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Home , Bristol Blenheim, Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet, Junkers F 13

Finnish Air Force

World War II 1939–45

Aircraft of the

Fokker D.XXI

The D.XXI was a Dutch single-seat fighter. received seven aircraft in 1937 and at the same time purchased a manufacturing license. At the outbreak of the Winter War, the "Old Man Mokker" was on the verge of obsolescence, yet it was the mainstay of Finland's fighter fleet. The subsequent version equipped with a Twin Wasp Junior engine had even poorer performance. In terms of numbers, the Fokker D.XXI was an important aircraft, yet it suffered from mediocre performance and inadequate armament by the beginning of the . The had 97 in 1937–48.

The Fokker D.XXI with the Mercury engine had a wing span of 11 m, length 8.2 m, operating weight 1,970 kg, and maximum speed 418 km/h.

044 Fokker C.V E and D

The Fokker C.V was a Dutch two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. One D-model aircraft was acquired in 1927 for evaluation purposes, to be followed by 13 examples of the C.V E in 1935. The aircraft were used primarily for night reconnaissance and harassment bombing in the Winter War. In addition to three E-model aircraft donated by , two C.V. Ds were flown in from Norway by airmen escaping German occupation. The type had become obsolete by the outbreak of the war, but the last examples were not struck off charge until 1945. The Finnish Air Force had 19 Fokker C.Vs in 1927–45.

The Fokker C.V D's wing span was 12.5 m, length 9.3 m, operating weight 2,480 kg, and maximum speed 265 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Bristol Bulldog IVA and IIA

The Bulldog IVA and IIA were single-seat fighters of British origin. Finland placed an order for 17 Bulldog IVAs in 1934. The Bulldog was the first aircraft to exceed 300 km/h in level flight in Finland. However, it rapidly became obsolescent as a combat aircraft and was obsolete by the time the Winter War began. During the truce, the remaining Bulldogs were relegated to training role. Sweden donated two Bulldog IIAs to Finland during the Winter War. These aircraft had negligible effect on training effort due to damages they sustained in service. Nineteen Bulldogs were in use with the Finnish Air Force in 1935–44.

The Bulldog IVA had a wing span of 10.26 m, length 7.72 m, operating weight 1,860 kg, and maximum speed 360 km/h.

Fokker C.X

The Fokker C.X was a Dutch two-seat reconnaissance aircraft and dive . Finland ordered four aircraft and purchased a manufacturing license in 1936. The C.X was the most important short-range reconnaissance aircraft of the Finnish Air Force at the outbreak of the Winter War. During the war, Fokkers flew nearly 600 combat sorties and dropped 60 tons of bombs. In the early stages of the war, the "Frans-Kalle", slow but possessing a robust , was a useful asset. As the hostilities continued, losses began to mount. Only five aircraft remained in use at the end of the war. The Finnish Air Force had 39 Fokker C.Xs in 1936–58.

The Fokker C.X had a wing span of 12 m, length 9.01 m, operating weight 2,700 kg, and maximum speed 356 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Bristol Blenheim Mk. I and IV

The Mk. I and IV were three-seat twin-engine . At the outset of the Winter War the Blenheim was a forefront aircraft even in the world-wide scale but it quickly became obsolete after 1941. It was the first aircraft to exceed 400 km/h in level flight in Finland. Its bomb load was small, sight system simple, and defensive armament inadequate. However, measured in numbers, the "Tin Henry" turned out to be our vital bomber. 97 Blenheims were in use in 1937–1958.

The Blenheim Mk. I's wing span was 17.17 m, length 12.12 m, operating weight 6,960 kg, and maximum speed 435 km/h.

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann

The Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann was a German two-seat trainer and aircraft. The only one of its kind was requisitioned on 14 October 1939. It was operated only for eight hours in Tampere and after complete overhaul, it was returned to its owner in July 1940. As a sole aircraft of its type, it was not taken into service although it was considered the world's best trainer and aerobatics aircraft at that time.

