– long-tailed keyword
– Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow with a US diplomat aboard.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
HELSINKI (AP) — After more than eight decades, the World War II mystery surrounding a Finnish passenger plane shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers appears to have been finally solved.
The tragic incident took place in June 1940 when the plane, known as Kaleva, was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers. The aircraft was operated by Finnish airline Aero, which is now Finnair. All nine people onboard, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers, were killed in the attack. Among the passengers were an American diplomat, two French nationals, two Germans, a Swede, and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
A diving and salvage team in Estonia recently announced that they had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane at a depth of around 70 meters (230 feet) off the tiny island of Keri near Tallinn, Estonia’s capital.
The Downing of the Civilian Plane ‘Kaleva’
The tragic event occurred on June 14, 1940, just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. The plane was shot down by two Soviet DB-3 bombers shortly after taking off from Tallinn’s Ulemiste airport. The news of the plane’s fate shocked and angered authorities in Helsinki, who were initially informed of a “mysterious crash” over the Baltic Sea.
Finland, for many years, kept the details of the incident under wraps to avoid provoking Moscow. However, the recent discovery of the plane’s remains has shed new light on this historical event.
Historical Significance of the Incident
The downing of Kaleva happened at a critical juncture, just before the Soviet Union’s annexation of the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Moscow’s occupation of Estonia on June 17, 1940, marked a significant turning point in the region’s history.
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who was onboard the ill-fated flight, became 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 with the Soviet Union escalated.
The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has extensively researched and documented the incident over the years, highlighting the historical significance of Antheil’s death and the events surrounding the downing of Kaleva.
New Discoveries and Investigations
Various attempts to locate the wreckage of Kaleva have been made over the years, with recent advancements in technology leading to the successful discovery of parts of the aircraft. The Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU played a crucial role in finding the well-preserved debris.
Jaakko Schildt, the chief operations officer of Finnair, expressed the airline’s sorrow over the tragic event and highlighted the importance of finding closure through the discovery of Kaleva’s remains.
The ongoing investigation aims to create 3D images of the debris and potentially recover some of the items, including the plane’s cargo and human remains. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has expressed interest in the recovery efforts and pledged to support discussions with Finnish and Estonian authorities.
The discovery of Kaleva’s wreckage serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during World War II and the impact of historical events on the aviation industry in the region.
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Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
US diplomat aboard plane shot down by Moscow.
