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Finnish Air Force Aircraft Codes - Two-Letter System
I've been trying to compile a complete list of Finnish 2-letter aircraft codes. No doubt I'm reinventing the wheel and there's a full listing out there somewhere ... but I haven't been able to find it.
The 2-letter system seems to be the fifth Finnish military aircraft coding system adopted since 1918 (more about the earlier systems later). Adopted in mid 1927, this system is
also the most enduring -- persisting until the present day. The letter codes are usually based on the name of the aircraft or its maker (with variations introduced for different types by the same maker). Captured Russian aircraft were intially an exception, being group generically (eg: VH or VP for Russian fighters or bombers, respectively).
The 2-letter codes are sometimes duplicated. Sometimes there were a small number of types from the same maker (eg: JU). Other times, disparate types were grouped into a generic gathering (eg: the Russian fighters and bombers mentioned above). Over time, codes have also been 'recycled' for new aircraft types entering service. These duplications are shown in my list by repeating the 2-letter code (arranged in chronological order). Code change sequences are shown chronologically with numbers in square brackets.
The Finns sometimes added a third, lower-case letter to the aircraft code. This was an indication of an engine change (eg: BUj for the Bristol Jupiter-engined Bulldog IIA while the Mercury-powered Bulldog IVA was plain BU). A slightly confusing example is AEj for the Aero A-32GR. Again, the 'j' is for Jupiter (in this case, Gnome-Rhône built) but it must be understood that the Finns regarded the A-32 as simply being a radial-engined version of the in-service Hispano-powered Aero A-11HS (coded AE).
That third, lower-case letter wasn't necessarily marked on the aircraft itself (has anyone ever seen an Ilmavoimat Curtiss H75A with CUc or CUw markings, for example?). In some cases, markings were never applied at all. That seems to be the case with aircraft of F19, the Swedish volunteer unit during the Winter War. Codes were apparently assigned to at least some of these 'loan' aircraft (eg: HH for the Mercury-engined Hawker Harts).
Most often, codes were not applied because the service life of a particular type was so short (eg: F19's Raab-Katzenstein RK 26, already in poor condition when it arrived). In other cases, loaned German aircraft retained their Luftwaffe identities -- for example, LLv.15's Osasto Malinen/Os.Jauri aircraft kept German markings until 1944 and then took on Finnish civil registers (eg: Arado Ar 196A-3 OH-PMK and Heinkel He 115C-1 OH-PMJ).
The 2-letter codes were assigned before delivery of aircraft. So, there are codes known for cancelled aircraft (eg: PU for the unbuilt VL Puuska fighter) and for undelivered aircraft (eg: RO for the Blackburn Roc). Other times, codes were changed before delivery - eg: the Fiat G.50 reportedly being assigned 'SA' but marked 'FA' upon delivery.
Some codes appear to be 'missing' Eg: France offered a range of aircraft during the Winter War. The CR.714 fighters and Hanriot C.232 trainers which arrived received codes (CA and HT, respectively) but what of the undelivered Koolhoven FK-58s and Potez 633s? Fokker was also preparing G.1Bs for Finland. Were these types not assigned codes because they had been donated (as opposed to being procured by the Ilmavoimant)?
Then there was 'war booty'. Initially, these aircraft were coded by role rather than type. So, both Tupolev and Ilyushin medium bombers were first coded VP for Venäläiset Pommittaj ('Russian Bomber'). Likewise, a range of Polikarpov fighters were coded VH for Venäläiset hävittäj ('Russian Fighter') - although, for unknown reasons, the Polikarpov I-15bis was coded VI. Many captured types retained their 'Venäläiset' codes - eg: VR (R-5); VU (U-2/Po-2); and VV (MBR-2). But, for some reason the VP and VH/VI codes were later changed. [1]
So, the list is below. But who's got more? ;D
__________________________________________
[1] The bomber changes seem quite rational - the Tupolev SBs were re-coded SB; the Ilyushin DB-3s and Il-4s were re-coded DB and DF. The logic of the fighter re-coding is a little harder to follow. They were re-coded IH (I-15bis); IR (I-16); and IT (I-153).
