Finnish Air Force - Pilot

Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
Like the Baltic countries, Finland was considered part of the Russian empire, although with more independence, until the Bolshevik revolution in 1917. During the war for Finnish independence (1917-18), Swedish Count Eric von Rosen gifted the white forces (pro-Finnish nationalists fighting communists) an airplane on 6 March 1918. This is considered the first aircraft of the Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) and the date is celebrated as air force day making the FiAF one of the oldest independent air services. The plane that was gifted was decorated in Baron von Rosen’s personal rune and good luck symbol, a blue, squared swastika on a white background. In appreciation for his gift, this became the central symbol of the FiAF.

The new series of badges incorporating the new FiAF symbol were designed and issued in June 1918 and worn into both the Winter War (1939-1940) and the Continuation War (1941-1944) until Finland’s surrender and armistice with Soviet forces in September 1944 (the final peace treaty was signed in 1947).

A new series of FiAF qualification badges was designed and issued in 1945, incorporating the crowned, blue disc but with wings extending on either side and a golden, downward-looking eagle replacing the swastika. This badge design is still in use today.

All information courtesy of Tod Rathbone

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Single screw back
Warren Carroll Collection
1/18/2002
Please see Mr. Carroll's wonderful book on British Commonwealth wings in the Resources section.
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47.7 mm
61.5 mm

VELJEKSET SUNDQVIST
Single screw back

5/10/2002
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44.0 mm
60.9 mm


Single screw back

6/25/2002
Notice that the swastika is outlined in a gold color and the background of the blue disk has a 3-D look to it.
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Single screw back
Thomas Huss Collection
7/1/2013
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46 mm
62 mm


Single screw back
Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
This M1918 pilot badge, the award certificate, the M1944 pilot badge and the miniature medals belonged to Åke Lennart B. T. Hohenthal. He was issued pilot badge 815 on 26 March 1941.
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90 mm
24 mm

VELJEKSET SUNDQVIST

Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
M1944 pilot badge belonged to Åke Lennart B. T. Hohenthal. He was issued pilot badge 815 on 26 March 1941.
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Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
Hohenthal is second in from the right
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Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
Official military pilot graduation and award document in Finnish to Åke Lennart B. T. Hohenthal
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Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
Official military pilot graduation and award document in French to Åke Lennart B. T. Hohenthal
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Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
Miniature medals of Åke Lennart B. T. Hohenthal
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19 mm
26 mm



Tod Rathbone Collection
8/11/2019
Miniature pilot charm. These were engraved with the pilot’s name and given as charms to family and sweethearts. This particular medal was given by Viktor Pyötsiä, a Finnish ace with 19.5 total victories. The badge is engraved, “Father-Vikki, 24-12-44”. Vikki was his nickname. A photo of Pyötsiä is included in the detail page.
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Screw posts


2/3/2002
This is a post September 1944 Finnish pilots badge. The Russians forced the Finns to get rid of their original swastika pilot badge which is displayed above. Note that this wing is actually larger than the wing displayed above. They are not shown in the same scale.
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88.1 mm
23.3 mm
20.7 grams
VELJEKSET SUNDQVIST
Screw posts

6/14/2002
This is a post September 1944 Finnish pilots badge. The Russians forced the Finns to get rid of their original swastika pilot badge displayed above.
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Screw posts
Chris Langley Collection
2/5/2011
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars