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109 – Das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt, Valtonen, Hannu: From Commonplace to 109 Entwicklung, Erprobung und Technik. Alle Varian- Curiosity – The Museum Value of two Mes- ten: von Bf (Me) 109 A bis 109 E. Landshut serschmitt Bf 109 – Aircraft at the Central 1997, ISBN 3-925505-32-6. Aviation Museum/TAVALLISESTA Suzuki, Hiroyuki: “Authenticity of Setting in the Cy- KURIOSITEETIKSI – Kahden Keski-Suo- clical Culture”. Nara Conference on Authenticity men Ilmailumuseon – in relation to the World Heritage Convention. Paris lentokoneen museoarvo. Jyväskylä: Universi- 1995, ISBN 82-519-1416-7. ty of Jyväskylä, 2006. Jyväskylä studies in Waidacher, Friedrich: Handbuch der Allgemeinen Mu- Humanities. ISSN 1459-4323). ISBN 951- seologie. Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-205-98445-5. 39-2365-7. 104 pages. Vilkuna, Janne: Täytetyn tiikerin äärellä – museologia, mitä se on? Finnish Science Academy, Yearbook Staff officer Hannu Valtonen’s doctoral disser- 2003, Special edition. Jyväskylä 2003, ISBN tation in museology ”Tavallisesta kuriositee- 951-796-331-9. tiksi – Kahden Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon Messerschmitt Bf 109-lentokoneen museoar- vo” (From Commonplace to Curiosity – The INTERNET REFERENCES Museum Value of two Messerschmitt Bf 109 Aircraft of the Aviation Museum of Central Lehmann, Hans Kr. 2000: http://www.famleh- Finland ) is based on three previously publis- mann.com/katedral-Roskilde.htm. Printed on Ja- hed works on Messerschmitt aircraft by the nuary 6, 2005. author: 1) Lapin lentokonehylyt. Yli 20 vuotta Prescott, Kelly: Auto History Online, Ferdinand pohjoista lentokonearkeologiaa (Aircraft Wrecks Porsche. http://www.autohistory.org/feature of Lapland – Over 20 Years of Northern Air- 6.html. Read on October 18, 2005. craft Archaeology,1993), 2) Luftwaffen pohjoi- nen sivusta. Saksan ilmavoimat Suomessa ja Po- hjois-Norjassa 1941–1944 (The Northern *Hannu Valtonen is a retired Lt. Col from the Flank of the – German in Finnish Air Force and a retired Director of the Finland and Northern Norway in 1941 – Aviation Museum of Central Finland. He is the 1944, from 1997) and 3) Messerschmitt Bf 109 first Finnish PhD of Museology. ja Saksan sotatalous (The Messerschmitt Bf Email: [email protected] 109 and the War Economy in , 1999). The dissertation is the first doctoral thesis in museology to be submitted in Fin- land, which must naturally be taken into ac- count when evaluating Valtonen’s success in this venture and the scholarly significance of the study for museological research. The only comparisons are to be found in studies in eth- nology and art history among other subjects, but there is no counterpart to Valtonen’s work in material culture studies . PASI KESSELI OG JUHANI KOSTET

110 Hannu Valtonen is one of the most experien- establish why the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was ced specialists in military aviation in Finland. selected as the main type of light fighter air- After resigning from his officer’s commission craft in National Socialist Germany, how the in the Finnish Air Force, Hannu Valtonen Germans were able to keep the plane operatio- pursued a second career in the aviation mu- nal during the war and what influence it had seum field. He has been highly interested in on the German Luftwaffe and the Finnish Air war planes since his childhood and has written Force. The dissertation consists of a summary numerous books especially on German air- and three previously written books (Aircraft craft of the Second World War. This last-men- Wrecks of Lapland – Over 20 Years of Nor- tioned aspect at least partly explains the choi- thern Aircraft Archaeology, The Northern ce of topic of his dissertation. Flank of the Luftwaffe – The German Air The Messerschmitt Bf 109 has until now Force in Finland and Northern Norway in been the most numerously produced light 1941 – 1944 and The Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft in the world. The total produ- and the War Economy in Germany, all howe- ced number of these planes lies between ver, written in Finnish), providing a conside- 36,000 and 37, 000. However, because of the rable amount of information on these two German defeat at the end of the war the Mes- planes in the Aviation Museum of Central serschmitt Bf 109 soon became a rarity, and Finland as well as historical details on the this is the case nowadays also in museums. birth and lifespan of Messerschmitt Bf 109s The Finnish Air Force was among the few air as a whole. forces that used Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters From a historical point of view, the number in the Second World War, to be precise in Fin- of sources chosen by Valtonen for his disserta- land in the so-called of tion is rather large and in addition many of 1941-1944. The first of these aircraft were them are primary sources from German mili- flown in Finland in the spring of 1943. Fin- tary archives. This provides reliability for the land had a total of 164 of these planes – of work. Regardless of this, the author does not two different types, the G-2 and the G-6. The especially analyse his sources, although it is Bf 109 remained in service in Finland also af- obvious that he is quite familiar with the wide ter the war, until early 1950s. The last flight in range of sources on his subject. Why this is the Finnish Air Force with a Messerschmitt Bf not done is not made clear in the dissertation. 109 took place on 13 March 1954. Furthermore, Valtonen does not mention the Only some 15 authentic Messerschmitt Bf details of his research methods when collec- 109s have survived until the present in the ting material and writing the above-mentio- world. Three of these are in Finland, which ned books that provide background informa- makes the study of this plane interesting both tion in his study. In a way this is strange , be- historically and museologically. cause the author is not a beginner in historical Hannu Valtonen addresses two research pro- studies. It would not have been much trouble blems in his thesis. The first deals with the to explain in a few words the character of the authenticity of the two Messerschmitt Bf 109s different source groups, their value for diffe- that are on display in the Aviation Museum of rent parts of the thesis and their possible fai- Central Finland . The second question tries to lings. This would have provided even more re- OPPONENTINDLÆG

liability for the books attached to this disserta- by the Finnish Air Force and the NE+ML used 111 tion, which in themselves are quite thorough- by the German 5th Air Command. ly written. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 had an extraordi- The reader expects also some descriptions of nary long lifespan. It would have been interes- previous research if such exists, and if not the ting to compare this case with some other air- question still remains. It is known that there craft, for example its British contemporary the are no studies – excluding articles – seeking to during the Second World establish the origins and authenticity of the War. The author did not do so, and it was not Messerschmitts still in Finland. There are, ho- even his purpose. Nevertheless, the Germans wever, works of research on the production of were able to modify the plane so that it was Messerschmitt Bf 109s, their existence and still in operational use up to the end of the role in the German Air Force as well as mate- war. In Finland, Messerschmitt Bf 109s plated rial on the planes that came to Finland and re- in a remarkable role, especially in the summer mained there. A brief analysis of the above of 1944 when the country fought for its exis- mentioned would have shown the reader why tence. During two months of heavy fighting this study was worth conducting and where the Finns were able to halt the Red Army both this work can be situated among previous re- in the Karelian Isthmus and in East Karelia. search in this subject on a broader wider scale. The Air Force was in central role by giving air Although the main emphasis in the disserta- cover and bombing Soviet troop concentra- tion is on the question of whether or not the tions on the ground. On the Finnish front, two Messerschmitts in the Aviation Museum the Messerschmitt 109s were still very usable. of Central Finland are authentic and original, There were no planes superior to them in dog- Valtonen’s work also sheds light also on the fights, not even in the summer of 1944, which manufacturing process of the Messerschmitt can at least partly be explained because of the Bf 109 and the attached books provide found experienced and well-trained Finnish pilots. several well-argued explanations of why and The results were amazing; over 650 Soviet air- how the aeroplane was kept in production un- craft were shot down with less than 50 Mes- til the defeat of Germany in 1945. Valtonen serschmitt 109 in daily operational use betwe- also describes the activities of the German 5th en March 1943 and the end of August 1944. Air Command in Lapland. This gives the rea- A large proportion of these air victories were der a good framework for understanding the gained in