– Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow
– Divers find remains Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
HELSINKI —
After more than eight decades, the World War II mystery surrounding the fate of a Finnish passenger plane that was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers appears to have been finally solved.
An Estonian diving and salvage team recently announced that they have located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane, operated by Finnish airline Aero, which is now known as Finnair. The discovery was made off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, at a depth of approximately 70 meters.
The Tragic Incident
The plane, named Kaleva, was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was downed just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. All nine people on board, including the two-member Finnish crew and seven passengers, tragically lost their lives in the incident.
According to Finnish aviation historian Carl-Fredrik Geust, the downing of a civilian plane during peacetime on a regular scheduled flight was a unique and shocking event. The incident occurred just three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the Winter War of 1939-40.
New Leads and Speculation
Over the years, there have been various attempts to locate the wreckage of Kaleva, but none have been successful until now. The recent discovery has reignited interest in the case, with many speculating about the contents of the diplomatic pouches carried on board the ill-fated flight.
Some theories suggest that Moscow may have wanted to prevent sensitive material and documents from leaving Estonia, while others believe that the Soviet bomber pilots may have made a grave mistake. The exact reason behind the decision to shoot down a civilian Finnish passenger plane remains unclear.
International Interest
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who was aboard the plane and is now considered one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II, adds an international dimension to the tragedy. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has been closely following the developments in the case, especially given Antheil’s connection to the incident.
The recent findings have prompted discussions about the possibility of raising some of the items from the wreckage, including the plane’s cargo and potential human remains. Both Finnish and Estonian authorities, as well as international allies, are monitoring the situation closely.
Closure and Remembrance
Jaakko Schildt, chief operations officer of Finnair, described the discovery of Kaleva’s wreckage as bringing closure to a tragic chapter in the airline’s history. The interest in locating the plane in the Baltic Sea underscores the significance of this event in the aviation history of the region.
As efforts continue to create 3D images of the debris and potentially raise items from the wreckage, the memory of the victims of the Kaleva crash lives on through memorials in both Estonia and Finland. The tragic incident, while finally seeing some closure, remains a poignant reminder of the complexities of World War II history in the Nordic region.
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Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
Remains of Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow.
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