The Jungmann had a wing span of 7.40 m, length 6.62 m, operating weight 670 kg, and maximum speed 180 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

De Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide

The de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide was a British twin-engine with capacity for 6 to 8 passengers and a pilot. The Finnish Dragon Rapides were operated for training purposes during fortification exercises along the south-eastern border in the fall of 1939. They were not requisitioned during the Continuation War but according to an agreement, they were available for operations by the military. In November 1941, one of the aircraft, "Lappi", was subjected to a cruel treatment by a Bf 109 pilot. There were two aircraft in the Air Force in 1939–40 but they were flown little.

The Dragon Rapide had a wing span of 14.63 m, length 10.52 m, operating weight 2,520 kg, and maximum speed 250 km/h.

Klemm L 25 D VII R

The Klemm L 25 D VII R was a German two-seat sports airplane that, in these days, would be called a general aviation aircraft. In the fall of 1939, the Finnish Air Force requisitioned two Klemms. Anyway, they were not used much in training and, after all, the benefit from them was not proportional to their costs. One of them had to be sent for overhaul right after acceptance flights and the other one was wrecked after having flown one hundred hours. They were in use in 1939–41.

The Klemm had a wing span of 13 m, length 7.50 m, operating weight 720 kg, and maximum speed 160 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Piper (Taylor) J-2 Cub

The Piper (Taylor) J-2 Cub was a two-seat sports airplane of U.S. origin. The Taylor Aircraft Company passed into the ownership of Piper in 1936, due to which there is some confusion about the aircraft's name. Two Cubs were requisitioned in October 1939. However, they were used in training only for a short time and, consequently, as trainers they were considered less important. The Cub served until 1940.

The Cub had a wing span of 10.70 m, length 6.80 m, operating weight 453 kg, and maximum speed 135 km/h.

Taylorcraft BC-12D

The Taylorcraft BC-12D was an American two-seat general aviation aircraft. Two aircraft were requisitioned on 14 October 1939. When considering all the aircraft requisitioned in the fall of 1939, the Taylorcrafts seemed to be most useful because both aircraft flew well over one hundred hours during their operation ending up in 1940. Other requisitioned aircraft fell short of this achievement by a considerable margin.

The Taylorcraft had a wing span of 11 m, length 6.70 m, operating weight 520 kg, and maximum speed 155 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Waco YKS-7 and ZQC-6

The Waco YKS-7 and ZQC- 6 were four-seat touring aircraft of U.S. origin. The type designation is quite difficult implying the engine type, equipment and model. The Waco YKS-7 was requisitioned by the Air Force in the fall 1939, and the Waco ZQC-6, donated by Sweden, was operated by the F19 Volunteer Squadron in Northern Finland during the Winter War. The latter one was later transferred to the . These aircraft were in service until 1940.

The Waco YKS-7 had a wing span of 10.65 m, length 7.70 m, operating weight 1,475 kg, and maximum speed 230 km/h.

Fairchild 24J 60 De Luxe

The Fairchild 24J 60 De Luxe was an American four- seat touring and liaison aircraft. It was requisitioned in fall 1930 and bought by the Air Force one year later. The aircraft was destroyed after the wings separated in flight in 1941 so it could not prove its usefulness as a liaison aircraft as it could have done in other circumstances. The military also had in its inventory another Fairchild, that was obtained through a compulsory sale in 1959. It was not flown by the Air Force.

The Fairchild had a wing span of 11.08 m, length 7.24 m, operating weight 1,160 kg, and maximum speed 210 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Junkers F 13

The F 13 was a six- seat German airliner. It served as a liaison aircraft of the Swedish F19 Volunteer Squadron in the Winter War and, later, it remained in Finland. It had an enclosed cockpit and a . In spite of its advanced age it soldiered on with success for a long time in various tasks until 1947. The Air Force had, in all, three aircraft because it requisitioned two time-expired examples for 1939-1940 from the Coast Guard.

