FINNISH AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT |
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Maritime, Short-Range Reconnaissance and
Transport Planes |
FINNISH AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT |
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Maritime, Short-Range Reconnaissance and
Transport Planes |
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. Four
Soviet Beriev MBR-2 flying boats were
captured in the summer 1941 and the fifth in February
1942. Planes were used at first by LLv.15 (Flying
Squadron 15) and since summer 1942 by Le.Lv.6 (Flying
Squadron 6). In October 1942 all remaining VVs
were handed over to FAF Depot because of their
bad condition. Planes were not repaired and they have
been scrabbed. Maritime reconnaissance flying boat Producer ?, Soviet Union Crew 5 - pilot, co-pilot, radio operator, observer / front MG gunner, rear MG turret gunner Engines
(MBR-2-M-17) Mikulin M-17B /
500 hp, 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inline V engine, Performance Equipment Defensive armament 2 - 7.62 mm ShKas or 7.7 mm L-33/36 MG (front and rear) Codes Remarks |
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. One sample plane was bought in 1928 from UK. Licence production of seven VL R.29 Ripon IIF maritime aircraft (series I) started in 1929. The first planes were made between 1930 and 1931 for engine evaluations but finding a well suitable engine was a major trouble. Several different engine models were tested and changed during the 1930's and even as late as during the war. Problems also in licence production plagued the project and work was periodically stopped. Despite of delays the second batch (series II) was although completed in 1932. The last ten RIs (series III) were externally almost similar to Blackburn Baffin and equipped with more powerful and reliable Bristol Pegasus II engine which was also later mounted to many planes of series I to replace unsuitable mixed engine models. During
Winter War RIs served in reconnaissance
role in LLv.16 (Flying Squadron 16) and LLv.36
(Flying Squadron 36) although planes were already
obsolescent, slow and very vulnerable to fast Soviet
fighters. In Continuation War plane was completely
obsolete but due to the lack of better planes RIs
were used in LLv.15 (Flying Squadron 15) and LLv.12
(Flying Squadron 12) between 1941 - 1942 as well as in LLv./Le.Lv./PLe.Lv.6
(Flying/Bomber Squadron 6) between 1941 - 1944. Other
units used planes temporarily mainly in target-towing,
liaison and transport duties. LLv.15 and 6
used RIs equipped with floats. In 1943
planes were already in bad condition and most of them
were taken out of service while a few flew until 1944.
One "hulk" is restored for future repairs. Maritime reconnaissance floatplane / reconnaissance plane Producer
Blackburn
Aeroplane & Motor Co. Ltd., Brough, England and Crew 2 - pilot, observer / radio operator / rear MG gunner Engines
(1939
- 1944) Performance Equipment Defensive
armament Codes Remarks |
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. Finnish Dornier
Do 22Kl planes were originally produced for
Latvia but due to events in the summer 1940 they were
never delivered. FAF bought four new DRs
and they arrived in Finland on 1.10.1941. Planes served
in Le.Lv.6 (Flying Squadron 6) between 1942 -
1944. Planes have been scrabbed after the war. Maritime reconnaissance floatplane / reconnaissance plane Producer
Dornier-Werke
G.m.b.H., Friedrichshafen, Germany Crew 3 - pilot, observer / radio operator, observer / rear MG gunner Engine Hispano -Suiza 12
Yds / 860 hp, 12 cylinder liquid-cooled V engine Performance Equipment Defensive armament 1 - 7.7 mm Browning m.39 MG (fixed front), 2 - 7.7 mm L-33/36 MG (front and rear) Codes DR-195...198 Remarks |
