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 wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
.
. .
Pilot Officer John McGee
The author of this sonnet was killed at age 19 flying a Spitfire in the
Second World War. He was one of 17,000 RCAF war dead, one of Canada's total of
104,000 victims of all wars.
General Nikunen wrote: "Clearly, the best fighter arriving during the temporary peace [between the Russian invasion of Finland in 1939 and the German invasion of Russia in 1941]
was the American designed Brewster 239 Buffalo. These were acquired during the
Winter War despite the U.S. law which prohibited the sale of war material to the
combatant countries. The loophole which permitted the acquisition of the
Brewster 239s was a clause in the law which permitted the sale of 'rejected'
equipment. It was 'arranged' that the U.S. Navy rejected 44 Brewster Buffaloes
which were then sold to Finland at a 'nominal price.'" (Only 43 F2As were
released; Brewster shipped one additional aircraft from parts on hand. - from
the prolog by Gen. Nikunen)
"Our Brewsters, contemporary fighters, were fat hustlers, just like bees.
They had speed, agility and good weaponry too. In addition to that they also had
protective amor behind the pilot's back and under his seat [installed by Finnish
mechanics]. We were happy to take them anywhere to take on any opponent."
Finland bought 44 Brewster B-239s on 16th, December 1939, but they were
received too late to see any combat during the Winter War. Unit price was 54 000
USD plus packing and delivery costs, also 10 spare engines, 20 propellers and
other spare parts were purchased for a total sale price of 3.4 million dollars
(168 million Finnish Marks). To the purchasers surprise all US Navy "property"
were removed at the factory from the Brewsters bought by Finland: guns, sights,
instruments and carrier equipment. Initially separately purchased Aldis-optical
(binocular) sights were used, but in the spring of 1941 before reflector sights
(Finnish V. T.h.m. 40 sights which were based on Revi 3c) were installed in
the Finnish Brewsters. Metric instruments were installed in Finnish Brewsters.
The Finnish B-239 "export"- models were equipped with refurbisuhed R-1820 G-5
engines taken from DC-3 airliners. The B-239s were designated from BW-351 to
BW-394. During the war the single 0.30" machine gun was replaced with a 0.50"
(12.7mm) and in 1943 all except one Finnish B-239s had four 0.50" machine guns.
The wing guns had 400 rounds and fuselage guns 200 rounds each (0.30" had 600
rounds). Pilot seat armor was installed to Finnish Brewsters (important
difference for pilot safety compared to F2A-1 and dictated by the Winter War
experience). There were a lot of other little fixes, changes and improvements to
the B-239 that were made locally in Finland during it's career.
