– Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
– US diplomat aboard Finnish WWII plane.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
HELSINKI (AP) — After more than eight decades, the mystery surrounding the fate of a Finnish passenger plane shot down by Soviet bombers during World War II seems to have been finally resolved.
The aircraft, a Junkers Ju 52 operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair), was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed over the Baltic Sea in June 1940, just days before the annexation of the Baltic states by Moscow. All nine people on board, including the two Finnish crew members and the seven passengers, were killed in the incident.
A diving and salvage team in Estonia recently announced the discovery of well-preserved parts and debris from the plane at a depth of around 70 meters near the tiny island of Keri, close to Tallinn, Estonia’s capital.
New Approach Leads to Success
Kaido Peremees, spokesman for the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, credited the group’s success in finding the plane’s remains to a fresh approach to the search.
The downing of the civilian plane, known as Kaleva, occurred on June 14, 1940, shortly after Finland signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the Winter War. The incident was met with shock and anger in Helsinki, with authorities initially referring to it as a “mysterious crash” to avoid provoking Moscow.
Historical Significance
The 84-year-old mystery of Kaleva has long intrigued Finns and is considered a vital part of the country’s complex WWII history, shedding light on its strained relations with Moscow. The plane’s destruction happened at a critical juncture just before the Soviet Union’s annexation of the Baltic states.
Early Casualty of WWII
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., one of the passengers on the ill-fated flight, is now recognized as one of the first U.S. casualties of WWII. Antheil was on a mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga as tensions with Moscow escalated.
The discovery of Kaleva’s wreckage has sparked interest from the United States, with the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn closely monitoring developments in the investigation.
Conspiracy Theories and Unanswered Questions
The circumstances surrounding the downing of Kaleva have given rise to conspiracy theories, with speculation about the contents of the diplomatic pouches onboard the plane. It remains unclear why the Soviet Union targeted a civilian Finnish aircraft during peacetime.
Despite several unsuccessful attempts to locate the wreckage in the past, the recent discovery of Kaleva’s parts has provided closure to the tragic event, bringing attention to its significance in regional aviation history.
Efforts are now underway to create 3D images of the debris and potentially raise some items from the seabed, including the plane’s cargo and human remains. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has expressed readiness to collaborate with Finnish and Estonian authorities on any recovery efforts.
Memorials and Remembrance
A memorial to the victims of the Kaleva crash stands on the island of Keri, while Helsinki’s Malmi airport terminal has a plaque honouring the victims of the tragedy. The discovery of Kaleva’s wreckage serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the lasting impact of the events of that fateful day in 1940.
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– Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
– US diplomat aboard WWII plane shot down.
