1. Remains of Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
2. US diplomat aboard Finnish WWII plane.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
HELSINKI (AP) — 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 solved.
The aircraft in question was a Junkers Ju 52 plane operated by Finnish airline Aero, now known as Finnair. It was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed in June 1940, just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. All nine people on board, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers, were killed in the incident.
A diving and salvage team in Estonia recently announced that they have located well-preserved parts and debris from the wreckage of the plane. The discovery was made off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, at a depth of approximately 70 meters (230 feet).
New Approach Leads to Success
Kaido Peremees, a spokesman for the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, explained that the team took a different approach to the search, which ultimately led to their success in finding the remains of the plane.
The downing of the civilian plane, named Kaleva, occurred on June 14, 1940, just three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the 1939-40 Winter War. The news of the plane’s destruction was met with disbelief and anger by authorities in Helsinki, who were informed that it was shot down by two Soviet DB-3 bombers shortly after departing from Tallinn’s Ulemiste airport.
Unveiling the Truth
While Finland officially remained silent for years about the details of the aircraft’s destruction, referring to it as a “mysterious crash,” the recent discovery sheds light on a pivotal moment in the country’s history. The incident has long been a subject of intrigue for Finns, offering insights into their nation’s complex World War II past and its strained relations with Moscow.
The downing of the plane took place just days before the Soviet Union’s annexation of the three Baltic states, marking a critical juncture in the region’s history. Moscow occupied Estonia on June 17, 1940, and Kaleva’s ill-fated journey became the final flight out of Tallinn as the Soviets enforced a transport embargo around the Estonian capital.
Remembering the Victims
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who was on board the plane when it was shot down, is now recognised as one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II. Antheil was on a mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga, Latvia, as tensions escalated in the region.
Despite the passage of time, the memory of Kaleva and its passengers lives on. A stone memorial erected in the early 1990s on Keri island honours the victims of the crash, while Helsinki’s Malmi airport terminal building features a memorial plaque commemorating the lives lost in the tragedy.
As efforts continue to document and investigate the wreckage of Kaleva, the significance of this historic event in the aviation history of the region remains poignant.
Jari Tanner, The Associated Press
.
Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow with US diplomat aboard
Remains of Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow with US diplomat.