the summer 1944. conditions under which the other subject of From the perspective of museology, the main the dissertation, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F- issues of Hannu Valtonen’s study are the de- 4, NE+ML, was destroyed. Therefore, alt- velopments that led to the Messerschmitt hough the previously written books contain a fighters in the Aviation Museum of Central great deal of secondary information, they are Finland becoming museum objects and their nonetheless necessary in backing up the pri- genuineness and authenticity. There are pro- mary question of the thesis by giving back- blems of some degree in Valtonen’s use of con- ground information on issues that are needed cepts, which is particularly evident when he to evaluate the authenticity of the two planes, defines concepts related to the philosophy of i.e. the subjects of the thesis, the MT-507 used history. It would have been important, for ex- PASI KESSELI OG JUHANI KOSTET

112 ample, to transfer the philosophical meaning lier studies and source criticism, are given litt- of the idea of chance to museological studies. le attention in military historical research, it Valtonen’s first work Lapin lentokoneenhylyt. should not be taken as a matter of course that Yli 20 vuotta pohjoista lentokonearkeologiaa nothing is said about the applied method and (Aircraft Wrecks of Lapland – Over 20 Years the working process. On the contrary, the of Northern Aircraft Archaeology ) is the most method that is applied may provide added va- valuable one with regard to museological rese- lue for the work in question and especially for arch. It cannot be described as a study as such its further use. but rather as documentation of the author’s With regard to museology, evaluating the surveys in Lapland, a travel account or me- methodological approach is difficult owing to moirs based on the author’s own notes and re- the related issues of definition in this field. collections. Its documentation section can be The surveying and documentation of the air- assigned the role of a primary source and the craft wrecks were largely conducted with met- personal recollections that of a secondary hods followed by archaeological methods, alt- source, which should naturally be subjected to hough documentation of the latter standard, source criticism. the pin-pointing of remains or the drawing Here, as in museological research in general plans and maps were not undertaken because and artefact studies in particular, documenta- of well-founded reasons. In terms of docu- tion along with the object itself provides the mentation, a Stone Age grave is no doubt fundamental source material. As noted above, completely different to an aircraft wreck. La- the attached work Lapin lentokoneenhylyt. Yli pin lentokoneenhylyt. Yli 20 vuotta pohjoista 20 vuotta pohjoista lentokonearkeologiaa (Air- lentokonearkeologiaa (Aircraft Wrecks of Lap- craft Wrecks of Lapland – Over 20 Years of land – Over 20 Years of Northern Aircraft Ar- Northern Aircraft Archaeology) cannot be chaeology) is also an arguable choice as the tit- evaluated as research in the same sense as the le of a published work. other appended works. The documentation of Valtonen does not place his work on aircraft wrecks concerns over 100 aircraft wrecks from archaeology within the scholarly field of ar- the Second World War in Lapland. The use of chaeology, and notes that aircraft archaeology documentation in the dissertation, however, is does not necessarily have anything to do with limited to only one object, the NE+ML in the archaeological research in general. According collections of the Aviation Museum of Central to its definition, archaeology is a discipline Finland, although the documented aircraft that studies the material traces of man that wrecks could have provided at least some de- have been deposited in the ground, such as gree of comparative material for the museum buildings, structures, graves and artefacts. As a objects and memorial plane considered in the discipline, archaeology does not place any study. chronological limits to its objects of study. The appended works are problematic with They can just as well be prehistoric or from regard to method. Valtonen does not focus Second World War. Archaeological remains particular attention on the methods of the ap- can also be partly above ground, such as a bu- pended works. Although matters related to rial cairn, or under water. In comparing the method, with the exception of evaluating ear- study and documentation of different types of OPPONENTINDLÆG

