Backwoods Landing Strip, Finnish Air Force Aircraft - Korpikenttä, Suomen Ilmavoimien lentokoneita

The Website

Backwoods Landing Strip - Finnish Air Force Aircraft became online on 27 Sep 1997. The site has provided information of one of the oldest air forces in the world. The site focuses to the World War 2 Era, when Finland fought three wars, two against the Soviet Union and one against Germany. The Winter War in 1939-40 is best known outside Finland, but the conflict with the Soviet Union did not end there. It broke out into the Continuation War in 1941-1944. After that war Finland had to repel the German units from Lapland in 1944-1945. The Air Force played an active part in all these wars.

Suomen lentomerkki, photo: Pentti Salo
The Swastika Emblem of the Finnish AF 1918-45
It is important to understand that the swastika emblem of the early Finnish Air Force has nothing to do with the Nazi Germany. The swastika was the symbol of good fortune used by the Swedish Count Eric von Rosen who during the Finnish Civil War presented to the Finnish White Army its first aircraft on March 6th, 1918. The swastika was painted on the upper side and under side of the wings of the Thulin Parasol he brought from Sweden. The symbol was adopted by the Finnish Air Force to honor him.

The Contents

From the Button Menu on the left you will find f.ex. a summary of the Finnish Air Force history from 1914 to present. Hardware presentation from 1939-1945 can be found under the FAF aircraft in Color. Discussion Forum gives the visitors the opportunity to ask questions from the body of FAF history professionals and enthusiasts or give answers to the questions that others have written on the forum. FAF after the War section includes photographic presentations of post-war FAF aircraft.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank everyone, who has helped to build up this website.

It ain't the guns nor armament,
the funds that they can pay,
but the close co-operation,
that makes them win the day.
It ain't the individual, nor
the Army as a whole,
but the everlasting teamwork
of every bloomin' soul.

(Wilfred Owen, 1917)

Copyright

© 1997-2009 by Pentti Perttula. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission from Pentti Perttula is prohibited. Website Layout and Design by Pentti Perttula. For more information, e-mail: . First Published on September 27, 1997.