officer J. A. Watt, said that visibility was clear and the deep snow drifts could be distinctly seen.
After four “runs” the most suitable spot was found to be some two miles to the north of Berengaria hotel. Eight more runs and the loaves were dropped in 30 bags, all in the short space of half an hour.
“Beautiful sight,” said one of the pilots. “They were still waving when we took the last run and-headed for Nicosia.”