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. Swedish Count Carl von Rosen donated this second-hand Douglas DC-2 transport aircraft which had been converted to bomber to FAF in January 1940. Plane was named as "Hanssin-Jukka". During Winter War plane was in LLv.44 (Flying Squadron 44) since 19.2.1940 and Count von Rosen even personally flew one bombing mission. Since April 1940 plane was in LLv.46 (Flying Squadron 46). In Continuation War DO was used both as transport and passenger aircraft. Between 29.11.1941 - 15.3.1942 plane was in LLv.48 (Flying Squadron 48) for photography duties in East Karelia until it was handed over to Finnish Air Force Staff (Ilmav.E). Plane was damaged in landing at Insterburg, Germany on 20.6.1944 and was repaired by Deutsche Lufthansa during the summer. It came back to Finland at the beginning of August 1944. Finnish
civil air line Aero Oy (nowadays Finnair)
had also two more DC-2s bought from Germany in
1941 but these were not used by FAF during the
war. Transport and passenger aircraft (converted bomber in 1940) Producer
Douglas
Aircraft Company, Santa Monica, California, USA Crew 2 or 3 - pilot, co-pilot (/ observer / radio operator), (rear MG gunner) Engines
2x
Wright Cyclone SGR-1820F-52 / 960 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled
radial engine, Performance Equipment Defensive
armament 1 - 7.62 mm L-33/34 MG (rear) Code DC-1 -> (since 12.3.42) DO-1 Remarks |
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. One sample C.VE reconnaissance bi-plane (actually 1 and 1/2 wings) was bought from Holland in 1927. After very long evaluation period 13 more were bought in 1934. These were of newer model than the first one with streamlined wing supports, wider landing gear and more modern engine with NACA ring. Late in
1939 Sweden donated three CV.Es of the
older type. Their engines were changed during the war and
planes were used together with other C.VEs.
In the summer 1940 two more older Fokker C.VDs
were flown from Norway and interned. Although obsolete
planes they as well were used by LLv./Le.Lv.14 (Flying
Squadron 14) together with C.VEs but not
in any demanding duties. All planes of this type have
been scrabbed after the war. Reconnaissance and liaison aircraft Producer N. V.
Nederlandsche Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker, Amsterdam,
Holland, Crew: 2 - pilot / bomber, observer / radio operator / rear MG gunner Engines Performance Equipment Defensive armament 2 - 7.7 mm Vickers or Browning MG (fixed front) and 1 - 7.62 mm L-33/34 MG (rear) Codes Remarks |
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. In 1936 FAF
ordered four light Fokker C.X dive-bombing
and reconnaissance aircraft from Holland. VL (State
Aircraft Factory) licence-built a total of 35 planes in
Finland between 1938 and 1942. FK was
reliable standard Finnish light reconnaissance aircraft
and served in most reconnaissance squadrons during the
war although was gradually replaced with faster types by
1944. All planes of this type have been scrabbed after
the war. Dive-bomber, reconnaissance and liaison aircraft Producer N. V.
Nederlandsche Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker, Amsterdam,
Holland or Crew 2 - pilot / bomber, observer / radio operator / MG gunner Engine Bristol Pegasus
XXI / 830 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine Performance Equipment Defensive armament 2 - 7.7 mm Browning MG (fixed front), 1 - 7.62 mm L-33/34 MG (rear) Codes
(date
when relieved from factory or arrived in Finland) Remarks |
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Fokker F.VIII (FE-1) twin-engine transport monoplane was financed using a whip-round and donated from Sweden in 1940. Plane arrived in Finland in April 1941 and on 4.8.1941 it was relieved to LLv.46 (Flying Squadron 46) for air supply duties. On 27.9.1941 plane was destroyed in forced landing when fuel feed failure stopped both engines at the same time. Fokker
F.VIIa (FE-2) single-engine transport monoplane
was donated by Danish Red Cross in October 1941.
