Tiiksjärvi, Feb 1942.
Finn fighter.
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joseyclosey
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Finn fighter.
Staying with the finnish theme heres a nice shot of a Brewster BW-327.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... -372-3.jpg[/pic]
Tiiksjärvi, Feb 1942.
Tiiksjärvi, Feb 1942.
Thanks
The planes were issued to winter War but the war, as short as 103 days, ended and the planes ended in Continuation War. BTW the Aussies had them in Malaysia, I guess. The US navy sold the planes to Finland. Some say it is the ugliest plane, but it has the best kill/lost ratio giving the number some 50 downed/lost in compact. And this is the best ratio ever in aviation history. Even though I like F6F Hellcat.
Now, when the swastika is shown, the Finnish Air Force and the tank groups used the swastika. In our Civil War a Swedish Count Von Rosen donated an airplane to the white Finns. The swastika was von Rosen’s family insignia. To say. That all happened during the times of the I WW. A lot before there was a Nationalist Movement (Nationaler Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands)
The only one Brewester is in US Navy Museum in Pensacola
http://www.warbirdforum.com/buff.htm
Now, when the swastika is shown, the Finnish Air Force and the tank groups used the swastika. In our Civil War a Swedish Count Von Rosen donated an airplane to the white Finns. The swastika was von Rosen’s family insignia. To say. That all happened during the times of the I WW. A lot before there was a Nationalist Movement (Nationaler Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands)
The only one Brewester is in US Navy Museum in Pensacola
http://www.warbirdforum.com/buff.htm
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joseyclosey
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Mosu, thanks for the link, the aircraft in Pensacola is the same one as in my post. Here is the combat report of its last flight....
Official Finnish Air Force combat report 8523/2:
Date: 25 June 1942 13.35 - 14.00 hrs local time
Location: Sekehe airfield - Seesjärvi 6500 - 10 m (22.000 - 30 ft) altitude
Victories: Two Hurricanes destroyed. The first dove vertically from 3.000 m (10.000 ft) to a swamp 15 km (9 mi) west of the Southern end of Lake Akanjärvi. The second was burning in the woods 10 km (6 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin.
"I was performing an alert flight with four fighters (section tainumbers 1/2 and 5/1, south of Rukajärvi). We met air master sergeant Juutilainen west of Sekehe attacking a Hurricane which took off from the field. I stayed behind with sergeant Anttila as top cover at 5.500 m (18.000 ft) altitude. When the combat moved southeast I followed at 3.000 m (10.000 ft). Suddenly we were attacked by a MiG and four Hurricanes. I noticed the Hurricane firing at Anttila and getting hits before I could help him. I shot the Hurricane at close range and it dove vertically to the swamp below. I got the remaining four enemies against me when Anttila was disengaging peacefully to the west. After a short fight I managed to disengage. 12 km (7 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin two Hurricanes managed to surprise me. At 100 m (300 ft) altitude the other one shot and hit the engine, back armour and the left wing tank caught fire. During evasive maneuvers I managed to shoot the the attacking aircraft and it caught fire and dissappeared south while leaving a smoke trail. My engine stopped and while trying to land the aircraft at a small lake 25 km (15 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin the other Hurricane shot my right wing tank into fire and immediately the whole aircraft was in flames. I pushed the aircraft to the lake from 10 m (30 ft) altitude at 250 km/h (135 kts) and the aircraft turned over during landing. I dove away from the aircraft and swam to the shore. The aircraf sank in 1/2 min. After a 20 km (12 mi) walk I reached our guard post at the southern tip of Jolmajärvi. The guard reported that a Hurricane had crashed and caused a forest fire. 15 Hurricanes and MiGs took part in the combat."
Witness report: "During afternoon patrol I saw a forest fire at the mentioned location, set off by the crashed aircraft", ensign M.J. Salovaara.
Observations: "The Hurricanes seemed to be significantly faster than the Brewsters at medium altitude and reasonably maneuverable. Own aircraft totally destroyed."
Aircraft and Pilot: BW-372, Lt. L. Ohukainen (later Pekuri)
The report courtesy of the Finnish ILMAILU-magazine (The Aviation), Kyösti Partonen.
Official Finnish Air Force combat report 8523/2:
Date: 25 June 1942 13.35 - 14.00 hrs local time
Location: Sekehe airfield - Seesjärvi 6500 - 10 m (22.000 - 30 ft) altitude
Victories: Two Hurricanes destroyed. The first dove vertically from 3.000 m (10.000 ft) to a swamp 15 km (9 mi) west of the Southern end of Lake Akanjärvi. The second was burning in the woods 10 km (6 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin.
