Fighter Squadron 21 history, Page 2

2. Kasinhäntä 1925 - 1939

The second phase of building the Kasinhäntä base was finished in summer 1925. There had been several changes in the Finnish Air Force organization during the early 1920s. In 1926 the organization was changed once again. Also the names of the air stations changed and the new organization remained intact all the way to 1933. In April 1926 the name of the Sortavala Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron 2 was changed into 2nd Separate Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was commanded by a major and two captains lead the flights which had six aircraft each.

In June 1933 Finnish Air Force changed its organization into air stations. The air station at Kasinhäntä became Air Station 3 and the squadron number 38. There were three flights in the squadron but because of the limited number of aircraft in the squadron only two flights were formed - and they were combined up to June 1936. It was planned that the squadron could get its third flight during the purchase of new aircraft in 1936 but this could be done only during autumn 1939.

Air Defence (anti-aircraft artillery) was organized under the command of the Commander-in-chief of the Finnish Air Force in 1937. Also the Finnish Air Force was reorganized during the process.

The solution was to combine the squadrons with similar war time missions into flight regiments. The new regiment organization was introduced on the first of January 1938. Flight Regiment 1 was the liaison regiment, Flight Regiment 2 the fighter regiment and Flight Regiment 4 the bomber regiment. There was no Flight Regiment 3 because the only maritime liaison squadron, Sqn. 36 - Separate Squadron by its new name - was directly under the command of the Commander of the Finnish Air Force. During the reorganization Squadron 38 based in Sortavala became under the command of Flight Regiment 1 as a separate unit. The squadron was renamed Squadron 16 because of the land liaison mission of the squadron.

In September 1939 Sqn.16 was reorganized into three flights from the original two flights.

Major E. Stenbäck in his parade uniform. He had military pilot's wings from six countries: Finnish (left pocket), German (under the Finnish wings), French (over the right pocket), Estonian, Latvian and Polish (over the ribbon). Maj. Stenbäck was the commander during 1929 - 35.Stenbäck could form a good aviator spirit in the pilot corps and a friendly atmosphere to the whole base.

Because of the tight Finnish Air Force budget most of the peacetime flying training for the aircrew had to be done with trainers in the 1930's. Combat aircraft could be used only for type conversion.

Sortavala detachment - like all other maritime detachments - used mainly the I.V.L. Hansa till the 1930's. In late 1925 the detachment had already 13 Hansas of which five were in use and the rest in storage. Winter operations were difficult because there were too few skis and they proved to be too weak for flight operations.

Hansa takeoff and a sea plane pilot (23616 bytes)

Sea plane pilot in flight suit (left photo). Flying overall, boots, life west, parachute, leather helmet and goggles. "The mannequin" chief master sergeant Viktor Törhönen. Notice the squadron insignia on the fuselage behind IL-46.

At the end of 1927 winter flight operations were prohibited with the Hansas because of low maintenance budget, too few officers and the poorly designed skis. Only the Commander of the Finnish Air Force could give a special permission for winter flights with Hansas. To continue the flying every detachment received three Caudron C.60 aircraft. Kasinhäntä received its first Caudrons at the end 1927. Kasinhäntä operated three Caudrons at the best. Aircraft CA-68 and CA-74 were destroyed in 1929 and 1930 in accidents. The last Caudron was transferred from Kasinhäntä in July 1930.

When the 1930's were nearing the end the Hansas were getting old and their condition poor. The biggest drawback in the performance was the old-fashioned Fiat engine. The Blackburn Ripon II F was selected as the successor of the maritime reconnaissance aircraft. In order to save the Hansas before the new type arrives Finnish Air Force acquired in 1828 British De Havilland Moth aircraft and in 1929 Finnish-built VL Sääski (Mosquito) aircraft. Both were more or less sports planes and had little military value. Also the poor employment situation at the state aircraft factory and tight air force budget affected the decision. Kasinhäntä received its first Moths in 1929 and then they had four flyable Hansas, two Caudrons and two Moths; in storage were seven Hansas. The last Hansa flight from Kasinhäntä took place in summer 1936.

Sääski (Mosquito) in engine test (33047 bytes)

Sääski (Mosquito) in engine test.

Finnish Air Force acquired in 1929 ten Finnish Sääski trainers (picture above). First were produced in 1930. First two Sääskis arrived at Kasinhäntä in April 1930. Because Finnish Air Force had a very tight fuel budget - even tighter after the depression during the 1930's - Sääski became the most used aircraft type during the latter part of the 1930's at Kasinhäntä.

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