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Re: Finnish-marked British planes?
Hi!
Finland was able to buy from UK (and received during Winter War) two batches of Blenheims (Mk I and Mk IV), Gladiators, Lysanders and Hurricanes. IIRC and AFAIK more Hurricanes and Blenheim were to follow. A batch of Blackburn Rocs were to start towards Finland the day the war was ended, but IIRC they were at Scotland then.
Those planes which were delivered by flying were painted in Finnish markings already in UK. Military insignias were painted over with temporary paint for overflight of Norway and Sweden.
My guess is that the planes in question were part of "normal" deliveries to Finland which eventually were cancelled.
The story goes that in Autumn 1941 when Soviets received Hurricanes in crates at Murmansk Harbour some came with Finnish swastika insignias...
Regards,
Kari
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