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Estonia
Narrative History
Estonian Air Force (pre-WW2)
After the Russian revolution of February 1917, the Estonian state obtained a degree of autonomy within Russia, which included the establishment of national armed forces. Thus many Estonians in the Russian Army returned home to take up arms for their homeland. The Estonian declaration of independence in early 1918 was not recognised by Germany, which invaded and occupied the country during 1918. The Estonian armed forces were disbanded.
Germany surrendered on 11 November 1918, and the Estonian provisional government immediately set about establishing a military aviation unit. The Aviation Company of the Engineer Battalion began to establish air bases near Tallinn for seaplanes and landplanes, but it wasn’t until January 1919 that the first operational aircraft was acquired – a captured Soviet Farman HF-30.
In the meantime, on 22 November 1918, the Soviet Red Army had attacked Estonia and soon occupied most of the country. The fledgling Estonian Army, with foreign assistance, managed to counter-attack in early January 1919 and went on to liberate the country by late February. It subsequently moved on to liberate Latvia. Aviation Company aircraft flew a limited number of missions in support of the army.
Following the February 1920 peace treaty with the Soviet Union, the Estonian Army was demobilised but the Aviation Company was retained. With the delivery of more aircraft it was reorganised as an Aviation Regiment (Lennuväe rügement), comprising a landplane squadron, seaplane squadron, flying school and workshops. More bases and seaplane stations were built.
Some Aviation Regiment pilots were involved in a pro-Soviet coup attempt on 1 December 1924, but this was crushed within hours. From 1925 the First World War era aircraft were gradually replaced by more modern types. During 1928 the Aviation Regiment came under the control of an Air Defence (Õhukaitse) organisation which included the Anti-Aircraft Artillery. Plans to acquire Spitfires and Lysanders from Britain where thwarted when the outbreak of war forced Britain to cancel all export orders.
After the defeat of Poland, Estonia was forced to accept a Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, signed on 28 September 1939. This allowed the Russians to establish military bases in Estonia, which were later used in the Winter War against Finland. On 17 June 1940 the three Baltic States were invaded by Soviet forces. Soviet-style elections were organised and the resulting communist parliament applied for membership of the Soviet Union. This was granted on 6 August 1940. During the June 1940 invasion the Air Defence took no action and subsequently aircraft remained locked in their hangars. The air force became the Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army in the summer of 1940.
On 22 June 1941 Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The speed of the advance was such that Estonia was soon cut-off from Russia by German forces. The 22nd Territorial Corps was ordered to evacuate to Russia but many Estonian personnel deserted and joined the guerrilla forces fighting the retreating Red Army. The Germans were welcomed as liberators when they arrived.
Key Dates
Estonian Air Force (pre-WW2)
21 November 1918 | Aviation Company of the Engineer Battalion created | |
January 1919 | First aircraft obtained – captured from the Soviets | |
1920 | Aviation Company expanded to an Aviation Regiment | |
1928 | Aviation Regiment comes under the control of the Air Defence organisation | |
17 June 1940 | Soviet Union invades Estonia – Estonian Air Force does not resist | |
June 1940 | Air Force becomes Aircraft Squadron of 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army | |
22 June 1941 | Germany invades the Soviet Union – Estonia soon occupied | |
June 1941 | 22nd Territorial Corps evacuates to Russia, but many Estonian personnel desert to fight the retreating Red Army |
Aircraft Not Used
Estonian Air Force (pre-WW2)
This page gives details of some of the aircraft types that were offered or promised to the pre-WW2 Estonian Air Force but not delivered, cancelled official orders, and types have been falsely reported as being in service.
Supermarine Spitfire I
12 Mk I Spitfires were ordered by the Estonian Government in 1937. The order was cancelled by the British Government at the outbreak of WW2.
Westland Lysander
Ten Lysander I aircraft were ordered in 1938, but the order was cancelled by the British goverment in September 1939 and the aircraft diverted to Finland and Egypt.
