FINNISH AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT

Level Bombers and Long-Range Reconnaissance Planes
1939 - 1945

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FAF aircraft used as level bombers and long-range reconnaissance planes during the WW II and their aircraft type codes:

BL DN VP -> DP JK PE VP -> SB

Bristol Blenheim I and IV Dornier Do 17Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3 Ilyushin DB-3M and DB-3f (Il-4) Junkers Ju 88A-4/R Petlyakov Pe-2 and Pe-3 Tupolev SB-2, SB-2bis and USB

The use of bombers is not included on this page and can be seen on page of each bomber squadron.
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Bristol Blenheim I and IV

The first batch of 18 BL Is (series I) was bought from UK in 1936 and arrived in Finland by July 1938. Second batch (series II) of licence-built planes was ordered from VL (State Aircraft Factory) in 1939. Production was although delayed due to Winter War and planes were completed during the beginning of Continuation War by January 1942. The urgent need for bombers in 1939 was solved in buying 12 longnose BL IVs (series III) and 12 BL Is (series IV) from Great Britain. Planes arrived in Finland during Winter War. BL-125 (BL IV) was damaged in forced landing in Sweden and arrived after repairs on 29.9.1940.

Because it was not possible to buy new bombers from Germany in 1942 it was decided to build more BLs. A large batch of 30 improved BL Is (series V) was completed during 1943. Unlogical engine controls and overall ergonomy were much improved from the original. Plane had for example adjustable armoured seat and adjustable pedals for pilot and improved cockpit visibility.

The last batch of ten BL IVs (series VI) was completed in spring 1944. During the war State Aircraft Factory licence-built a total of 45 BL Is and 10 BL IVs in Finland. Planes of series V and IV were produced using former Yugoslavian components bought from Germany in 1943.

During the war BLs served in all Finnish bomber squadrons. BL-200 (BL IV, series VI) is the only one left today but it is not on display at the moment.
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Producer
Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, United Kingdom or
Valtion Lentokonetehdas (VL), Tampere, Finland,
particles of series V and VI also by Ikarus A.D., Zemun, Yugoslavia
Country of origin:
Mk. I
- Series I, IV: United Kingdom
- Series II: Finland [this series was also called "Bristol Blenheim Mk.II (Finnish licence)"]
- Series V: Finland / Yugoslavia
Mk. IV (Longnose)
- Series III: United Kingdom
- Series VI: Finland / Yugoslavia / Germany

Crew 3 - pilot, observer / bomber, radio operator / rear turret MG gunner

Engines
- 2x Bristol or Tampella Mercury VIII or VIIIA / 840 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines or
- Series III, V (partly) and VI (partly): 2x Bristol or Tampella Mercury XI / 905 hp (100 octane fuel),
9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines
Propellers:
- metallic de Havilland or Hamilton Standard variable pitch (adjustable) propellers or
- wooden VLS 8000 (Fin) variable-pitch (adjustable, two positions) propellers,
- wooden VLS 8001 (Fin) variable-pitch (adjustable, two positions) propellers

Equipment
Radio: Marconi (I, III, IV, UK), 1257 (II, Fin) or P-12-14 (Fin), (since spring 1944) Telefunken FuG 10 (Ger)
Cameras: Eagle IV (25 or 30/18x24) (UK), Carl Zeiss RMK 20/30x30 (Ger),
(40-) Carl Zeiss Rb 75/30x30 (Ger) or (41-) Fairchild FRD-K-3C (30,6/23x23) (USA)
Bomb load: practical 600 kg (for all models)
- Series I: 800 or 972 kg
- Series II, V: 850 kg / 402 kg with incendiary bomb cassettes
- Series III, IV: typical British style load only 526 kg
- Series V, VI: 800 or 972 kg / 402 kg with incendiary bomb cassettes
Bomb racks:
Series I:
- in open bomb bay (bombs partly outside fuselage, no doors):
8 - Tolfvan RMS 100 1/BL for 50 or 100 kg bombs
- in both wings (bombs partly outside): 2 - Tolfvan RMS 12,5 1/BL for 12,5 or 25 kg bombs
Series II, V and BL-109 of Series I:
- bomb bay (bombs inside fuselage): 2 - RMS-250 (or two 115 kg R.A.E. incendiary bomb
cassettes), 2 - RMS-100 and two additional bomb cassettes for 12 tiny 3 kg bombs each
- in both wings (bombs inside wing): 2 - RMS-100
Series III, IV:
- bomb bay (bombs inside fuselage): 4 - R.S.250/150lbs.No.1 Type E.M./E.F.Mk.I for four 250 lbs
or 2 - R.S.260lbs.No.2 Type E.M./E.F.Mk.I for two 500 lbs bombs
- rear fuselage (bombs outside): 8 - R.S.20lbs.Type E.M.Mk.I for light flares or training bombs
- in both wings (bombs inside wing): 2 - R.S.20lbs.Type E.M.Mk.II for target marking or light flares
Series V, VI:
- bomb bay (bombs inside fuselage): 8 - RMS-100-II and 2 - RMS-250-I
plus two additional bomb cassettes for 12 tiny 3 kg bombs each
- both wings (bombs inside wing): 2 - RMS-100-I for 25 kg bombs
Bombing sight:
- optical: Wimperis or Goertz I
- mechanical: PW 2 (Fin) or TM m/42 (Fin)

