Aviation Historian 1
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J.Forsgren - Northern exposure
The sole Ilyushin DB-3M shot down by F 19, c/n 391695, being recovered. At the time of the Winter War Ilmavoimat was awaiting the delivery of Fiat G.50 monoplane fighters from Italy, which would have had an impact on the air arm’s capability.
Легкий бомбардировщик "Харт Mk.II" из состава шведской флотилии F19. По окончании боевых действий свастики на самолете закрашены черной краской.
Hawker Hart ‘Black M’ of ‘Flygflottilj’ 19 during the return flight to Sweden on March 30,1940. Over the rear fuselage is the inscription HAMNAREN (Avenger). It was the second Hart to be given the Finnish serial R-22, the first, Blue X, having been destroyed in a mid-air collision with another Hart on January 12, 1940. Sent as an attrition replacement, Black M reached F 19 in Finland on February 16.
On March 30, 1940, the latter half of F19 flew back to Sweden - these Gladiators are seen here at Kauhava before departure. The Finnish insignia was overpainted by various emblems and slogans up to victory markings. All except ‘Yellow A’ have a skull and crossbones painted on the fin.
A striking image of a tied-down Gloster Gladiator of F 19, covered with snow, giving a stark view of the operational difficulties encountered by the Swedish volunteer unit during the early months of the 1939 Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union.
Ake Morne and Hugo Beckhammar run up the engine of Hawker Hart Blue R at the “Oskar” temporary forward base in northern Finland during the Winter War. Note the 12kg (26 1/2 lb) bomb racks mounted on the undersides of the wings.
Шведские летчики-добровольцы на фоне своего истребителя J8 (он же "Гладиатор Mk.l") из 19-й авиафлотилии с финскими ОЗ и в типичном для этого подразделения зимнем камуфляже. Поверх шведской оливково-зеленой защитной окраски нанесены широкие белые полосы. Январь 1940г. В первые десять дней нахождения на фронте шведы получили весьма чувствительную встряску, потеряв в боевых вылетах 25% матчасти, поэтому в последующем их старались держать в тылу для целей ПВО различных важных объектов. В этой связи вероятность их встречи с летчиками "ишачков" 145-го ИАП фактически равнялась нулю.
The Swedish volunteer unit ‘Flygflottilj’ 19 had 12 Gladiators deployed in Lapland. Gladiator I (aircraft "F") ‘Yellow K’ of the Swedish Flygflottilj 19 seen preparing to take-off on Swedish-designed skiis from Veitsiluoto near the frozen Kemi Lake in Northern Finland in January 1940. The Swedish dark green and light blue-grey colours were oversprayed by silver dope to obtain the camouflage effect.
The swastika on Ilmavoimat aircraft also traced its heritage back to Sweden. Count Eric von Rosen donated a Thulin D to the White Forces in the Finnish Civil War in 1918, the aircraft bearing his personal symbol, a swastika, which was adopted by Ilmavoimat.