"I was performing an alert flight with four fighters (section tainumbers 1/2 and 5/1, south of Rukajärvi). We met air master sergeant Juutilainen west of Sekehe attacking a Hurricane which took off from the field. I stayed behind with sergeant Anttila as top cover at 5.500 m (18.000 ft) altitude. When the combat moved southeast I followed at 3.000 m (10.000 ft). Suddenly we were attacked by a MiG and four Hurricanes. I noticed the Hurricane firing at Anttila and getting hits before I could help him. I shot the Hurricane at close range and it dove vertically to the swamp below. I got the remaining four enemies against me when Anttila was disengaging peacefully to the west. After a short fight I managed to disengage. 12 km (7 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin two Hurricanes managed to surprise me. At 100 m (300 ft) altitude the other one shot and hit the engine, back armour and the left wing tank caught fire. During evasive maneuvers I managed to shoot the the attacking aircraft and it caught fire and dissappeared south while leaving a smoke trail. My engine stopped and while trying to land the aircraft at a small lake 25 km (15 mi) north of the island of Kalitsin the other Hurricane shot my right wing tank into fire and immediately the whole aircraft was in flames. I pushed the aircraft to the lake from 10 m (30 ft) altitude at 250 km/h (135 kts) and the aircraft turned over during landing. I dove away from the aircraft and swam to the shore. The aircraf sank in 1/2 min. After a 20 km (12 mi) walk I reached our guard post at the southern tip of Jolmajärvi. The guard reported that a Hurricane had crashed and caused a forest fire. 15 Hurricanes and MiGs took part in the combat."
Witness report: "During afternoon patrol I saw a forest fire at the mentioned location, set off by the crashed aircraft", ensign M.J. Salovaara.
Observations: "The Hurricanes seemed to be significantly faster than the Brewsters at medium altitude and reasonably maneuverable. Own aircraft totally destroyed."
Aircraft and Pilot: BW-372, Lt. L. Ohukainen (later Pekuri)
The report courtesy of the Finnish ILMAILU-magazine (The Aviation), Kyösti Partonen.
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joseyclosey
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Adam, heres a short report on the Blenheim in Finnish service plus pics of ski equipped Blenheims.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... len007.jpg[/pic]
The Finnish government expressed interest in a military version of the Type 143 and even ordered nine examples off the drawing board. They were destined never to receive these aircraft, but were able to secure a licence to produce the Blenheim at Tampere. However, no locally built examples were completed before the Russians invaded on the 30 November 1939. In January 1940 the RAF delivered 12 Mk IVs via bases in Norway, this was followed by an additional 12 Mk Is in February. By March the unequal struggle came to an end and the Finns were forced to surrender a large area of territory to the Soviets. By now there were only 11 airworthy Blenheims, the factory busied itself repairing damaged aircraft before commencing production of 15 locally built Mk I examples.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... len008.jpg[/pic]
In June 1941 Finland now allied to the Axis went to war again with the Soviet Union. The Blenheim still formed the backbone of their bomber fleet and was operated alongside German built aircraft such as the Me 109G. By the time this second conflict or Continuation War as it was known came to a conclusion in September 1944 the Finnish airforce had lost 29 Blenheims to enemy action. A further 15 were written off as a result of accidents and emergencies. They were used in almost every conceivable mission but were particularly valued in the photo reconnaissance role. The Finnish air force was the last to operate the type and finally retired their ageing Blenheims in 1957.
The Finnish government expressed interest in a military version of the Type 143 and even ordered nine examples off the drawing board. They were destined never to receive these aircraft, but were able to secure a licence to produce the Blenheim at Tampere. However, no locally built examples were completed before the Russians invaded on the 30 November 1939. In January 1940 the RAF delivered 12 Mk IVs via bases in Norway, this was followed by an additional 12 Mk Is in February. By March the unequal struggle came to an end and the Finns were forced to surrender a large area of territory to the Soviets. By now there were only 11 airworthy Blenheims, the factory busied itself repairing damaged aircraft before commencing production of 15 locally built Mk I examples.
In June 1941 Finland now allied to the Axis went to war again with the Soviet Union. The Blenheim still formed the backbone of their bomber fleet and was operated alongside German built aircraft such as the Me 109G. By the time this second conflict or Continuation War as it was known came to a conclusion in September 1944 the Finnish airforce had lost 29 Blenheims to enemy action. A further 15 were written off as a result of accidents and emergencies. They were used in almost every conceivable mission but were particularly valued in the photo reconnaissance role. The Finnish air force was the last to operate the type and finally retired their ageing Blenheims in 1957.
Notics
You are amazing me with your knowledge of our history, positively.
Ossi
Ossi
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joseyclosey
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Here is a link to a translated report by German General der Infantrie Dr. Waldemar Erfurth, he was the Whermacht representative to Finnish HQ, 1941-44. In the report he details Finnish and Russian combat methods, organization, and equipment are compared to those of the German Army. The descriptions of Finnish climate and terrain involve comparisons with that of Germany. If you are even slightly interested in the Finnish conflict it is well worth reading.
Joe
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... ht=erfurth
Joe
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... ht=erfurth
Pilots
There is an interesting article about Brewster pilots:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/en/hist/WW2 ... cture.html
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~fta/finace02b.htm
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/en/hist/WW2 ... cture.html
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~fta/finace02b.htm
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joseyclosey
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Thanks for that link mosu, that is good info i did not previously have.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a Gloster Gauntlet is still flying in Finland, albeit with a Alvis Leonides engine instead of the Bristol Mercury. Now that i would like to see.
Joe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... untlet.jpg[/pic]
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a Gloster Gauntlet is still flying in Finland, albeit with a Alvis Leonides engine instead of the Bristol Mercury. Now that i would like to see.
Joe