The Junkers F 13 land plane with the Junkers L-5 engine had a wing span of 17.76 m, length 10.5 m, operating weight 1,925 kg, and maximum speed 205 km/h.

Cessna C-37

The Cessna C-37 was a four- seat touring aircraft of U.S. origin. The military requisitioned one C-37 in the fall of 1939. The Air Force bought the aircraft the following year and used it mainly in the liaison role. After the operating hours of the engine expired, the engine was struck off charge, and, consequently, all the flights were done by the beginning of 1942.

The Cessna had a wing span of 10.4 m, length 7.5 m, operating weight 1,065 kg, and maximum speed 261 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Fiat G.50 Freccia

The Fiat G.50 Freccia was an Italian single-seat fighter. An order for the aircraft was placed right on the eve of the Winter War and the aircraft did not manage to show its efficiency due to the Germans hampering deliveries, among other reasons. In the early stage of the Continuation War, the G.50 still proved to be a modern and important fighter although it was logistically challenging and difficult to maintain. The Fiat had excellent flight characteristics but its armament was light for a fighter. At the beginning of 1944, the "Fiius" were put into training use. 35 examples were in use with the Finnish Air Force in 1939–46.

The Fiat had a wing span of 10.99 m, length 7.8 m, operating weight 2,350 kg, and maximum speed 480 km/h.

Jaktfalken II

The Jaktfalken II was a Swedish single-seat fighter. Sweden donated eight obsolescent aircraft for training purposes in December 1939, and three of them were Jaktfalkens. The rather decrepit aircraft were immediately assigned as training aircraft to operational training squadrons and subsequently to the Air Warfare School. The Air Force had three Jaktfalkens in 1940–45.

The Jaktfalken had a wing span of 8.8 m, length 7.5 m, operating weight 1,375 kg, and maximum speed 300 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Hawker Hart

The was a British two-seat . It was manufactured under license in Sweden under as the B 4A. The aircraft were operated by the Swedish F19 Volunteer Squadron for defensive operations in Northern Finland during the Winter War. The contribution of the F19 and its Harts and Gladiators in Northern Finland was significant; without Swedish support there would have been no air defense at all. Five aircraft were in use with the F19 in 1940.

The Hart had a wing span of 11.35 m, length 8.56 m, operating weight 2,300 kg, and maximum speed 260 km/h.

Gloster Gladiator II

The II was a British single-seat fighter. After the outbreak of the Winter War 30 examples were purchased from England, and, in addition, the Swedish F19 Volunteer Squadron with 12 Gladiators joined defensive operations in Northern Finland. The "Gelli" was an agile fighter with good flight characteristics but in combat it proved to be out-of- date and vulnerable. The importance, performance, and type of missions flown with the Gladiator are perhaps best illustrated by the fact that only two aircraft remained in service at the end of the Continuation War. The Air Force had 30 Gladiators in 1940–45. The F19 Squadron operated 12 examples during the Winter War in 1940.

The Gladiator had a wing span of 9.83 m, length 8.36 m, operating weight 2,206 kg, and maximum speed 395 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Koolhoven F.K.52

The Koolhoven F.K.52 was a Dutch two-seat reconnaissance and general-purpose aircraft. Finland received two examples as donation in 1940. Even though pilots did not fancy the Koolhovens due to their poor flight characteristics, they flew a number of combat sorties. One aircraft went missing in August 1941 while the other was lost in February 1943. These Koolhovens, like their predecessors from the same stable, had only a marginal effect on the national defense effort.

The Koolhoven F.K.52 had a wing span of 9.8 m, length 8.3 m, operating weight 2,500 kg, and maximum speed 380 km/h.

