1. Finnish WWII plane remains found by divers
2. Moscow shoots down Finnish WWII plane with US diplomat.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : HELSINKI (AP) — The decades-old mystery surrounding the fate of a Finnish passenger plane that was shot down over the Baltic Sea during World War II seems to have finally been unraveled after more than 80 years.
The aircraft, a Junkers Ju 52 operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair), was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was downed by Soviet bombers just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of all nine individuals on board, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers, which comprised an American diplomat, two French nationals, two Germans, a Swede, and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
Recent reports indicate that a diving and salvage team in Estonia has located well-preserved parts and debris from the aircraft off the coast of the tiny island of Keri near Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. The discovery was made at a depth of approximately 70 meters (230 feet), shedding new light on the events that transpired on that fateful day.
Kaido Peremees, a spokesperson for the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, explained that the team adopted a unique approach to the search, ultimately leading to the successful location of the plane’s remains. The downing of the civilian aircraft, named Kaleva, occurred on June 14, 1940, shortly after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the Winter War.
The news of the plane’s destruction was met with shock and outrage in Helsinki, with Finnish authorities initially referring to the incident as a “mysterious crash” to avoid escalating tensions with the Soviet Union. The incident, although well-documented through various sources, including books, research, and television documentaries, has remained a source of intrigue for Finns, offering key insights into the country’s complex history during World War II.
One of the passengers aboard the ill-fated flight was American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who is now recognized as one of the first U.S. casualties of the war. Antheil was on a critical government mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic materials from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga, Latvia, as the Soviet Union began its annexation of the Baltic states.
The discovery of the wreckage has reignited interest in the case, prompting discussions about the possibility of raising some of the items from the seabed, including the plane’s cargo and potential human remains. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has expressed keen interest in the ongoing investigation, highlighting the significance of the finding in shedding light on a pivotal moment in history.
As efforts continue to uncover more details about the tragic incident, the memory of the Kaleva crash lives on through memorials erected in Estonia and Finland, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost on that fateful day..
– Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat aboard
– Divers find remains Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow US diplomat.
A Teaspoon Before Bedtime Makes you Lose 32LBS in 2 Weeks.
Related Post : Remember Tiger Wood's Ex Wife, Elin Nordegren ? Take a Look at Her Now.
The Conjoined Twins Abby & Brittany Hensel are No Longer Together.
