1939 - 1945

Winter War 1939 - 1940

Aviation Depot

During the Winter War the central depot of Finnish Air Force was called Aviation Depot (Ilmailuvarikko, Ilm.Var.). It was located next to a State Aircraft Factory (VL) at Härmälä near Tampere. Depot Chief was Maj. A. Nystedt.

Aviation Depot was organized as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö / Depot Chief

Esikunta (Ilm.Var.E) (HQ) Tampere, ?.12.39- Pirkkala
..... Komentotoimisto (Kom.tsto) (Command Office)
..... Taloustoimisto (Tal.tsto) (Household Office)
..... Teknillinen osasto (Tekn.os.) (Technical Department)
..... ..... Tilaustoimisto (Til.tsto) (Ordering Office)
..... ..... Varastotoimisto (Var.tsto) (Depot Office)
..... Tarkastustoimisto (Tark.tsto) (Inspection Office)

Varikkokomppania (Var.K) (Depot Company) Full strength 107 men.
..... Taisteluvälineryhmä (Tst.Väl.R) (Ordnance Squad)
..... Varastojoukkue (Var.J) (Depot Platoon)
..... Kuljetusjoukkue (Kulj.J) (Transport Platoon)
..... Toimitusjoukkue (Toim.J) (Delivery Platoon)

Vartiokomppania (VartioK) (Guard Company) 2Lt. K. Ellonen

Sää- ja radioasema (Weather and Radio Station)

Koelentue (KoeLtue) (Test Flight)

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Full strength was 55 officers and military officials, 105 NCO's and enlisted mechanics (military sub-officials) and 102 men = 262 men but like in most Finnish depots its actual strength was smaller: on 29.11.1939 35 + 61 + 106 = 202 men and on 13.3.1940 34 + 87 + 105 = 226 men.
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Aviation Field Depots

Four Aviation Field Depots (Ilmailukenttävarikko, Ilm.KV) (Ilm.KV 1...4) worked with flying regiments or squadrons. Fifth one (Ilm.KV 5) was formed later on 1.2.1940 for training technical personnel. Aviation field depots are handled on page Finnish Air Force in Winter War 1939 - 1940.
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Continuation and Lapland War 1941 - 1945

Aviation Depot / Aviation Depot 1

On 1.3.1941 the re-named Aviation Depot (Lentovarikko, Le.V) was still at Härmälä near Tampere during the Continuation War. Depot worked with the State Aircraft Factory (VL, later 1/VL). Depot Chief was initially Maj./Lt.Col.(41) A. Nystedt and between 1.2.1942 - 6.12.1944 Lt.Col. E. Stenbäck. Deputy Depot Chief between 1941 - 1944 was Capt.(M.Sc.Eng.) E. Östring.

Since 15.2.1944 depot was re-named as Aviation Depot 1 (Le.V 1) and at the same time its former depot detachment at Halli became Aviation Depot 2 (Le.V 2) which worked as earlier with the new facilities of State Aircraft Factory (2/VL) and Karhumäki Brothers' aircraft factory at Halli (Luonetjärvi) as well. Also the depot detachment at Kokkola became independent Aircraft Engine Depot (Le.Moot.V). It worked with State Aircraft Factory's aircraft engine department "Kokkola Aircraft Engine Works" (3/VL) which repaired and overhauled engines since January 1943.

Aviation Depot was organized as follows:

Lentovarikon päällikkö / Chief of Aviation Depot
..... Apulaispäällikkö / Deputy Chief of Aviation Depot

Lentovarikon esikunta (Le.VE) (HQ of Aviation Depot)
..... Komentotoimisto (Kom.tsto) (Command Office)
..... Teknillinen osasto (Tekn.os.) (Technical Department)
..... ..... Lentokonetoimisto (Aircraft Office)
..... ..... Moottoritoimisto (Engine Office)
..... ..... Varustetoimisto (Equipment Office)
..... ..... Kuljetustoimisto (Transport Office)
..... Taloustoimisto (Tal.tsto) (Household Office)

Lentovarikon vartiokomppania (VartioK/Le.V) Tampere
(Aviation Depot Guard Company)

133. Ilmatorjuntakonekiväärijoukkue (133.It.KKJ)
(133rd Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Platoon)
Subordinated from Flying Regiment 3 until the end of 1942.

Varikko-osasto Kokkola (Ko/Le.V) (Depot Detachment Kokkola) Kokkola
Re-named on 15.2.1944 as:
Lentomoottorivarikko (Le.Mt.V) (Aircraft Engine Depot)

Varikko-osasto Halli (Ha/Le.V) (Depot Detachment Halli) Halli (Kuorevesi)
Re-named on 15.2.1944 as:
Lentovarikko 2 (Le.V 2) (Aviation Depot 2)
Capt./Maj.(42) A. Haatanen
Strength (7.1941): 11 + 35 + 75 = 121 men

Varikko-osasto K-koski (K-koski/Le.V) Korkeakoski (Siikakangas)
(Depot Detachment K-koski)
Formed in 1943. Worked later for Aviation Depot 2.