Douglas DC-2

The Douglas DC-2 was a two- seat airliner and transport aircraft of U.S. manufacture. It accommodated three crew and 14 passengers. One DC-2 was donated to Finland during the Winter War; it was first modified as a bomber, but was soon reconfigured for transport role. The aircraft was put into intensive operational use and it provided extremely useful service. The first DC-2, baptized "Hanssin-Jukka", was the Air Force's only real – and best-known – transport aircraft until two additional aircraft were purchased in 1949. The Air Force operated three DC-2s in 1940–56.

The DC-2 had a wing span of 25.9 m, length 18.9 m, operating weight 8,425 kg, and maximum speed 340 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe

The Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe as a German two-seat trainer. The flight characteristics of the RK-26 were generally unsatisfactory and the aircraft suffered a large number of accidents with operators. The owner of the sole RK-26 in Finland reported with his aircraft to the Swedish F19 Volunteer Squadron in February 1940. The aircraft was subsequently painted with Finnish swastikas. It was little flown in Finland due to lack of spares and the poor condition of the engine.

The RK-26 had a wing span of 8.40 m, length 6.55 m, operating weight 1,100 kg, and maximum speed 190 km/h.

Gloster Gauntlet II

The II was a British single-seat fighter. After the outbreak of the Winter War, the Union of sympathized with Finland by donating 29 examples of this obsolete fighter. Not all of the aircraft were brought to an airworthy condition. The "Gotlets" were in intensive training use throughout the Continuation War. Ten aircraft were written off, and practically every airframe was involved in a mishap of varied degree. Due to the large number and usefulness of aircraft, the Gauntlet turned out an important advanced trainer. The Air Force operated 24 aircraft in 1940–45.

The Gauntlet had a wing span of 9.99 m, length 8.00 m, operating weight 1,800 kg, and maximum speed 370 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Beechcraft B17L and D17S

The Beechraft B17L and D17S were four-seat touring and liaison aircraft of US manufacture. One B17L was received from during the Winter War in 1940; it was used as the communication hack of the Air Force Headquarters until it was damaged in January 1945. The D17S was bought from the Karhumäki Company in 1951. This aircraft, called "whip", logged around 700 hours with the Air Force before its retirement in 1960.

The B17L had a wing span of 9.76 m, length 7.70 m, operating weight 1,430 kg, and maximum speed 280 km/h.

De Havilland D.H.86B

The De Havilland D.H.86B was a four-engine British airliner. It was ferried to Finland in February 1940 – this became possible thanks to the assiduousness of the Consul- General Henry McGrady Bell, who arranged a series of occasions and lectures in order to collect money for the purchase of a medical transport aircraft for the Finnish Red Cross. The aircraft, which could be configured for twelve litters, was destroyed during take-off on a ferry flight to the Air Force at the Malmi Airport in in May 1940. The aircraft, baptized "Silver Star", was the first four-engine aircraft in Finland.

The D.H.86 had a wing span of 19.66 m, length 14.07 m, operating weight 4,654 kg, and maximum speed 268 km/h.

Finnish Air Force

Caudron-Renault C.R.714

The Caudron-Renault C.R.714 was a French single-seat fighter. The French government decided to donate 80 aircraft of the type to Finland during the Winter War. However, only six reached Finland in May 1940. Despite their theoretically good performance, the aircraft proved useless in service. These midget fighters were grounded in September and subsequently struck off charge, only a year from their arrival. The Air Force used six examples of the type in 1940.

The Caudron-Renault had a wing span of 8.97 m, length 8.63 m, operating weight 1,750 kg, and maximum speed 488 km/h.

Fokker F.VIII

The Fokker F.VIII was a Dutch twin-engine airliner capable of carrying ten passengers in addition to three crew. One example of this large aircraft was purchased with moneys obtained in Sweden with a national fund-raising collection. Upon its receipt by the Finnish Air Force, the decrepit aircraft was sent to an overhaul, only to be written off after only a dozen transport missions in September 1941. A lot of effort went down the drain in the blink of an eye.

The Fokker F.VIII had a wing span of 23 m, length 16.80 m, operating weight 5,850 kg, and maximum speed 210 km/h.