Sortavala 1918 - 1924 Kasinhäntä 1925 - 1939 Turkinsaari 1927 - 1939 Suur-Merijoki 1929 - 1939 Winter War 1939 - 1940

Temporary Peace 1940 - 1941 Continuation War 1941 - 44 Lapland War 1944 - 1945 Pori Air Base 1945 - 1980 Tampere-Pirkkala 1981 - 1998

4. Suur-Merijoki 1929 - 1939 Even though the British specialist committee had a strong sea plane emphasis they had stressed in their final paper the need of land-based squadrons operating liaison aircraft to support the army at the Karelian Isthmus (Karjalan Kannas). In reality only one land-based liaison squadron could be based at Suur-Merijoki in 1930 and also is was almost incapable for operations due to aircraft shortages until 1935. Until the end of the 1930's the most important mission for the Finnish Air Force liaison squadrons was reconnaissance for the army corps. Also bombing was one of the missions for the liaison squadrons to support the army. In 1935 Col. Opas activated dive bombing experiments at Suur-Merijoki to follow the international developments. Squadron 26 was the one testing the new concept. Because of good results Squadron 10 which had been transferred to Suur-Merijoki converted its flight training to dive bombing in 1938. The squadron was the first to receive the new Fokker C.X aircraft. Dive bombing training was also activated in Squadron 12 during 1939 but Squadron 10 remained as the only dedicated dive bombing squadron. Finnish Air Force headquarters planned to base three squadrons at the new Suur-Merijoki air station along the service's 5-year development plan. There were to be two land-based liaison squadrons and a bomber squadron. Due to the shortage of funds only one liaison squadron, the Separate Land-based Squadron, could be based and also that squadron started its operations practically without aircraft. The Separate Land-based Squadron was formed in December 1929. When the Finnish Air Force converted to the air station organization in May 1933 the Suur-Merijoki base was named Air Station 5. Separate Maritime Squadron became Squadron 12 and it also received a third flight. In February orders to establish a new squadron were given. The squadron was named Squadron 26. The squadron operated as a two flight organization due to shortage of aircraft and from 1935 also due to shortage of personnel. The new regiment organization resulted in many changes at Suur-Merijoki. Squadron 12 stayed at Suur-Merijoki but Squadron 26 was transferred to Utti to the fighter regiment that was being formed there. In exchange from Utti a liaison squadron, Squadron 10 was transferred to Suur-Merijoki. In addition to Squadrons 10 and 12 also Squadron 14 at Turkinsaari was a part of the Flight Regiment 1 and also Squadron 16 at Kasinhäntä. The new organization brought the main force of the liaison regiment - three squadrons - to the Viipuri area. Caudron C 60, CA-66 of the Separate Maritime Squadron at Suur-Merijoki on the 5th of May 1931. Technical information: Wooden two-seat trainer. Wingspan 10,24 m, length 7,5 m, weight n. 860 kg, Max speed 150 km/h, endurance about 5 hours. Finnish Air Force operated 64 aircraft during 1923 - 1936. The poor aircraft situation in the Finnish Air Force during the first years of the thirties was well evident at Suur-Merijoki. In the brand new aircraft hangar there were no aircraft prior to March 1930. In March one De Havilland DH 60 X Moth trainer was received. More aircraft arrived in October 1930 when two Aero A-32 "Jupiter-Aero" aircraft (AEj-62 and -63) were transferred from Utti along with two old  Gourdou-Lesseure fighters (GL-12 and GL-18) and one Moth. The main force of the Suur-Merijoki inventory was formed by Aeros and Moths. The Aeros were the real warplanes of the squadron. The squadrons used Moths until the end of the thirties. The squadron received the first Sääski for a short time in June 1931. More Sääskis arrived as late as 1938 to replace the old Moths. Also other types were received at times for testing or replacements. In April 1931 a Caudron C 60, CA-66 was received but it was destroyed already in June when it entered a spin at low altitude. The pilots crawled out of the wreckage unharmed. In December 1931 the squadron received a Kotka (Eagle) Ka-149 for testing and in November 1932 a Potez PO-40 was received. In summer 1934 a Letov Smolik basic trainer was received for the reserve pilot training. Smoliks were received every summer until the end of the thirties for the reserve refresher training. AEj-54 ("Aero-Jupiter") of the Separate Maritime Squadron on the eight of December 1932. Technical information: Two-seat mixed structure reconnaissance plane. Wingspan 12,4 m, length 8,2 m, weight n. 1920 kg, Max speed 200 km/h, endurance 4 h 30 min. Finnish Air Force operated 16 aircraft during 1929 - 1944, numbers AEj-49 - 64. The year 1935 was important in the history of Suur-Merijoki air station. Only now, over five years after the air station was formed did the unit get all the planned aircraft. At last the long awaited new aircraft were received for the Separate Maritime Squadron, Squadron 12 by its new name and for the fighter squadron, Squadron 26, formed in the beginning of 1934. New aircraft meant busy flight operations - the air station had now thirty new aircraft. New Dutch Fokker C.V.E aircraft arrived at Suur-Merijoki during late February and early March 1935. The plane was regarded still in 1935 as a suitable liaison aircraft. Still in 1937 it was regarded as being on par with the biplane fighters of that time when it came to flying performance and weapons. For the maintainers the Fokker was a bit more difficult to maintain than the previous aircraft   types in the squadron. Fokker C.V.E aircraft in an airshow on the third of August 1935. Technical information: Two-seat mixed structure reconnaissance plane. Wingspan (D-/E-models) 12,5 m/15,3 m, length 9,3 m, weight 2500 kg, Max speed 255 km/h, range 900 km. Weapons: pilot and navigator machine guns, bombs 260 kg. The aircraft was used for reconnaissance during the Winter War and even still during the Continuation War. In March 1934 a decision was made to purchase front line fighters for Squadron 26. Bulldog Mk IV A deal was signed in March 1934. The aircraft arrived by rail to Suur-Merijoki where they were assembled together with British technical personnel. The new aircraft were truly needed in Squadron 26. The squadron had been totally without own aircraft until October 1934 when Squadron 24 from Utti gave two Gloster Gamecock fighters (GA-44 and GA-47) to the squadron. The squadron received also a Moth and later two more. Bulldog aircraft (BU) during an airshow on the third of August 1935. Technical information: Single seat fighter. Wingspan 10,26 m, length 7,2 m, weight 1850 kg, Max speed 360 km/h, service ceiling 10200 m. Weapons: two 7,7 mm Vickers machine guns, four 12,5 kg bombs, radio: Finnish P-12-16. Finnish Air Force operated 19 aircraft during 1935 - 1944. The Bulldogs turned out to be sturdy aircraft also in the Finnish conditions. Machine guns were attached to the Bulldogs and Fokkers as late as 1937. Bristol Bulldogs were stationed at Suur-Merijoki until February 1938 when Squadron 26 was transferred to Utti to the Flight Regiment 2. Go to Suur-Merijoki 1929 - 1939, Page 2   Go to Winter War 1939 - 1940 page Back to Fighter Squadron 21 History page

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