By Trend News Line 2024-06-16 05:00:00.
**The Mysterious Fate of the Finnish Passenger Plane Kaleva**
In a shocking turn of events, the long-standing mystery surrounding the fate of the Finnish passenger plane Kaleva, shot down over the Baltic Sea in June 1940, seems to have finally been solved after more than eight decades. The plane, operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair), was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed by Soviet bombers just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states.
**Discovery of the Wreckage**
A diving and salvage team in Estonia recently announced that they had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane at a depth of around 70 meters near the tiny island of Keri, close to Estonia’s capital, Tallinn. This breakthrough in the search for Kaleva was achieved through a new and innovative approach taken by the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU.
**Historical Significance**
The downing of the civilian plane Kaleva on June 14, 1940, came as a shock to authorities in Helsinki, who were initially informed that the plane had crashed in a mysterious incident over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred just three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the Winter War. The discovery of the wreckage sheds light on an essential part of Finland’s World War II history and its complex ties with Moscow.
**Victims on Board**
All nine people on board the ill-fated Kaleva perished 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. American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who was on a mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga, was one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II.
**Conspiracy Theories**
Over the years, there have been various conspiracy theories surrounding the downing of Kaleva. Reports from Estonian fishermen and the lighthouse operator on Keri suggested that a Soviet submarine had surfaced near the crash site to retrieve floating debris, including document pouches collected by the fishermen. Speculation about the contents of these pouches and Moscow’s motive for shooting down the plane has continued to intrigue historians and researchers.
**Closure and Commemoration**
Jaakko Schildt, chief operations officer of Finnair, expressed that finding the wreckage of Kaleva brings closure to the tragic event, even though it cannot bring back the lives lost. A stone memorial on Keri island and a plaque at Helsinki’s Malmi airport terminal building, where Kaleva was supposed to arrive, serve as reminders of the victims of the crash. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has also been closely monitoring the recovery efforts.
**Future Plans**
The Estonian diving group plans to create 3D images of Kaleva’s debris and discuss with authorities the possibility of raising some of the items, including the plane’s cargo and any human remains that may be found. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Finnish and Estonian allies on any developments resulting from the recovery efforts. The discovery of the wreckage of Kaleva marks a significant milestone in the aviation history of the region and provides closure to a decades-old mystery..
Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow
Remains Finnish WWII plane shot down Moscow.