It was used at first in LLv.16 (Flying Squadron
16) and since 26.11.1941 for transporting and supplying
long-range patrols. Between 14.3. - 30.3.1942 plane was
in LLv.6 (Flying Squadron 6) for the attack
operation to Suursaari Island. FE-2 was
used in Finland until 21.6.1943 when it was handed over
to FAF Aviation Depot due to a weak condition. |
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Swedish
volunteer unit F19 had initially four Hawker Hart (Swedish
designation B4A) light bomber and reconnaissance
aircraft (coded R, X, Y and Z). In January two Harts
collided mid-air and one supplement plane (coded M) was
delivered in February. There were a total of five planes
in Finland during Winter War between 10 January and 13
March 1940. Planes returned to Sweden at the end of March
1940. |
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. The sole Heinkel He 115A-2 maritime aircraft was originally Norwegian. In June 1940 all remaining HEs were ordered to fly to UK but this one had engine problems and it was then flown to Finland instead and interned. In Finland plane was used for secret long-range patrol (guerrilla) operations far behind the enemy lines. HE
served in LLv.15 (Flying Squadron 15) between
1941 - 1942. Since spring 1942 plane belonged to Detachment
Räty / Le.R 4 and since late spring 1943 to Detachment
Malinen / Le.R 4 until it was lost during a secret
mission on 4.7.1943. HE was to call for
a friendly long-range patrol squad but it landed on a
wrong lake and was ambushed by Soviet troops. During the
emergency take-off attempt one of its fuel tanks exploded
and plane crashed down to water. Crew was imprisoned. On
5.7.1943 Finnish Morane (MS) fighters shot the
partly destroyed wreck on fire. Torpedo and maritime reconnaissance floatplane Producer
Ernst
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke A.G., Rostock-Marienehe, Germany Crew 3 - pilot, observer / radio operator, rear MG gunner Engines
2x BMW
132K-1 / 960 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine Performance Equipment Defensive armament 2 - 7.7 mm Browning m.39 MG (front and rear) Code HE-115 Remarks |
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. Two large HL
maritime floatplanes were hired from Germany on 11.8.1943
for maritime rescue duties. They were subordinated to Le.R
5 (Flying Regiment 5) and left Finland four months
later in early winter 1943. Maritime reconnaissance and rescue floatplane Producer
Arado
Flugzeugwerke A.G., Brandenburg, Germany Crew 4 - pilot, observer / front MG gunner, radio operator / MG gunner, rear MG gunner Engines
2x BMW
VI 6.0 ZU / 660 hp, 12-cylinder liquid-cooled V engine Performance Equipment Defensive
armament Codes HL-59, 60 Remarks |
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. Three
originally Norwegian Høver M.F. 11 floatplanes
were flown to Finland on 8.6.1940 and interned. Planes
were overhauled during the winter 1940/41 and given to LLv.15
(Flying Squadron 15) which operated with floatplanes. In
the summer 1942 NKs were given to Le.Lv.6
(Flying Squadron 6) for maritime reconnaissance duties.
In the summer 1944 planes were handed over to Detachment
Jauri as transport planes for the rest of the war. Maritime reconnaissance floatplane Producer
Marinens
Flyvebåtfabrik, Horten, Norway Crew 3 - pilot, observer / radio operator, rear MG gunner Engine
Armstrong
Siddeley Panther IIA / 575 hp, 14-cylinder air-cooled
twin radial engine Performance Equipment Defensive armament 1 - 7.7 mm Vickers MG (rear) Codes NK-171...173 Remarks |
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. In the 1930's Finnish Coast Guard obtained three single-engine 2 + 5 seater Junkers F 13fe aircraft for liaison and transport duties. During the Winter War the remaining two planes coded LK 2 and LK 3 were at Mariehamn, Åland Islands in 3./T-LLv.39 (3rd Flight / Supplement Flying Squadron 39). They carried out maritime reconnaissance missions on the northern Baltic Sea. During Continuation War planes, coded now JU-121 and JU-129, served in transport and ambulance duties in Le.R 4 (Flying Regiment 4). Planes could be equipped with wheels, skiis or floats. Junkers F 13kä of Swedish
volunteer unit F19 was relieved to FAF
in May 1940 and coded as JU-120. At first it was a
liaison aircraft of FAF Staff (Ilmav.E) but was
given to Le.R 4 (Flying Regiment 4) for
ambulance and transport duties. Since summer 1943 plane
was given to FAF Signals School (Ilmav.VK) as a
radio training aircraft. In November 1944 it was handed
over to Detachment Jauri / PLe.Lv.44 (later PLe.Lv.43)
as a transport aircraft. |
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. Junkers W 34fa / K 43fa export versions were bought in 1930 from Germany and Sweden where Junkers produced military versions of its aircraft. They were too slow to recon and bombing missions and after the Winter War they were handed over to transport duties. Five second-hand W 34hi versions were bought from Germany in spring 1944 and they arrived on 18.5.1944. These had been overhauled by Flugzeugwerke Letov in Czechoslovakia. During
Winter War all planes were in LLv.16 (Flying
Squadron 16). During Continuation War the remaining
planes were initially in LLv.15 (Flying Squadron
15) and since spring 1942 in Ambulance Flight / Le.R
4. Planes were subordinated for ambulance and
transport duties when needed. In 1942 a few planes
belonged to Detachment Räty, in spring 1943 to Detachment
Malinen and since in 1944 to Detachment Jauri.
