Finno-Soviet War of 1918-1920

[Mangrove]

Is there any interest on the aerial warfare that took place during the Finno-Soviet war of 1918-1920? I find this time period rather interesting, not only because I'm a Finn but also because of the variety of action that took place:

1) Aerial warfare during the Finnish Civil War between the Whites and the Reds (January-May 1918)
2) Finnish Air Force's actions against British supported Red troops in the East Karelia (May-November 1918)
3) Finnish Army and Air Forces and British Navy (e.g. HMS Vindictive) together against the Soviet forces in East Karelia and Gulf of Finland (December 1918 - December 1920).

There was amazing variety in the amount of different aeroplane models and makers: Albatrosses, Breguets, Fokkers, Friedrichshafens, Nieuports, Sopwiths and Stetinins to mention some. Unfortunately there is no one book that covers the action, either in Finnish or English. Thus far the best book on the topic has been Stenman's "Finnish Air Force 1918-1927". However it contains only few pages on these three years of fighting. The combat reports of the White side's flights during the Finnish Civil War were published during the 1930s but that's about it in Finnish.

I have visited the Finnish National Archive few times during the past years looking information. There was no aerial combat between any of the forces listed above but much more: supply, bombing, reconnaissance missions etc.

Comments and/or questions about the topic, anyone?

[Mangrove]

Naturally the German units operating from Estonia during late 1918 are also interesting, them being:

Fliegerabteilung 16 (Tallinn),
Fliegerabteilung 37 (Haapsalu) and
Fliegerabteilung 214 (Ventspils, Latvia).

[Mangrove]

Interesting that there are relatively speaking more surviving Finnish Air Force aeroplanes from this era lasting only for few years than from five years of WWII, namely Rumpler 6B at Hallinportti and Thulin Typ. D at Tikkakoski.

[Mangrove]

This document containing information on British markings was distributed among the Finnish units in February 1919. To me it seems a bit necessary as there were not that many fighters (with MGs attached!) in the Line but I quess it is better to be safe than sorry!

[crankcase]

Originally Posted by Mangrove

Is there any interest on the aerial warfare that took place during the Finno-Soviet war of 1918-1920? I find this time period rather interesting, not only because I'm a Finn but also because of the variety of action that took place:

1) Aerial warfare during the Finnish Civil War between the Whites and the Reds (January-May 1918)
2) Finnish Air Force's actions against British supported Red troops in the East Karelia (May-November 1918)
3) Finnish Army and Air Forces and British Navy (e.g. HMS Vindictive) together against the Soviet forces in East Karelia and Gulf of Finland (December 1918 - December 1920).

There was amazing variety in the amount of different aeroplane models and makers: Albatrosses, Breguets, Fokkers, Friedrichshafens, Nieuports, Sopwiths and Stetinins to mention some. Unfortunately there is no one book that covers the action, either in Finnish or English. Thus far the best book on the topic has been Stenman's "Finnish Air Force 1918-1927". However it contains only few pages on these three years of fighting. The combat reports of the White side's flights during the Finnish Civil War were published during the 1930s but that's about it in Finnish.

I have visited the Finnish National Archive few times during the past years looking information. There was no aerial combat between any of the forces listed above but much more: supply, bombing, reconnaissance missions etc.

Comments and/or questions about the topic, anyone?

Not much in the way of comments, unfortunately.
But i think there is sort of "residual" interest in the finno-russian war, along with what was happening on the polish front and even the romanian. each of those places were confronted with continuing hostilities against communism and it is interesting to trace the fates of surplus aircraft after our traditional cut-off date of 11 Nov 1918.

For example, the romanians have a few propellers from a german R-Flugzeug that was confiscated in bessarabia. it was being used to move currency into the ukraine as part of post-war intrigues!

i am happy to hear any other stories you have!
marc

[paolomiana]

Originally Posted by Mangrove

Interesting that there are relatively speaking more surviving Finnish Air Force aeroplanes from this era lasting only for few years than from five years of WWII, namely Rumpler 6B at Hallinportti and Thulin Typ. D at Tikkakoski.

Hi Mangrove,
as far as I acan remember there are also the Caudron G.III at Halli and the Friedricshafen (with the FIAT A.12 engine) at Vantaa

moi

Paolo

[Mangrove]

Originally Posted by paolomiana

Hi Mangrove,
as far as I acan remember there are also the Caudron G.III at Halli and the Friedricshafen (with the FIAT A.12 engine) at Vantaa

Both of these types were made operational after the fightings had ended and therefore I did not accept them to my list. However I could accept the Breguet 14 at Tikkakoski although the particular plane did not fly combat sorties.

[G Sting]

This would definitely be an interesting topic. In a sense, because of the threat of communism, MUCH still hung in the balance.

There are a few paragraphs concerning the topic of post war ground and air struggles "from the Black Sea to within the Arctic Circle..." in the book Aviation Century: The Golden Age on pages 20-21. These details (read here) could lead to something else... who knows. The authors, Ron Dick and Dan Patterson, appear to have been all over the world in their research of aviation history.

Cheers,
Mike G.
"G-Sting"

[Mangrove]

The operational limits given to the Finnish Air Forces in December 1918 are rather interesting. They could attack foreign troops, aeroplanes and ships inside Finnish territorial borders but not beyond them. However at the same time the Finnish Goverment was sending troops, resulting conflicts known as Heimosodat, over the border to East Karelia and Estonia.

The first reconnaissance mission over the border I am aware of was flown on 27 February 1919 by Captain Mikkola and Sgt. Leijer with Friedrichshafen FF.49 "C.72/18", ex. German "1750". They scouted the city of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt Naval Base.

[G Sting]

Originally Posted by Mangrove

1) Aerial warfare during the Finnish Civil War between the Whites and the Reds (January-May 1918)

I have to say, that link was an interesting read. Democracy was on the brink.