AZ Models 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, 3/HLetv.24, Pilot Sergeant L. Ahokas, Lappeenranta, Kesakuu, 1944
This 'Mersu' was delivered to the unit in June 1944 and was flown by Sgt. L. Ahokas, an ace with 5 kills. It was transferred to H.Letv.23 in October 1945 and served with the Ilmavoimat until November 1953.
NOTE that the presence of the badge on the port side of the rudder is provisional.
Special Hobby (ex-AZ Models) 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, luutnantti Arvo Karima, HleLv. 31, based at Utti, Finland, June, 1950.
(On 23rd June, 1950, a midsummer festival air show was held at the base and it involved also a low-altitude speed race of four machines. As the aircraft flew in a left-hand circle, the fuselage, wing and tailplane trim was applied to just the port side. On her fuselage, MT-508 wore a blue-white checkerboard race marking and was also fitted with a different, taller tailwheel leg - Special Hobby).
Special Hobby 1/72 De Havilland DH100 Vampire FB52, Fighter Squadron 13 (HavLv 13), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), late 1950s, early 1960s. Based at Pori, later at Tikkakoski.
Sabrekits (ex-AZ Models) 1/72 VL Pyry II, as flown by Lt. Keijo Elio, of the Ilmavoimat Air Force School, Hamala airfield, on 7th September, 1962.
This was the last flight with a Pyry.
Hobby Boss 1/72 Mikoyan MiG-15 UTI. This aircraft was sold to Finland on November 10, 1962. It crashed on November 27 1970 and was written off. During the fall of 1969, it escorted Czechoslovakian President Ludvik Svoboda's Il-18 during his visit to Finland. The lynx silhouette places this aircraft with Havittajalentolavue 31, (Fighter Squadron 31), based at Rissala Air Base, Finland.
Michael Kohl Nice collection and interesting introduction
26 October 2022, 12:03
Album info
The Finns had a bad time during WW2, suffering particularly harshly at the hands of the Russians. Attacked first during the Winter War of 1939-40 by the Soviets and again, during the Continuation War, which followed Operation:Barbarossa. They were then left between a big rock and a very hard place and ended up aligning themselves with Nazi Germany.
It's well worth noting that, whilst they appreciated arms from the Nazis, they were never allies in the same manner Italy or even Japan was. Their territory was of valuable strategic importance to both the Nazis and Soviets, but both sides failed to realise the importance the Finns had for their country and independence. It was more than just being of 'valuable strategically importance', it was home.
Initially provided with aircraft from the UK and France, they acquired aircraft that had proved to be far from satisfactory within their home air forces and so the Finns were given what were, in effect, hand-me-downs. That said, the courage, skill and tenacity of the Finns ensured that their fights were never one-sided, (unless it was to the Finns' advantage) and they proved to be a real force to be reckoned with.
As a consequence of maintaining a balanced neutrality, Finland's Ilmavoimat operated aircraft from the Soviets, as well as from the UK, France, Sweden and home-grown types from the Valmet factory.
Post-War, Finland remained strongly neutral, in spite of intense pressures at times from the Soviet Union. Following the Paris Peace talks of 1947, Finland had restrictions placed upon it, including;
No more than 60 combat aircraft
No aircraft with internal bomb bays
No guided missiles or atomic weapons
No weaponry of German construction or using German parts
A maximum strength of 3,000 persons
No offensive weapons
These conditions were revised in 1963 and some guided missiles were permitted. They also acquired a large number of two-seater aircraft, reportedly for the training role, but these could also perform a wide variety of other necessary roles.
Remaining neutral during the Cold War, the Finns acquired aircraft from both east and west. However, once the Cold War was over, they chose to replace their Swedish Drakens and Russian MiG-21s with American Hornets.
All of this I became aware of whilst playing the Il-3: Stormovik PC air combat game. This caused me to seek out the Finnish subjects in my Stash and I found more than I had originally realised.
Bruce Leyland-Jones
