Embedded Files
The Finns had a bad time during WW2, suffering particularly harshly at the hands of the Russians. Attacked first during the Winter War of 1939-40 and again, during the Continuation War, which followed Operation:Barbarossa. They were then left between a big rock and a very hard place and ended up aligning themselves with Nazi Germany.
It's well worth noting that, whilst they appreciated arms from the Nazis, they were never allies in the same manner Italy or even Japan was. Finland protected its Jewish population, for example, and even provided sanctuary for those seeking refuge from both Nazi and Soviet pogroms.
Whilst their territory was of valuable strategic importance to both the Nazis and Soviets, both sides failed to realise the importance the Finns had for their country and independence.
Initially provided with aircraft from the UK and France, they acquired aircraft that had proved to be far from satisfactory within their home air forces and so the Finns were given what were, in effect, hand-me-downs. That said, the courage, skill and tenacity of the Finns ensured that their fights were never one-sided, (unless it was to the Finns' advantage) and they proved to be a real force to be reckoned with.
Post-War, Finland remained strongly neutral, in spite of intense pressures at times from the Soviet Union. Following the Paris Peace talks of 1947, Finland had restrictions placed upon it, including;
No more than 60 combat aircraft
No aircraft with internal bomb bays
No guided missiles or atomic weapons
No weaponry of German construction or using German parts
A maximum strength of 3,000 persons
No offensive weapons
These conditions were revised in 1963 and some guided missiles were permitted. They also acquired a large number of two-seater aircraft, reportedly for the training role, but these could also perform a wide variety of other necessary roles.
As a consequence of maintaining a balanced neutrality, Finland's Ilmavoimat operated aircraft from the Soviets, as well as from the UK, France, Sweden and home-grown types from the Valmet factory.
Today, whilst not yet a member of NATO, Finland remains Western-orientated and, following recent events in Ukraine, it seems increasingly likely that Finland will join NATO, alongside it's neutral neighbour, Sweden.
Pegasus 1/72 Martinsyde F4 Buzzard, 1927, this aircraft was used in the training role.
Special Hobby (ex-Azur-Frrom) 1/72 Potez 25A2, of the Ilmavoimat, 1928
Heller 1/72 Gloster Gladiator J8A, of the Ilmavoimat, based in Northern Finland, January-February, 1940
Ark (ex-FROG) 1/72 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, BL-117, 1st Flight, 44th Squadron, Pilot: Ltn. V Salminen, February, 1940.
Airfix 1/72 Gloster J-8A, Flygflottilj 19 (Swedish Voluntary Air Force), Finnish Air Force, Kemi, Northern Finland, 1940
Heller 1/72 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, Flygflottilj 19, Finland, 1940
SBS Models 1/72 Fiat G.50 Freccia, Lentolaivue 26, Ilmavoimat, based at Joroinen in the summer of 1940.
AZ Models 1/144 Fokker VII, Finnish Air Force, 1941
Special Hobby 1/72 Fokker DXXI-IV series, 2/LLv 30, flown by Second Lieutenant T. Matilla,1941.
Sweet 1/144 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, LeLv32, Finnish Air Force, Immola, Summer 1941
Airfix 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, LLv 32, Ilmavoimat, based at Suulajarvi during the autumn of 1941.
ARMA Hobby 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, Lt. Ararne Arte, 1/Lentolaivue 10, Ilmavoimat, Utti Airfield, September, 1941
Sabrekits (ex-AZ Models) 1/72 VL Pyry II, Air Force School, Ilmavoimat, Kauhawa, Finland, 1941.
ARMA Hobby 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, flown by 2Lt. Esko Ruotsila of LeLv 32, based at Nurmoila, during the summer of 1942.
Hasegawa (ex-ICM) 1/72 Polikarpov I-153 'Chaika', 3.LeLv 6, Captain Per-Erik Ahonius, Ilmavoimat, July, 1942
NOTE the score of four ships sunk on the fin.
Matchbox 1/72 Brewster Buffalo B-239, Eino Llman Juutilainen, 3 LeLv24, Finnish Air Force, 1942
SBS Model 1/72 Fiat G.50, of Lentolaivue 26, based at Kilpasilta, summer 1942.
AZ Model 1/72 Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II of T-LLv, Utti Heinakuu, Ilmavoimat, 1942
AZ Models 1/72 Morane Saulnier MS.410, flown by W/O A. Tani, Finnish Air Force, Solomanni, 1942
Hasegawa (ex-ICM) 1/72 Polikarpov I-153 'Chaika', 3.LeLv 6, Pilot Officer Olavi Puro, Ilmavoimat, October, 1942.