Ilmavoimien romuvarasto (Ilm.RVar.) (Air Force Junk Store) Parola
During the war became:
Ilmavoimien lentokonevarasto (Ilm.Lk.Var.) (Air Force Aircraft Store)
Formed in 1940 for storing aircraft junk and aircraft .
Store was attached to Aviation Depot on 18.9.1941.

Varikko-osasto Parola (Parola/Le.V) Parola
(Depot Detachment Parola)

Koelentolaivue (KoeLLv., since 3.5.1942 KoeLe.Lv.) (Test Squadron) Tampere
Formed on 19.6.1941. All test flights were forbidden between 19.9.1944 - 8.1945
..... 1. Lentue (1st Flight)
..... 2. Lentue (2nd Flight) Halli

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2nd Flight / Test Squadron was formed at Halli to operate with the Depot Detachment Halli. Flight co-operated with the depot, a new State Aircraft Factory facilities and Karhumäki Brothers' aircraft factory (repair shop). In winter 1944 flight was subordinated administratively and supply-wise to the re-named Aviation Depot 2.

Weather Detection or Weather Service Stations were formed late in 1942 for Härmälä (Tampere) and Halli (Kuorevesi) airfields.
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Air Defence Weapons Depot / Air Force Weapons Depot

Aviation Weapons Depot (Lentoasevarikko, Le.AV) was formed at Orivesi (north from Tampere) in spring 1940 for storing and supplying FAF ammunition, bombs and bombing equipment as well as storing and repairing of aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons. Depot consisted of former weapons repair shop of Aviation Depot (temporarily Ordnance Squad) and separate FAF ammunition stores at Lieto, Parola, Kangasala and Härmä. Depot Chief was Capt./Maj.(?) J. Vatanen.

At the beginning of the Continuation War depot name was enhanced to Air Defence Weapons Depot (Ilmapuolustuksen asevarikko, Ilm.AV) and in the summer 1942 to Air Force Weapons Depot (Ilmavoimien asevarikko, Ilm.AV).

Between 1941 - 1942 depot was organized as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö (Depot Chief)

Komentotoimisto (Command Office)
Taloustoimisto (Household Office)

lentokoneasevarasto-osasto / aircraft weapons store detachment *

ilmatorjunta-asevarasto-osasto / anti-aircraft weapons store detachment *

Asekorjaamo (Weapons Repair Shop)

Ammuslataamo (Ammunition Loading )

* Unit name not confirmed.

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In late 1942 a new Anti-Aircraft Weapons Depot (Ilmatorjunta-asevarikko, It.AV) was detached form Air Force Weapons depot.
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Flight Equipment Depot

Flight Equipment Depot (Lentovarustevarikko, Le.VV) was formed during spring and summer 1940 at Vatiala (Kangasala) near Tampere for storing, repairing and delivering FAF signals, photography and airfield lighting equipment. Depot was formed from the Photography and Signals Equipment Stores of Aviation Depot. Depot Chief was initially Capt. A. Tervasmaa and since 1941 Maj. N. Ilkka.

In spring 1942 signals devices were moved under a new Air Force Signals Device Depot but the tasks of obtaining, storing, repairing and delivering of parachutes, mechanic technical maintenance equipment, fabrics and textiles, fire extinguishing equipment and aerial navigation equipment were given to the depot. Since spring 1944 also aircraft batteries were under its responsibility. Depot had development duties as well.

Flight Equipment Depot was organized as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö (Depot Chief)
..... Toimisto (Office)

Työpaja (Workshop)
..... Viilaamo (Filing Workshop)
..... Peltisepänosasto (Smithys Department)
..... Hienomekaaninen osasto (Precision Mechanical Department)
..... Paja ja valimo (Workshop and Foundry)
..... Puutyöosasto (Wood Works Department)
..... Laskuvarjo- ja peiteneulomo (Parachute and Cover Sewing Shop)

varastointielin / storing unit *

* Unit name not confirmed.

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Air Force Signals Device Depot / Air Force Signals School

Air Force Signals Device Depot (Ilmavoimien viestivarikko, Ilm.VV) was formed on 1.12.1941 at Naarajärvi in Pieksämäki. It was organized as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö (Depot Chief)

Esikunta (Ilm.VVE) (HQ)

Viestikomppania (VK/Ilm.VV) (Signals Company)

varikko-osastot / depot detachments *

* Unit names not confirmed.

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Training duties of FAF signals personnel became more and more important during the war and depot was re-organized and re-named as Air Force Signals School (Ilmavoimien viestikoulu, Ilm.VK) on 2.11.1942. Additionally unit was moved to Hämeenlinna in turn 1942/43.

