Dedication To An Aviator

DEDICATION TO AN AVIATOR
This page is dedicated to an Aviator.
He was not a Naval Aviator. He was not an American Aviator.
Although he died in a training accident, he was a combat veteran.
He flew and fought valiantly for his country.

His country was FINLAND.
His name was Pilot Sergeant Teuvo Severi VITIKAINEN.
He was 28 years old when he died on his birthday, Feb.19, 1944.

SGT. VITIKAINEN (1942)

Why am I dedicating a page to a man who flew aircraft with a Swastika as the National Emblem?
Who fought against an ally of the US in WWII.

Let me outline a few facts about Finland's involvement in WWII. This will be brief. There are some links at the bottom of this page that will provide far more detailed information. Some of these facts are easily verified in any historical book. Some are hard to find in the interest of so-called East-West detente' in the WWII and post WWII years.

There never was a state of declared war between the US and Finland.

The Finns used the Swastika as a National Symbol long before the Nazis adopted it and perverted the image. The Nazis tilted it, the Finns used it straight up and down. The Finns adopted it around the time they fought off the Bolshevik revolution that engulfed Russia near the end of WWI. Finland had been a Grand Duchy of Czarist Russia. They opted for Democracy. The Finns had their own revolution and refused to knuckle under to Communism. This was only the first time they rejected Communism!

Along similar lines, about the same time they adopted the "Coal Scoop" helmet, just as the Germans did near the end of WWI. That's another 'Nazi' symbol, that was not only not just Nazi, it was not solely German either! As the best design for head protection, our current Kevlar helmets use that design.

The big point. Prior to attacking Russia (Hitler's operation 'Barbarosa'), Nazi Germany and the USSR had signed a non-aggression, mutual aid pact. It was a thinly disguised plan to divide portions of Europe between them. "You take those and I'll take these". While many countries just laid down their arms and accepted their fate, Finland did not. They were part of the package for Stalin's Russia. Once again, they refused to accept the yoke of Communism. When the USSR launched an attack in the winter of 1939, a small 300,000 man Finnish military fought a 3 million man Russian Army to a standstill. Ultimately, the sheer weight of numbers and the lack of support from the 'FREE WORLD' forced them to accept a 'cease-fire' and negotiate terms. The price, a large portion of FINLAND stolen by the USSR and held to this day.

Why was there no help from the 'Free World'? Let's go back a few months to Sept. 1939 when Nazi Germany attacked Poland from the West. How many people know that the USSR simultaneously attacked Poland from the East? They met in the middle and shook hands, much like the Allies and Russian troops did at the end of WWII. Because it was the 'last straw' with Hitler, Britain and France honored their vow and declared war on Germany. Why they didn't with Russia is a mystery. Partly because the USSR 'low-keyed' their attack, and partly because it was only Stalin's 'first straw'. That, plus it was an alliance they could not beat.

When the USSR attacked Finland, had Britain and France helped the Finns, it would have been tantamount to declaring war on Russia, thus solidifying the unholy alliance of the Nazis and Russians. The Nazis would probably have delayed their turning on Russia in 1941. The world would surely be different than it is now.

When the Nazis did attack Russia, Finland saw an opportunity to regain their stolen territory and joined in the attack. ONLY in the area of their own territory. Thus they became 'allies' of Germany and the recipient of military aid from the Germans.

They did regain their territory temporarily. When Nazi Germany began to collapse the Russians came again. They again stole the Finnish territory and then forced the Finns to fight the Nazis to push them out of Finland. That was the 3rd stage of involvement for Finland in WWII and the fighting was just as fierce as the first and second stages.

It was during the second stage that Sgt. Vitikainen was killed in the training accident.

The following paragraphs are extracted from the book, KOHTTALOKKAT LENNOT by Jaakko Hyvonen, detailing the fate of Finnish Pilots in WWII. This is Sgt. Vitikainen's entry:
Intro
details
I will provide the translation soon.

I still haven't given a good reason for honoring this particular Aviator with a page.
I never knew him.
I was only 4 years old when he died.
I am a born in the US, American citizen.
His youngest daughter, Hanna-Leena was only 6 months old when he died.
She never really knew him, either.

However, he is my Father-in-law.
Sgt. Vitikainen's youngest daughter is my wife, Annie.
Without Sgt. Vitikainen, my life would be significantly different.

THIS PAGE WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ANNIE.

This Poem is Dedicated To Pilot Sergeant Teuvo Severi VITIKAINEN.

HIGH FLIGHT
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

**HIGH FLIGHT**
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

The Cycle of Life Continues.

Sgt. Vitikainen's Grandson, Mike; Granddaughter-in-law, Michele; Great Grandaughter, Krista (2 1/2) and Great Grandaughter, Liisa (1 month). May 1999 at Liisa's Christening.

Links to More Info on Finland

Finland in WWII. The 3 wars fought by Finland during WWII

The Finnish Air Force in the Second World War.

The Finnish Air Force: WWII. The full story of the Finnish Swastika.

Facts About Finland. A people with true 'SISU'.

Sisu translation for Americans: It is like saying they have 'True Grit', only more so.

Background Music is "The Cruel War"

Counter for this page only. visitors since 20 Nov. 1997
Main Site counter on Home Page