Defensive armament
Series I:
- in left wing: 1 - 7.62 mm Vickers MG (400 rds box)
- in rear turret: 1 - 7.62 mm L-33/BL MG (7x 75 rds drum)
Series II:
- in wings: 2 - 7.7 mm Browning FN MG
- in rear turret: 1 - 7.7 mm L-33/36/IX MG (7x 75 rds drum)
Series III, IV:
- in wings: 2 - .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning Mk.II MG
- in rear turret: 1 - .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers G.O.MI MG (7x 75 rds drum)
Series V, VI:
- in wings: 2 - 7.7 mm Browning FN MG (450 rds box for each MG)
- in rear turret: 1 - 7.7 mm Browning FN MG (625 rds belt)

Codes (dates when relieved from factory or arrived in Finland)
BL I:
- Series I (26.7.1937 - 27.7.1938): BL-104...121 (Total number: 18 pcs)
- Series II (14.6.1941 - 9.1.1942): BL-146...160 (Total number: 15 Pcs)
- Series IV (26.2.1940): BL-134...145 (Total number: 12 pcs)
- Series V (19.7. - 26.11.1943): BL-161...190 (Total number: 30 pcs)
BL IV (long-nose):
- Series III (21.1.1940): BL-122...133 (Total number: 12 pcs)
- Series VI (26.2. - 15.4.1944): BL-196...205 (Total number: 10 pcs)
Total number: 97 pcs

Remarks
Could be equipped with retractable skiis (1941 - 1944).
BL-127 (BL IV, series III) was destroyed already during the flight from England. Longnose BL-132 (BL IV, series III) was re-built to BL I in 1941 after damaging.

Sources: KESTE10, HAMMA1, HAMMA2, RAUJU4, MARJU, HAAAT1
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Dornier Do 17Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3

Finnish DNs were donated from Germany by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring on 11.11.1941 with 300.000 kg of bombs. Planes were second-hand aircraft and arrived between 5.1. - 11.2.1942 from Poland.
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Producer Dornier-Werke G.m.b.H., Friedrichshafen, Germany
Country of origin: Germany

Crew 4 - pilot, observer / bomber, radio operator / rear MG gunner, bottom rear MG gunner

Engines
- version Z-1 only: 2x BMW Bramo 323 A-1 / 900 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines or
- 2x BMW Bramo 323 P-1 Fafnir / 1.000 hp, 9 cylinder air-cooled radial engines
Propellers: metallic ? variable pitch (adjustable) propellers

Equipment
Radio: Telefunken FuG 10
Cameras (optional in version Z-3 only):
- Rb 50/30
- Rb 20/30 or Rb 21/18
- (hand camera) HK 12,5/7x9
Bomb load: 500 - 1.000 kg
Bomb racks: ?
Bombing sight:
- optical: Lotfe C 7/A, Lotfe C 7/B or BZG 2
- mechanical: GV 219d

Defensive armament
- 6...8 - 7.92 mm MG 15 or MG 81 (3 rear, 1 bottom rear, 2 or 4 front)
- (DN-52 only) 20 mm MG FFM cannon

Codes
- Z-1: DN-51, 57, 59 (Total number: 3 pcs)
- Z-2: DN-56, 61, 65 (Total number: 3 pcs)
- Z-3: DN-52...55, 58, 60, 62...64 (Total number: 9 pcs)
Total number: 15 pcs

Remarks
DN-62, a photo reconnaissance conversion with cameras, was destroyed on 23 May 1942 and DN-64 replaced it. On 3.11.1943 DN-60 was sent to Germany for large repairs but never returned.