Air Force Signals School was organized as follows:

Koulunjohtaja / School Leader

Esikunta (Ilm.VK) (HQ)

Viestipataljoona (Ilm.VP) (Signals Battalion)

Viestikurssit (Signals Courses)

Viestivarikko (Ilm.VV) (Signals Depot)

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Peace-time organization was ordered on 17.11.1944 and unit was re-named as Air Force Signals Battalion. Signals Depot continued as part of it but was suspended in December 1944 after Allied Supervision Commision gave a directive that both Finnish Air Force and Navy can have only one depot.
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Field Flight Depots

During the Continuation War earlier aviation field depots were called as Field Flight Depot (Kenttälentovarikko, KLe.V). All four of them belonged for a short while to flying regiments of the same number but already in the summer 1941 KLe.V 1, 2 and 3 were subordinated to General Staff Department of Air Defence Staff. KLe.V 4 remained under the command of Flying Regiment 4 (LentoR 4) until the end of 1941.

Since 1.1.1942 all field flight depots were subordinated to the Chief of War Equipment Department of Air Defence Staff (since July 1942 Air Force Staff) led by Col. Y. Opas and since 1943 by Lt.Col. K. Janarmo.

Field flight depots were as follows:

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Organization 22.6.1941 - 31.12.1943

Initially Field Flight Depot was organized as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö (Depot Chief)
..... Insinööri (Mechanical Engineer)
..... Toimisto (Office) 4(+2) officers + 1 NCO + 0 men + 0 women = 7 persons

Ilmataisteluvälineryhmä (Air Combat Ordnance Squad) 1 + 5 + 4 + 0 = 10
..... Asekorjaamo (Weapons Repair Shop)
..... Varastot (Stores)

Erikoisvälineryhmä (Special Means Squad) 2 + 7 + 2 + 0 = 11

Konetekninen joukkue (Mechanic Technical Platoon) 1 + 23 + 25 + 0 = 49
..... Teknisen varaston ja polttoainevaraston hoitajat 0+3+4+0 = 7
..... (Keepers of Technical and Fuel Stores )
..... Lentokonekorjaamo (Aircraft Repair Shop) 1+17+17+0 = 35
..... Autokorjaamo (Vehicle Repair Shop) 0+3+4+0 = 7

Toimituskomppania (Toim.K) (Delivery Company) 1 + 17 + 58 + 6 = 82
(Not in KLe.V 4.)
..... Komentoryhmä (Command Squad) 0+4+4+2 = 10
..... Vartiojoukkue (Guard Platoon) 0+3+24+0 = 27
..... Kuljetusjoukkue (Transport Platoon) 0+6+29+0 = 35
..... Toimitusryhmä (Delivery Squad) 0+4+1+4 = 9

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Full strength was 11 officers or military officials + 53 NCOs or military sub-officials + 89 men + 6 women = 159 persons. KLe.V 4 had a slightly different organization and it was much smaller. In June 1942 the strength of KLe.V 1 was 110 persons, KLe.V 2 161 persons, KLe.V 3 140 persons and KLe.V 4 much less than 100 persons.
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Organization since 1.1.1944

At the beginning of 1944 organization was enhanced to meet the needs better but Field Flight Depot 4 although retained its old slightly different organization. New organization for KLe.V 1, 2 and 3 was as follows:

Varikonpäällikkö (Depot Chief)

Komentotoimisto (Kom.tsto) (Command Office)
1 officer + 1 NCO + 0 men + 0 women = 2 persons

Tekninen toimisto (Tekn.tsto) (Technical Office) 7+ 57 + 40 + 6 = 110
..... Lentokonekorjaamo (Aircraft Repair Shop) 1+17+26+5 = 49
..... Koneenhuolto-osasto (Engine Overhaul Department) 2+32+2+0 = 36
..... Moottoriajoneuvokorjaamo (Motor Vehicle Repair Shop) 0+4+10+0 = 14
..... Lentokonetarkastamo (Aircraft Inspection) 1+4+2+1 = 8

Huoltotoimisto (Huoltotsto) (Supply Office) 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 3

Varikkokomppania (Var.K) (Depot Company) 3 + 17 + 55 + 9 = 84
..... Kuljetusjoukkue (Kulj.J) (Transport Platoon) 1+2+10+0 = 13
..... Vartiojoukkue (VartioJ) (Guard Platoon) 1+4+36+0 = 41
..... Huoltojoukkue (HuoltoJ) (Supply Platoon) 0+11+9+9 = 29
..... ..... Ilmataisteluvälineryhmä (Air Combat Ordnance Squad) 0+4+1+0 = 5
..... ..... ..... Asekorjaamo (Weapons Repair Shop)
..... ..... ..... Varastot (Stores)
..... ..... Tekninen varasto (Technical Store) 0+2+2+1 = 5
..... ..... Huoltoryhmä (Supply Squad) 0+3+6+6 = 15

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Full strength was 13 officers or military officials + 76 NCOs or military sub-officials + 96 men + 15 women = 200 persons.
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Sources: LEVAH, TALHI, JATHI