By Trend News Line 2024-06-16 14:34:16.
Finnish WWII Mystery Solved After 84 Years
In a stunning revelation, a Finnish passenger plane shot down by Soviet bombers during World War II has finally been located after more than eight decades. The plane, named Kaleva, was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed over the Baltic Sea in June 1940, just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states.
The Search for Kaleva
A diving and salvage team in Estonia announced this week that they had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane. The aircraft, operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair), was found off the island of Keri near Tallinn at a depth of 70 meters.
A Tragic Event
The downing of Kaleva was a unique and tragic incident during peacetime, as a civilian passenger plane was shot down on a normal scheduled flight. The plane’s destruction has remained a mystery for 84 years, intriguing historians and aviation enthusiasts alike.
The Victims
All nine people on board the plane were killed in the crash, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers. Among the passengers were an American diplomat, two French nationals, two Germans, a Swede, and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
A Diplomatic Mission
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr. was aboard the plane on a government mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga. Antheil, considered one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II, was tragically killed in the crash.
The Aftermath
The downing of Kaleva happened just days before the Soviet Union annexed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, sealing the fate of the Baltic states for the next half-century. The timing of the crash and the contents of the diplomatic pouches have led to conspiracy theories surrounding Moscow’s decision to shoot down the plane.
Closure and Remembrance
The discovery of Kaleva’s wreckage brings closure to this tragic event in aviation history. Finnair, then known as Aero, has commemorated the victims of the crash with a memorial plaque at Helsinki’s Malmi airport terminal building. Efforts are now underway to create 3D images of the debris and possibly raise some items from the wreckage.
Continued Monitoring
The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn is closely monitoring the recovery efforts and will discuss any developments with Finnish and Estonian allies. The search for answers surrounding the downing of Kaleva continues, shedding new light on a dark chapter in World War II history.
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– Divers find remains of Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow
– Divers find remains of Finnish WWII plane shot down by Moscow and locate wreckage.