Claims against Soviet aircraft by AA-units of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in the Winter War 1939-1940.

[phasselgren]

Hi,

I hope this post is not totally out of topic.

The operations by the Air Wing F19 of Swedish Volunteer Corps the Winter War 1939-1940 are relatively well covered but I find it hard to find information about the AA-units in the group. It included a company with 40 mm Bofors guns and a battery with 75 mm guns. Several sources mention claims of four Soviet fighters plus four bombes destroyed plus around ten unconfirmed claims all by 40 mm Bofors guns.

The commander of the Volunteer Corps Lieutenant General Ernst Linder wrote in 1942 that the AA-Company claimed seven confirmed plus five unconfirmed. To this was added three unconfirmed by a Finnish AA-battery under command of the Swedish Volunteer Corps.

I hope that our Finnish forum-friends can add some more details regarding the claims by these units.

Thanks in advance
Peter

[Kari Lumppio]

Hej!

Here is digitalized war diary of Pohjois-Suomen ryhmä, ilmatorjuntakomentaja (Anti-Aircraft Commander of North Finland Group):
https://astia.narc.fi/uusiastia/kort...id=2401525065#

I have absolutely no idea if F19 AA units reported to this commander. Handwritten Finnish. If you have dates, it is easier to look for data.

Cheers,
Kari

[phasselgren]

Hej Kari,

Thanks for the link. Handwritten Finnish will be a challenge but great to have it available on the net. Not much in Swedish archives on the Volunteer Corps have been digitalized.

Cheers,
Peter

[Kari Lumppio]

Hej!

I went quickly through the war diary I linked. There was no mention of Swedish volunteers. First AA unit was mentioned as late as Jan 18th 1940. War had then lasted 50 days of the eventual 105! Seems the AA commander was fighting with both hands and feet tied behind his back.

Post war (16.3.40) one mention of new subordination of air observation units in"SFr"area (Svenska Frivilliga? KLu) and 56. Rask.It.KK.joukkue (Heavy AA machine gun platoon) 52. Kev.It.Jaos (Light AA section). The latter two may have been also at the "Sfr" area?

No war diary found (digitized at least) for the 56. AA platoon nor 52. AA section, though.

Have you checked Mikael Forslund's book about F19? He usually has researched also svenska Krigsarkivet material.

Cheers,
Kari