Finnish Brewsters

[Kari Lumppio]

Ruy or some other moderator. Would you please remove all the political content from this thread. And this too.

For once an interesting theme where I can add something really new and it turns to politics.

Regards,

Kari

[Jan vd Heuvel]

Hello Kari,

you wrote:

BW-367 had words TRE BRÖDER (three brothers in Swedish) painted on fuselage side after arrival to Finland. Is it visible in the photo? I cannot make it out. BW-367 suffered landing accident 23.3.1940, was sent to VL factory for repairs and back in 24 squadron strength september 1940. Perhaps the title was painted over during the repairs?


I thought the Brewster "Pekka" was the only Brewster with a personal name or somethings like that painted on.

I agree some questions may turn out into political statements, but I was really curious if the Finnish State can be called an Axis State or the Finnish Air Force can be called an Axis Air Force.

Mind that nothing that was stated was putting the Fins in a bad light.
I think we all admire the Fins and their epic struggle against the Russian invader.

I find the Finnish aircraft more interesting than the German aircraft.
The great variaty of aircraft which put a serious strain upon the mechanics to maintain them. And off course as a Dutchman the useof Dutch aircraft.

I will post more photo's of Finnish aircraft on the Dutch board (allowing larger pictures) in the future and post a link here.

Jan

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

I got direct personal comment from a colleague regarding the BW-367. The name TRE BRÖDER did not come until late November 1940 and photos of that period show the rudder in aluminum dope. So in the take-off photo the dark rudder is just effect of shadow.


Kari

[Jukka Juutinen]

Originally Posted by Kari Lumppio

Ruy or some other moderator. Would you please remove all the political content from this thread. And this too.

For once an interesting theme where I can add something really new and it turns to politics.

Regards,

Kari

Isn't the original question basically a political one...

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Then I dare to ask, was Soviet Russian an ally of UK and America in the WWII?

You have forgotten to add about being Hitler's Ally since 23 VIII 1939 up to 21 VI 1941. May you do not know but German and Russian had attacked jontly Poland in 09.1939.

Stalin had handed over to the Gestapo German communist, who had escaped to Soviet Union in 30. Stalin had really good will toward Adolf H + III Reich.

And you probably do not know about mass killing, the same size as German 1939-1941, agains Polish citizens in Russian occupied Polish territorry: Polish Ukrainain, Białorussian, Jews etc.

First it is fundamental to better know "own" Soviet history like Great Pruges 1937-1938 and other crimes, then strong think before writing such idiots asking.


Regards,
mirekw

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

It should be well known today that some Finnish bases were used for some operations as a part of the Operation Barbarossa before that date. If I recall it right, some mining operations started on June 21.

Of course there were landing Ju 88s after mining on Finnish airfileds, but I do not remember, that this bomber had took off to do this from Finnish territory full with bombs or mines. Return landing, after such mission, refueling of course were on Finnish territory.

Second, there were tight German-Finnish inteligence cooperation before 06.1941 too. Finns had handed over DB-3 to Germany for evaluation before 06.1941

Reason of Soviet preemptive attack on Finland had differen reasons, then this small maining Kronstad harbour on 21/22.06. All reasons are cleary given in marschal A.A. Novikov's memories, for example, who had comanded Northern Front aviation then.

In summers 1940-1941 Finlad had only two options, being more or less on German side or being attached to Soviet Union. Stalin had preperad next offeinsive on Finland since last year (1940). Third way did not exist in this political constelation.

Naither Stalin (Baltic's states, Romania), nor Hitler (Belgium, Holland, Greece, Yugoslavia) did not much respect small countries neutrality in 1940-41 period.

So you had to choose, what was better for your state (of being destroyed implementing communist system for the next 50 years or cooperate with nazi Germany)?
No more options.

Regards,
mirekw

[Jukka Juutinen]

Mirek, I did not mention that incident to criticise the decisions of our leaders. I happen to subscribe to Prime Minister Edwin Linkomies's view that bolshevism was a plague that had to be resisted at all costs.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Jukka, I think that most probably without "helping" Soviet air attack Finlad had joined German attack on Soviet Union too, but it was more difficoult politicaly.
It was such time, and time to take revange for March 1940.
And 25.06 was very helpful for such decision for Finnish parlament and goverment - very simple and easy way - crusade WAR against bolshevism etc..
The same case was for Hungary on 26.06, when small air incident/ bomb attack and Hungary had joined war aginst Russia too. Next day Hungary was in war against Russia.
Only secret communist party members had much loved to Stalin, other peoples had not, in Poland too, :-). But it was only one side love. These Polish Communist Party members, who were in Soviet were totaly exterminated in 1937, Soviet had killed about 3.800 Polish communists during Geat Pruges, survived mostly these who were in Polish prisons!

I also belive, that without German preemptive attack, Stalin had attacked Hitler in mid July 1941 or on the begining of August 1941. This also mean, that next target was still independed coutries like Finland and Sweeden. It was matter of time, that Stalin would attacked Finland second time, but he was late.

Regrads,
mirekw