In 1944 a few planes served also in FAF Signals
School for radio and radio-homing training. -
W 34 Liaison, reconnaissance and light
ambulance, passenger and transport aircraft Producer
(W 34) Junkers
Flugzeugwerke A.G., Dessau, Germany and Crew 3...6 - pilot, co-pilot / radio operator, (observer / MG gunner), mechanic, rear MG gunner Engine
Pratt
& Whitney R-1690-B Hornet / 575 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled
radial engine, Performance Equipment Defensive
armament Codes Remarks |
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One twin-engine
Koolhoven F.K.49 maritime reconnaissnce
floatplane was bought from Holland in 1938 by Finnish
Coast Guard [Rannikovartiosto]. After a short
temporary service in Dutch Air Force plane
arrived in Finland in January 1940. During the first
trials in Finland it became obvious that plane (civil
register code OH-MVE) was a disappointment and didn't
meet the demands because of engine troubles. Plane was
not used in Finland and it was removed from inventory in
1943 after flying less than 18 hours! |
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. Two Koolhoven F.K.52 bi-planes were donated by Swedish Count Carl von Rosen in January 1940. These disliked planes were the second and third prototype of the F.K.52 model. During Winter War both planes were given to LLv.36 (Flying Squadron 36) in mid-February 1940. At the beginning of Continuation War both planes were in LLv.6 (Flying Squadron 6). KO-130 was
missed on 16.8.1941 during a propaganda leaflet dropping
mission over the Soviet naval base in Hanko Peninsula. KO-129
was handed over to LLv.16 (Flying Squadron 16)
in September 1941 but it was not used a lot and it was
given to Le.SK (Air Combat School) in September
1942. Plane was destroyed on 23.2.1943 when its skiis
turned up during flight and a pilot had to bail out. Reconnaissance and liaison aircraft Producer
N.V.
Koolhoven Vliegtuigen, Rotterdam, Holland Crew 2 - pilot, observer / radio operator / rear MG gunner Engine
Bristol
Mercury VIII / 840 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial
engine Performance Equipment Defensive
armament: Codes KO-129, 130 Remarks |
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. Twelve Westland
Lysander I STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing)
multi-purpose planes were bought from Great Britain in
1940. Planes arrived in Finland during March and April
1940. LY could fly very slowly but its
other flying characteristics like diving ability were
poorer than Finns had believed and it was not popular. Le.Lv.16
(Flying Squadron 16) was partly equipped with LYs
between 1941 and 1944. In the summer 1944 all remaining
planes were handed over to TLe.Lv.14 (Reconnaisance
Squadron 14). STOL reconnaissance and liaison aircraft Producer
Westland
Aircraft Ltd., Yeovil, UK Crew 2 - pilot, radio operator / observer / rear MG gunner Engine
Bristol
Mercury XII / 890 hp, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine Performance Equipment Bombs Defensive
armament Codes LY-114...125 Remarks |
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| . . Sources: KESTE13, KESTE15, KESTE33, ANTOS3, TERIS1 . . |
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© 2002 - 20.8.2004 Harri Anttonen