Significance of Safeway Bag

The Safeway bag is the first domino in the PIMLICO plan, and therefore is a symbol of danger and a call for help in a time of need. If Gordievsky ever felt like he needed to escape Moscow, Price instructed that he stand outside the signal site with the red Safeway bag and the plan would be set in action. Gordievsky flew the signal after he confirmed that the KGB knew he was a British spy, and ultimately, this call for help saved his life and helped put an end to the Cold War.