I've been trying to compile a complete list of Finnish 2-letter aircraft codes. No doubt I'm reinventing the wheel and there's a full listing out there somewhere ... but I haven't been able to find it.
The 2-letter system seems to be the fifth Finnish military aircraft coding system adopted since 1918 (more about the earlier systems later). Adopted in mid 1927, this system is
also the most enduring -- persisting until the present day. The letter codes are usually based on the name of the aircraft or its maker (with variations introduced for different types by the same maker). Captured Russian aircraft were intially an exception, being group generically (eg: VH or VP for Russian fighters or bombers, respectively).
The 2-letter codes are sometimes duplicated. Sometimes there were a small number of types from the same maker (eg: JU). Other times, disparate types were grouped into a generic gathering (eg: the Russian fighters and bombers mentioned above). Over time, codes have also been 'recycled' for new aircraft types entering service. These duplications are shown in my list by repeating the 2-letter code (arranged in chronological order). Code change sequences are shown chronologically with numbers in square brackets.
The Finns sometimes added a third, lower-case letter to the aircraft code. This was an indication of an engine change (eg: BUj for the Bristol Jupiter-engined Bulldog IIA while the Mercury-powered Bulldog IVA was plain BU). A slightly confusing example is AEj for the Aero A-32GR. Again, the 'j' is for Jupiter (in this case, Gnome-Rhône built) but it must be understood that the Finns regarded the A-32 as simply being a radial-engined version of the in-service Hispano-powered Aero A-11HS (coded AE).
That third, lower-case letter wasn't necessarily marked on the aircraft itself (has anyone ever seen an Ilmavoimat Curtiss H75A with CUc or CUw markings, for example?). In some cases, markings were never applied at all. That seems to be the case with aircraft of F19, the Swedish volunteer unit during the Winter War. Codes were apparently assigned to at least some of these 'loan' aircraft (eg: HH for the Mercury-engined Hawker Harts).
Most often, codes were not applied because the service life of a particular type was so short (eg: F19's Raab-Katzenstein RK 26, already in poor condition when it arrived). In other cases, loaned German aircraft retained their Luftwaffe identities -- for example, LLv.15's Osasto Malinen/Os.Jauri aircraft kept German markings until 1944 and then took on Finnish civil registers (eg: Arado Ar 196A-3 OH-PMK and Heinkel He 115C-1 OH-PMJ).
The 2-letter codes were assigned before delivery of aircraft. So, there are codes known for cancelled aircraft (eg: PU for the unbuilt VL Puuska fighter) and for undelivered aircraft (eg: RO for the Blackburn Roc). Other times, codes were changed before delivery - eg: the Fiat G.50 reportedly being assigned 'SA' but marked 'FA' upon delivery.
Some codes appear to be 'missing' Eg: France offered a range of aircraft during the Winter War. The CR.714 fighters and Hanriot C.232 trainers which arrived received codes (CA and HT, respectively) but what of the undelivered Koolhoven FK-58s and Potez 633s? Fokker was also preparing G.1Bs for Finland. Were these types not assigned codes because they had been donated (as opposed to being procured by the Ilmavoimant)?
Then there was 'war booty'. Initially, these aircraft were coded by role rather than type. So, both Tupolev and Ilyushin medium bombers were first coded VP for Venäläiset Pommittaj ('Russian Bomber'). Likewise, a range of Polikarpov fighters were coded VH for Venäläiset hävittäj ('Russian Fighter') - although, for unknown reasons, the Polikarpov I-15bis was coded VI. Many captured types retained their 'Venäläiset' codes - eg: VR (R-5); VU (U-2/Po-2); and VV (MBR-2). But, for some reason the VP and VH/VI codes were later changed. [1]
So, the list is below. But who's got more? ;D
__________________________________________
[1] The bomber changes seem quite rational - the Tupolev SBs were re-coded SB; the Ilyushin DB-3s and Il-4s were re-coded DB and DF. The logic of the fighter re-coding is a little harder to follow. They were re-coded IH (I-15bis); IR (I-16); and IT (I-153).
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