EXCERPT FROM THE FLIGHT LOG OF RECONNAISSANCE AND BOMBER FLIGHT

(History of the Hanko Group, T-22005, Military Archives of Finland) 

15th of July 1941 

- Distributing propaganda leaflets: 15.7 - 16.7.1941. Time: 23:00 - 00:10. 

- Observations and mission: We approached the area flying in 3000 meters all the way to the area Bredvik. After that we started to glide towards the dynamite factory. We started to throw out the propaganda leaflets midway between Bredvik and the factory. Leaflets seemed to drop nicely to the direction of Hanko and Hanko Cape. Our altitude was 300 meters when we were on top of the factory. After this we glided along the railway line at an altitude of 170 meters. Propaganda leaflets were constantly thrown out. At the point 20,7, we turned towards Ekö and after that flied between Ekö and mainland to the southern side of Järnö, from where we continued flying along the channel. Finally we reached Trångsund and Snappertuna. There are several small fires in Bredvik. Either a fire or camp fire is in the northern side of the airfield. A huge fire was spotted in the area of Lappohja station. In the island of Ekö, there is either a fire or a camp fire in the middle of the island. We spotted few flashes from big guns in the peninsula of Hangonkylä.

- Special observations: Our plane received heavy AA-gun fire from a several places. Most likely these were 20mm guns. Our own AA-guns fired from Danskog. Ekö area remained silent. Two floodlights were also in action, from which one of them spotted our plane. The plane contains four hits and the engine isn't running normally anymore.

- Structure 416 seen from the entrance. According to the map symbols, this was a machine gun nest equipped with an observation cupola.

- The whole structure seen in the picture. The entrance is located on the right side of the picture and the parapet on the left side of the picture. Clearly this has been a machine gun nest, which has been positioned so, that it has been able to fire flanking fire along the Riilahti shoreline. No traces can be seen from the observation cupola though.

- The parapet seen closer.

- View towards the area of Rilax and the small peninsula where the structure 415 is located.

- Picture has been taken from the backside of the structure, facing towards the firing direction.

- View towards the entrance. The structure has retained its shape remarkably well.

- View from the shoreline towards the island of Storön. The trench line is located right in the shoreline. Most likely the view has been quite similar in 1941.