Captured Soviet aircraft in Winter War

[Juha Tompuri]

Punatähdestä hakaristiin (From Red Star to Swastika) by Atso Haapanen
http://www.apali.fi/kauppa/product_details.php?p=262
and
article of Martti Peltonen at Sotahistoriallinen Aikakauskirja (Journal of Military History)18:
The Air Forces's special logistics centres, the aviation depot and the aviation mainteinance depots, in the Winter War
mention the following captured Soviet planes:

I-15 8 captured, 5 of which were taken to Finnish AF inventory
I-153 12 captured, 8 to FiAF
I-16 4 captured, 1 to FiAF
SB-2 15 captured, 6 to FiAF
DB-3 8 captured, 5 to FiAF
TB-3 1 captured, none to FiAF
U-2 2 captured, none to FiAF
R-5 3 captured, none to FiAF

125 engines from the shot down planes were collected.
From them repaired and taken to use:
-25 engines from SB-2
-15 engines from fighters
-14 engines from DB-3
-1 750hp 12cyl engine
-6 500hp 12cyl engines
-2 5cyl radial engines

In addidion to the captured planes over 100 tons of metal from the shot down planes was collected, and from it, 86 tons was recycled.
Also almost 900 aircraft instuments were taken from the shot down planes.


Regards, Juha

[bf109 emil]

not being able to read or have access to the source listed, i have a question..did any of these captured planes, and i am sure they where all used, but did any use or fighting take place in the same winter war, or where they used later in the continuation war and for training, etc. what i mean is if these planes where captured where pilots able to learn the flying characteristics quick enough to use them back in action in the short time frame such as the winter war was or did they come useful in a sense after the war had ended?
thanks bf109 emil

[Juha Tompuri]

Of the captured planes two I-15bis planes were delivered to FiAF during the Winter War.
They were mainly used as trainers, but other of them also flew 5 combat missions (4 interception, 1 recon) but without enemy contact.
Later the older models were used as trainers and liasion, more modern types as fighters, recon-fighters, bombers, maritime patrol, photo recon...

Regards, Juha

[bf109 emil]

Juha, thank you

[Juha Tompuri]

Something related to the plane capturing:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 1600&hilit

Regards, Juha

[Slon-76]

I have question. And whether there are exact indications, when and where the Soviet planes have been seized during Winter war?
I know only a part of cases.

[Juha Tompuri]

I know only a part of cases.

Same here.
Even at the Atso Haapanen book, there is only very little data about the plane captures itself.
I'll try to check out the cases I can find. Might take a while.

Regards, Juha