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In 1936, the Finnish Air Force ordered 18 Blenheim Mk Is from Britain and two years later, they obtained a
manufacturing license for the aircraft. Before any aircraft could be
manufactured at the Valtion lentokonetehdas (State Aeroplane Factory) in
Finland, the Winter War broke out, forcing the Finns to order more aircraft
from the UK. A further 24 British-manufactured Blenheims were ordered during
the Winter War. After the Winter War, 55 Blenheims were constructed in
Finland, bringing the total number to 97 aircraft (75 Mk Is and 22 Mk IVs)
The Finns also received 20 half-completed ex-Yugoslavian Mk IV Blenheims
captured by Germany, together with manufacturing tools and production
equipment, as well as a huge variety of spare parts. Yugoslavia had ceased
production of the Mk I and commenced a production run of Mk IVs just prior
to the April 1941 invasion.
The Finnish Blenheims flew 423 missions during the Winter War, and close to
3,000 missions during the Continuation War and Lapland War. Blenheim
machine-gunners also shot down eight Soviet aircraft. 37 Blenheims
were lost in combat during the wars.
After the war, Finland was prohibited from flying bomber aircraft by the
Paris Peace Treaty, with Finland's Blenheims being placed into storage in
1948. However, in 1951, five Blenheims were re-activated for use as target
tugs, with the last flight of a Finnish Blenheim taking place on 20. May
1958. |
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The Finnish Air Force used both
C.V-Ds and C.V-Es. One C.V-E was purchased in 1927, with delivery 20
September, and a further 13 were purchased on 17 March 1934, arriving in the
winter of 1935. During the Winter War, Sweden donated three more C.V-Es. Two
C.V-Ds were also flown from Norway to Finland at the closing stages of the
Norwegian Campaign. These were interned and turned over to the FAF. The
aircraft were used as reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft between 20.
September 1927 and 14. February 1945. During the Winter War, the Finnish
C.Vs flew 151 reconnaissance and harassment bombing sorties without
suffering any losses. The Continuation War saw the C.Vs flying an unknown
number of sorties and suffering one aircraft loss.
FO-19 & FO-23 C.V-E with Mercury engine, gift from Sweden
FO-39
C.V-E with Bristol Jupiter engine
FO-65 & FO-66 C.V-D with Panther engine, interned Norwegian
aircraft
FO-67 - FO-77 C.V-E with Pegasus engine
FO-80
C.V-E with Mercury engine, gift from Sweden |