objects we can note that it is insignificant and connection with the museum pieces 113 whether the object in question is a burial could have evaluated. In a sense, the concepts cairn, shipwreck or aircraft wreck. The rese- are question for which one expects answers arch and documentation method should be that are not actually given. The author should archaeological in order to record sufficient in- also have evaluated more closely whether re- formation. On the grounds of the above, air- storation raises the value of an object or whet- craft archaeology can be placed within archa- her this value peaks when the object is taken eological research. into a museum collection. In some connec- From the perspective of the disciplines recog- tions, the author also applies value statements nized by the museum field, Valtonen can be alien to historical researchers. said to have succeeded quite well with regard With regard to museological research, it is to the study and documentation of artefacts. necessary to consider the way in which Valto- The main problems are evident in his com- nen’s relates to this field. Museology is tradi- mand of the methods of historical research tionally divided into 1) meta-museology ad- and source criticism. From the museological dressing the general nature and grounds of perspective, Valtonen succeeds particularly museology, the epistemology of museology well in applying Peter van Mensch’s theory of and what this field is really about, 2) historical the life span of an object to the Messersch- museology describing and explaining the cir- mitt fighters of his study and in defining cumstances and conditions bound to time and their museum value. I find it particularly place through which the museum aspect commendable that the author has succeeded emerges, 3) theoretical museology as a basic in establishing the origin of all the aircraft discipline of the field considering issues of in- considered by him, from their date of manu- formation and value criticism, and 4) applied facture to their inclusion in museum collec- museology. Valtonen’s study can be said to fall tions. This was done primarily with the met- into areas of historical and, in particular, theo- hods of historical research, but the informa- retical museology, underlining a distinct aim tion thus obtained was excellently applied in at solving issues of information and value cri- establishing the life span of the objects con- ticism. cerned. The object acquired the meaning of Hannu Valtonen’s Valtonen is a remarkable a source, which aroused more and more work in two ways. It is the first dissertation questions for the author. made in the subject of museology in Finland. Valtonen uses and discuses museological Secondly, from the historical point of view the concepts mostly without reproach. In some study brings again into daylight the almost cases, the evaluation of concepts and their dif- forgotten role of the Messerschmitt Bf 109s as ferences could have been taken further. Ans- the most numerously produced fighter aircraft wers could have been provided for example to in the world. Despite this, the airplane is now questions such as the difference between a a real rarity, with only some 15 remaining. museum aircraft and a memorial aircraft. Also The Finns are lucky, owning three of them, the concepts of conservation, preventive con- all genuine and two almost ready to take off. servation, restoration and renovation could In parts of his dissertation Hannu Valtonen have been explained better and their meaning achieves an exceptionally thorough documen- PASI KESSELI OG JUHANI KOSTET

114 tation of the life span of objects of study. Ta- king Peter van Mensch’s lifespan theory as his background he has succeeded in provided the studied museum objects with an astounding context including details such as the national- ity of the concentration-camp prisoners that participated in the manufacture of the air- craft.

Pasi Kesseli is a Lieutenant Colonel, Ph.D. and Professor at the National Depence College, Fin- Disputationens “stjärnor” i Mellersta Flygmu- land. seum efter disputationen, 24. marts 2006: I backgrun- E-mail: [email protected] den (den andra) Messerscmitt Bf 109 och framför från vänster kostod Janne Vilkuna, opponenterna överstelöjt- Juhani Kostet is Ph.D., Docent of Museology nant och professor vid Militärhögskolan Pasi Kesseli och (Turku University) and Director of Turku Pro- docent i museologi vid Åbo universitet och museichef vid Åbo museer Juhani Kostet och respondenten överstelöjt- vincial Museum, Finland. nant och före detta museichef vid Mellersta Finlands E-mail: [email protected] Flygmuseum. Hannu Valtonen. Foto Leo Skogström.