Fetching the Hurricanes - new aviation history articles from Finnish Virtual Pilots Association
Fetching the Hurricanes
When Winter War started, with Soviet Union's attack against the tiny Finland, Finnish government started seeking for equipment and aircraft from any plane and country that would sell.
"Calle: Let's review the general situation at first. Finland was a poor country, so we couldn't buy proper flight equipment before the World War II. Only when the war began, people got busy. All embassies around the world were instructed to acquire planes, cheaply of course. Nobody was really willing to sell planes at that time, when they weren't sure if they'd themselves have use for them. But we had good enough trade relationships with England, we sold them wood, butter and things like that. They gave us ten Gloster Gladiator II planes as present, and we bought twenty more. We needed better equipment too, so on Feb 2th, '40, they agreed that we could buy 12 of their Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighters. The Trade Agreement #1555/40 was dated retroactively to February 17th, though the planes were handed over to the Air Force on Feb 21 and Feb 26. The planes were numbered HU-451 to 462."
Britain agreed to sell 12 Hawker Hurricane fighters. 12 Finnish pilots was sent to Britain for training.
In this unique document four Finnish Hurricane pilots ponder the backgrounds for Finland's Hurricane purchase and especially the mission to train 12 young pilots to Hurricanes - and ferry them to Finland in early 1940. The HC pilots think back their training, the people and the transfer flight to Finland.
"A: Pinkham's officers were waiting for us at the station near St.Athan. They took us by lorries straight to the air base commander. He was Air Commodore Rt.Hon.J.D.Boyle. He gave a magnificently beautiful speech to the "heroic Finns." Even Paavo "Jesus" Myllylä nudged my sleeve and said, "Isi, we're tough guys.""
"A: It was fun time, when we flew. There were no flying of flag, giving signs or shouts of any kind. When we left from the hangars, we started from two sides of the field, gathered downwind and took off in order. Same thing with landings, so it went fine. There were British students too. Once Jussi was on the field with Pinkham, when a HC came with the propellor set on steep angle, gear and flaps up, and landed on the field. The plane ended up near the hangar wall. "Let's go and see first," said Jussi. It was a Canadian who emerged from the plane. Jussi patted Pinkham on the shoulder and said, "your boy!""
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In another new article, "Torsten Sannamo and the POW", the Blenheim gunner Torsten Sannamo thinks back about a strange encounter during the war.
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The article "Remembering Kullervo Lahtela" tells about the less known great Finnish pilot, Kullervo Lahtela, who was a successful trainer and he prepared for war a number of young, enthusiastic, and above all highly qualified combat pilots, who performed with excellence in aerial battle. During the war years he served in LeLv 32, 34, HLeLv 30 and finally as the squadron commander of HLeLv 32.
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You can read these articles from the Finnish Virtual Pilots Association aviation history site:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/Feedback / comments appreciated.