All-Time Aircraft Used List
Estonian Air Force (Pre-WW2)
Aircraft Type | Quantity | Service Entry | Out of Service | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ago C.IV | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | captured |
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIDC | 2 | 1930 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Aviotehas PN-3 | 1 | 1939 | 1940 | Estonia |
Avro 504K | 13 | 1919 | 1931 | United Kingdom |
Avro 504R Gosport | 12 | 1928 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Avro 616 Avian IVM | 6 | 1929 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Avro 626 Prefect | 4 | 1932 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Avro 652A Anson I | 1 | 1936 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Bristol Bulldog II | 12 | 1930 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
de Havilland D.H.9 | 13 | 1919 | 1933 | United Kingdom |
DFW C.V | 4 | 1919 | 1931 | captured |
FBA Type H | 1 | 1920 | 1925 | France |
Friedrichshafen FF41 | 1 | 1918 | 1919 | captured |
Gourdou-Leseurre GL-22B3 | 15 | 1925 | 1939 | France |
Grigorovich M.11 | 1 | 1919 | 1925 | captured |
Halberstadt C.V | 5 | 1919 | 1924 | captured |
Halberstadt CL.IV | 4 | 1920 | 1925 | captured |
Hanriot HD.14 | 2 | 1928 | 1928 | France |
Hawker Hart | 8 | 1932 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Henschel Hs 126B-1 | 5 | 1940 | 1940 | Germany |
Lebedev 12 | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | captured |
Letov S.228E | 4 | 1932 | 1940 | Czechoslovakia |
Lockheed 14 Super Electra | 1 | 1939 | 1940 | United States |
LVG C.V | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | captured |
Miles Magister | 1 | 1936 | 1940 | United Kingdom |
Nieuport 12 | 1 | 1919 | 1922 | France |
Nieuport 17 Bebe | 2 | 1919 | 1922 | France |
Nieuport 21 | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | France |
Nieuport 23 | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | France |
Nieuport 24bis | 2 | 1919 | 1922 | France |
Norman-Thompson NT.2B | 2 | 1919 | 1925 | United Kingdom |
Post, Org, Neudorf PON-1A | 4 | 1935 | 1940 | Estonia |
Post, Tooma, Org PTO-4 | 2 | 1939 | 1940 | Estonia |
Potez 25A2 TOE | 9 | 1925 | 1936 | France |
RAF B.E.2e | 2 | 1919 | 1919 | United Kingdom |
RAF R.E.8 | 6 | 1919 | 1921 | United Kingdom |
RWD 13 | ? | 1939 | 1940 | Poland |
Shchetinin M-16 | 2 | 1919 | 1919 | captured |
Short 184 | 8 | 1919 | 1933 | United Kingdom |
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter | 1 | 1919 | 1919 | United Kingdom |
Sopwith 2F1 Camel | 2 | 1919 | 1924 | United Kingdom |
Spad VIIC1 | 2 | 1925 | 1928 | France |
Estonian Air Force (pre-WW2)
History
Narrative Summary
Narrative history of the Estonian Air Force
Key Dates
Current Status
Disbanded in 1940 – not applicable.
Future Plans
Not applicable.
Markings
National Insignia
Aircraft Serial Numbers
Estonian military aircraft carried 0ne, two or three-digit serial numbers, e.g. D.H.9 ’17’.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used.
Current Aircraft Inventory
Not applicable.
All-Time Aircraft Used List
Alphabetical Order — Chronological Order
Aircraft NOT Used
False reports of aircraft on order or in service
Organisation
Main Headquarters
Tallinn.
Organisational Structure
For most of its existance the Estonian Air Force took the form of a single Regiment comprising a seaplane squadron, a landplane squadron, a flying school and some workshops.
Current Order of Battle
Not applicable.
Historical Orders of Battle
List of Historical Orders of Battle – to be added.
All-Time Flying Units List
Flight School
Landplane Group
Naval Aviation Group
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
Not applicable.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
In addition to the main base, here are also a number of smaller airports and airfields around the country which were sometimes used by the Air Force.
Military Air Bases Listing – to be added.
More Information
Books
Estonian Military Aviation Bibliography – to be added.
Estonian Air Force 1918-1940, Insignia Air Force Special No.3, Blue Rider 1999
Magazines
Air Enthusiast No.18
Websites
National Markings
Estonian Border Guard
This section describes and illustrates the various national insignia used by the Estonian Border Guard since its formation:
1993-present
The national flag is carried as a fin flash on fixed wing aircraft. All aircraft and helicopters operate with civil registrations. Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters carry the service title PIIRIVALVE LENNUSALK.
Aviation Squadron
History
The Aviation Squadron was formed in 1993 and is tasked with border patrol and transport duties. The Cessna is used for crew training.
Subordinate Units
None.
Aircraft
Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
---|---|---|---|
LET L-140UVP | 4 | 1993 – Present | ES-PLW/Y |
Cessna 172 | 1 | 2003 – Present | ES-PCO |
Unit Markings
Figure 1 |
---|
To be added |
Main Bases
Base | Duration |
---|---|
Tallinn | 1993 – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- World Air Forces Directory 2004/2005 (Ian Carroll)
Other Sources
To be added.
Helicopter Flight
History
The Helicopter Flight was formed in 1994 and is tasked with border patrol and Search-and-Rescue duties.
Subordinate Units
None.
Aircraft
Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
---|---|---|---|
Mil Mi-8 Hip | 4 | 1995 – Present | ES-PNA/B/C/D |
Schweizer 300C | 1 | 1999 – Present | ES-PSF |
AgustaWestland AW139 | 3 | 2007 – Present | ES-PWA/B/C |
Unit Markings
Figure 1 |
---|
To be added |
Main Bases
Base | Duration |
---|---|
Tallinn | 1994 – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- World Air Forces Directory 2004/2005 (Ian Carroll)
Other Sources
To be added.
Current Unit Assignments
Estonian Border Guard
Squadron | Type | Base |
---|---|---|
Lennukiteeskradil | Tallinn | L-410UVP-T |
Helikopteru Posms | Tallinn | AW139, Mi-8, Schweizer 300C |