Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat aboard
Divers find remains Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
HELSINKI (AP) — The World War II enigma surrounding the fate of a Finnish passenger plane that was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers in June 1940 appears to have been resolved after more than eight decades.
The aircraft, known as Kaleva, was on a mission carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed just days before the Soviet annexation of the Baltic states. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of all nine individuals onboard, including the two Finnish crew members and seven passengers from various nationalities.
A diving and salvage team in Estonia recently announced the discovery of well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane, which was operated by Finnish airline Aero, now known as Finnair. The wreckage was found off the coast of the small island of Keri near Tallinn, Estonia, at a depth of approximately 70 meters.
New Approach Leads to Success
The Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, responsible for the breakthrough, adopted a fresh approach to the search, as explained by their spokesperson, Kaido Peremees. The team’s efforts resulted in the successful location of the plane’s remains.
The downing of the Kaleva passenger plane occurred on June 14, 1940, shortly after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the Winter War. The incident was unprecedented, with the civilian aircraft being shot down during peacetime while on a regular scheduled flight.
For years, Finland kept details of the aircraft’s destruction under wraps, describing the crash as a “mysterious event” to avoid provoking the Soviet Union. However, the recent discovery sheds light on this long-standing historical mystery.
Significance of the Incident
The Kaleva incident holds significant historical importance in Finland’s complex World War II narrative, highlighting the country’s strained relations with Moscow. The plane’s demise coincided with Stalin’s plans to annex the Baltic states, marking a critical period in the region’s history.
Following the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in June 1940, Kaleva’s ill-fated journey represented the final flight out of Tallinn. The diplomatic mission onboard, including American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., was en route to evacuate sensitive materials from U.S. missions in the region.
Antheil’s tragic death, considered one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II, went largely overshadowed by the larger European events unfolding at the time, such as the Nazi occupation of Paris.
Continued Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Efforts to locate the wreckage of Kaleva have persisted over the years, with varying degrees of success. The recent discovery of the plane’s remains has sparked renewed interest in the case, prompting discussions about the possibility of recovering the aircraft’s cargo and human remains.
A stone memorial dedicated to the victims of the Kaleva crash stands on Keri island, while a plaque at Helsinki’s Malmi airport terminal commemorates the lives lost in the tragic incident. The ongoing investigation and recovery efforts are being closely monitored by authorities in Finland, Estonia, and the United States.
The resolution of this long-standing mystery provides closure to a dark chapter in aviation history and underscores the importance of preserving and commemorating the lives lost in the tragic event.
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Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat aboard
Divers find remains Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat.
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