Sources: KESTE2, RAUJU4, HAAAT1
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Ilyushin DB-3M and DB-3f (Il-4)

The first five BD-3Ms were war booty. Six DB-3M and four improved BD-3f aircraft were bought from Germany. The first ones arrived in Finland on 12.9.1941 and the latter ones a year later on 21.10.1942.
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Producer ?, Soviet Union
Country of origin: Soviet Union, Soviet Union / Germany

Crew 3 (DB-3M) / 4 (DB-3f) - pilot, observer / bomber / radio operator, rear turret MG gunner,
bottom rear MG gunner (DB-3f only)

Engines
- BD-3M: 2x M-87B / 950 hp, 14-cylinder air-cooled twin-radial engine
- DB-3f, since 14.2.43- also in BD-3M: 2x M-88B / 1.100 hp, 14-cylinder air-cooled twin-radial engine
Propellers: metallic VISh-23 variable pitch (adjustable) propellers

Equipment
Radio: RSB-bis
Cameras (DB-3M only):
- nose: RMK 20/30x30
- rear fuselage: RMKP 50/30x30
- with observer: RMKS 18x24
Bomb load: 1.000 - 2.500 kg max, typical 1.000 - 1.500 kg due to short airstrips
Bomb racks:
- bomb bay: 10 - RMS 50-100/1
- outer fuselage: 3 - RMS 250/1
- in wings: 4 - RMS 50-100/1
Bombing sight:
- optical: Goertz-Boykow and later Goertz 1
- mechanical: TM m/42 (Fin)

Defensive armament
- DB-3M: 3 or 4 - 7.62 mm ShKAS MG
- DB-3f: 2 - 7.62 mm ShKAS MG + 12.7 mm Berezina UBT HMG in rear turret

Codes
- DB-3M: DB-12, 13, 15...21 (Total number: 11 pcs)
- DB-3f (Il-4): DF-22...25 (Total number: 4 pcs)

Remarks
DF-22 was destroyed near Riga on 14.10.1942 before arrival to Finland.
Registration serial numbers before 17.9.1941 were:
- VP-101 (in 1940) -> VP-11 (was destroyed on 30.6.1941),
- VP-12...15 -> DB-12, 13, 15 (VP-14 was destroyed on 2.7.1941)

Designation note: A lowercase letter "f" after designation DB-3 means "boosted".

Sources: KESTE9, RAUJU4, HAAAT1
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Junkers Ju 88A-4/R

24 Junkers Ju 88A-4/R bombers were bought from Germany in spring 1943 and 23 of them arrived in Finland between 15.4. - 22.4.1943. Basically fine aircraft was partly spoiled with short-lived unreliable war-time Jumo engines which worked only 30 to 60 hours without problems.

Ergonomy was although excellent and plane was also well protected. Actually JK had so many luxuries never before seen in any aircraft in Finland that even experienced crews had initially much to do with them. Therefore it was no wonder they suffered unnecessary losses because of inadequate training and mistakes in their tactical use. After boosted training the remaining JKs really proved their effectiveness in the summer campaigns of 1944.
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Producer Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke A.G., Dessau, Germany
Country of origin: Germany

Crew 4 - pilot, observer / bomber, radio operator / MG gunner, bottom MG gunner

Engines 2x Junkers Jumo 211J / 1.420 hp, 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inline V engine
Propellers: wooden Junkers VS 11 fully automatic constant speed propellers

Equipment
Radio: Telefunken FuG 10
Bomb load: 1.500 - 2.500 kg max, typical 1.500 kg due to short airstrips
Bomb racks:
- bomb bay: for 10 - 50 kg bombs
- wing roots (outside): for 8 - 250, 4 - 500 or 2 - 1.000 kg bombs
Bombing sight:
- optical: Lotfe 7 D-1 (since August 1944-)
- mechanical: BZG-2 or TM m/42 (Fin)
- dive bombing: BZA-1 Stuvi 5

Defensive armament
- front: 1 - 7.92mm MG 81
- rear: 2 - 7.92mm MG 81 (LL-81 VE armoured-glass lens mount)
- bottom rear: 1 - 7.92mm MG 81Z (Zwilling) (twin MG in bottom)
- lower bottom front: 1 - 20mm MG FFM cannon (fixed or movable; in a few aircraft)

Codes JK-251...274
Total number: 24 pcs

Remarks
JK-274 crashed north from Riga on 23.4.1943 before arriving to Finland.

Sources: KESTE2, RAUJU4, HAAAT1
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Petlyakov Pe-2 and Pe-3

Six captured Petlyakov Pe-2s were bought from Germany and arrived in Finland on 10.1.1942. Pe-3 ground-attack version was a war booty captured in November 1942. The seventh PE (PE-217) was bought again from Germany and arrived in Finland on 29.1.1944.

In Finland PEs were used as fast reconnaissance planes.
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Producer ?, Soviet Union
Country of origin: Soviet Union, Soviet Union / Germany

Crew 3 - pilot / bomber, observer / radio operator, rear MG gunner

Engines 2x Klimov M-105R / 1.100 hp, 12 cylinder liquid-cooled inline V engine
Propellers: metallic VISh-61P constant speed propellers

Equipment
Radio: RSB-bis
Cameras: FRD-K3C, RMK 20/30x30, Rb 50/30x30 or Rb 75/30x30
Bomb load: 600 - 1.000 kg
Bomb racks:
- bomb bay: 4 - RMS 50-100/1
- outer fuselage: 2 - RMS 50-500/1 and 2 - RMS 50-250/1
- in both wings: 1 - RMS 50-100/1
Bombing sights:
- for pilot, optical: PBP-1
- for level bombing, optical: Goertz 1
- for dive bombing, optical: OPB-1 or AGA-Baltic (Fin)

Defensive armament
- nose (Pe-2): 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS + 1 - 12.7 mm Berezina UBT
- nose (Pe-3): 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS + 2 - 12.7 mm Berezina UBT + 1 - 20 mm ShVAK cannon
- cockpit rear: 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS (Pe-2) or 12.7 mm Berezina UBT (Pe-3)
- fuselage bottom rearwards (Pe-2 only): 12.7 mm Berezina UBT

Codes
- Pe-2: PE-211...217 (Total number: 7 pcs)
- Pe-3: PE-301 (Total number: 1 piece)

Remarks
-

Sources: KESTE9, RAUJU4, HAAAT1
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Tupolev SB-2 , SB-2bis and USB

The first eight Tupolev SBs were war booty from 1940 and the next 16 were bought from Germany. They arrived in Finland in three batches on 5.11.1941 (6 pcs), on 11.4.1942 (5 pcs) and on 27.8.1942 (5 pcs) and were rebuilt in Finland with revolving MV-2 or MV-3 rear MG turrets (this version with turret was sometimes unofficially called as SB-3). At the beginning of 1942 SB-2, -5 and -7 were too converted into this standard and equipped with MG turret.

SB-6 and -8 were converted in Finland to unarmed USB trainers at the beginning of 1943. On 1.11.1943 SB-8 was also equipped with more powerful Klimov M103 engines.

In Finland planes were used as maritime reconnaissance, anti-shipping/submarine and bombing duties.
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Producer ?, Soviet Union
Country of origin: Soviet Union, Soviet Union / Germany

Crew 3 - pilot, observer / bomber / radio operator / front MG gunner, rear MG gunner

Engines
- SB-2M-100A (SB-2): 2x Klimov M-100A / 750 hp, 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inline V engines
- SB-2M-103 (SB-2bis): 2x Klimov M-103, 103A or 103Y / 960 hp, 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inline V engines
Propellers:
- metallic VISh-2 twin-pitch (adjustable) propellers (Hamilton copy) or
- metallic VISh-22 constant speed propellers

Performance
Maximum speed:
- SB-2M-100A: 350 km/h
- SB-2M-103: 370 km/h
Full weight: 7.800 kg
Max range: 750 km
Maximum ceiling: ? m

Equipment
Radio: RSB-bis
Bomb load: 500 - 750 kg
Bomb racks:
- bomb "tower" (100 kg bombs hang vertically): 6 - RMS 50-100/1
(also for two 200 kg depth charges)
- in both wings: 1 - RMS 250/1 (also for one 200 kg depth charge)
Bombing sight:
- optical: Goertz 1 or OPB-1

Defensive armament
- front: 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS twin MG
- rear turret (or upper rear fuselage): 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS MG
- rear fuselage bottom (in SB-2, -5, -11 and -19 only): 1 - 7.62 mm ShKAS MG

Codes
- SB-2M-100A (also known as SB-2): VP-8 -> (17.9.1941 - 1943) SB-8 * (Total number: 1 piece)
- SB-2M-103, -103A, -103Y (also known as SB-2bis): SB-1, 2, 4...7, 9...24 (Total Number: 22 pcs)
- USB: SB-6 and -8 * were converted in Finland by 25.1.1943 and 1.3.1943 (Total Number: 2 pcs)
Total Number: 24 pcs (SB-8 was converted, planes marked with * are the same)

Remarks
Note: The original Soviet designation was just Tupolev SB NOT SB-2 as usually seen! In This case the designation -2 means the number of engines followed by the type of engines M-nnn.

Registration serial numbers before before 17.9.1941:
- VP-2...7 -> SB-2, -4...7 (VP-3 was destroyed on 2.8.1941)
- VP-10 (first SB captured) -> VP-1 -> SB-1

Sources: KESTE9, RAUJU4
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