Hello!
Thank you for posting these pictures!
One interesting detail is that some (or all then in service vs. stored?) of the FinnAF Brewsters got coloured rudders and tactical numbers already in Summer 1940. When still painted in aluminum dope. I should have copies of couple of Brewster individual flight logs which mention the rudder painting with date.
As you have this album (?) is it possible to identify this Brewster taking of in the snow?
http://www.nederlandseluchtvaart.nl/...rewster-05.jpg
Perhaps a close-up scan with greater resolution?
It looks like it has dark rudder with darkish number making it a 3rd flight machine (Olive green rudder with orange number - orange is dark with some types of film material). There is another photo from 3rd flight markings on aluminum dope Brewster - "3" (IIRC it was BW-363). Photo can be found in the latest edition of the Brewster book by Keskinen et al.
I wonder why photos of these early coloured rudders can be found only of the 3rd and 4th (black numbers on white rudder) flights of 24 squadron? One logical reason might be that these were not painted on the other two flight Brewsters, of course.
Cheers,
Kari
PS Of the axis thing. I've used to see Finnish AF discussion on this section of the forum. Either way is right, depending the time frame: Winter War, Interim Peace, Continuation War, Lapland War. Of these only Continuation War was fought on Axis side.