Airfix 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, 2/Lentolaivue 26, Malmi Airfield, March 1943
Azur 1/72 Morane Saulnier MS.410C-1, kers. U. Jakkolla, 2/LeLv 28, Hirvas Air Base, March 1943
Hobby 2000 (ex-Hasegawa) 1/72 Brewster 239 (Buffalo), of LeLv 24, Ilmavoimat, flown by Hans Henrik 'Hasse' Wind, from Suulajarvi, Finland, April 1943.
Special Hobby 1/72 Fokker DXXI, Finnish Air Force, 1944
AML 1/72 Curtiss Hawk H75A-4, HLeLv 32, Spring, 1944
AZ Models 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, 3/HLetv.24, Pilot Sergeant L. Ahokas, Lappeenranta, Kesakuu, 1944
Airfix (mostly) (Old Tool) 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6/R6, luutnantti Ilmari Juutlainen, 1/HleLv 24, based at Taipalsaari, Finland, June 1944.
Special Hobby 1/72 VL Myrsky II, 2/TLeLv 12, Kauhava base, October 1944.
Encore (ex-Heller) 1/72 Polikarpov I-15 bis, Finnish Air Force, 1945
RS Models 1/72 Morko Morane, HLeLv 21, Kesakuu, Finland 1946
Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, flown by SSgt. Bjore Hielm of 2/HLeLv.31, Suomen Ilmavolmat, 1948
Italeri 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, Hlelv 31, Finnish Air Force, 1949
Special Hobby (ex-AZ Models) 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6, Luutnantti Arvo Karima, HleLv. 31, based at Utti, Finland, June, 1950.
Special Hobby 1/72 De Havilland DH100 Vampire FB52, Fighter Squadron 13 (HavLv 13), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), late 1950s, early 1960s. Based at Pori, later at Tikkakoski.
Heller 1/72 Fieseler Fi.156K Storch, IlmavE (Air Force HQ), Siikakangas, circa 1955
Aeroclub 1/72 Folland Gnat F Mk.1, HavLv 11, Finnish Air Force, 1956
Airfix 1/72 De Havilland Vampire T.55, Luonetjärvi Air Base, Ilmavoimat,1958
Hobby Boss 1/72 Mikoyan MiG-15 UTI. This aircraft was sold to Finland on November 10, 1962. It crashed on November 27 1970 and was written off. During the fall of 1969, it escorted Czechoslovakian President Ludvik Svoboda's Il-18 during his visit to Finland. The lynx silhouette places this aircraft with Havittajalentolavue 31, (Fighter Squadron 31), based at Rissala Air Base, Finland.
Sabrekits (ex-AZ Models) 1/72 VL Pyry II, as flown by Lt. Keijo Elio, of the Ilmavoimat Air Force School, Hamala airfield, on 7th September, 1962. This was the last flight with a Pyry.
Special Hobby 1/72 Valmet (Fouga) CM.170 Magister, Ilmavoimat, Kauhava, December 1968.
Airfix 1/72 De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, EsikLtue, Ilmavoimat, Malmi Air Base/Airport, June 1972
Attack 1/144 Finnish Mikoyan MiG-15UTI Midget
Special Hobby 1/72 Folland Gnat FR.1, FL47, Hamenn Wing, Fighter Squadron 21, based at Luonetjarvi, 1972.
Heller 1/72 SAAB J-35CS Draken, w/Galdecal decals, of HavLLev. 11, Ilmavoimat, Rovaniemi, Finland, Autumn 1977
Airfix /72 Piper Cherokee Arrow II, w/Arctic Decals, KouLLv Training Squadron, Ilmavoimat, Malmi, Finland, May, 1978
Eduard 1/144 Mikoyan MiG-21bis, Izdelye 75A, 31st Fighter Squadron, Kuopio Air Base, Finland, 1980-1981
Matchbox 1/72 Mikoyan MiG-21bis "Fishbed", 31st Fighter Squadron, Kuopio Air Base, Finland, 1980-1981
Heller 1/72 Fouga CM.170 Magister, HavLLv 31, Ilmavoimat, Halli, Finland, 1984
Revell 1/72 BAe Hawk Mk.51, HavLLv 21, Ilmavoimat, Pirkkala, Finland, 1986
Fujimi 1/72 Mikoyan MiG-21bis, HavLLv 31, Ilmavoimat, Kuopio (-Rissala), 1987
Hobby 2000 (ex-Hasegawa) 1/72 SAAB J-35FS Draken, HavLLv 11, Ilmavoimat, Rovaniemi 1988
Italeri 1/72 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, Ilmavoimat, Pirkkala, 1996
Italeri /72 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D, Ilmavoimat, Pirkkala, 1996
Airfix 1/72 BAe Hawk Mk.51, Midnight Hawks Aerobatic Team, Finnish Air Force Academy, Kauhava AB, Finland, 2000
AZ Models 1/72 Hughes 500, Finnish Army Aviation, 2000
Sova-M (ex-AModel) 1/72 Pilatus PC-12 NG, Ilmavoimat, 2017
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