CONCLUSION OF THE SECTION HANKO

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

4th of December 1941

- The reason for moving the Section Hanko to the Hanko Front was because it was decided that the actions of enemy planes, which disturbed our troops, must be stopped. It is irrelevant whether this mission was accomplished while trying to carry out the first order or was it accomplished because of the second order we received on 7th of November. In any case we can conclude, that the mission was carried out successfully.

- Only once did alone MBR-plane manage to throw propaganda leaflets to our troops. The poor weather at that time hindered our operations and thus the Russian plane managed to fly to our lines. Only once did the Russian fighter planes extend their flight out of the encirclement of Hanko and flew to Porkkala. These five planes however were engaged and forced to fly back.

- Additionally the Section Hanko managed to shoot down 2 confirmed enemy planes type I-16 and 1 unconfirmed. Additionally the huge naphtha fire in the Hanko harbour was a result of directing the artillery fire from one of our planes.

- Even when those results cannot in any way compensate the losses that our squadron took, when our oldest flight leader Captain Berg and 2nd Lieutenant Lakio were killed in action, the time that the squadron spent in the Hanko Front was a very interesting one and is well remembered by the soldiers who belonged to the Section Hanko. After all, our squadron got many good experiences when thinking our future actions.

Commander of Section Hanko: Captain Kullervo Lahtela.

- Some kind of a remains from a structure can be found from the area where structure 467 is suppose to be. However it is impossible to say from the remains what it has been and if it even dates from the wartime.

- According to the map symbol, there would have been an observation and fire control nest on top of the rock. It is not possible to get a full certainty whether or not this structure was ever build.

- If you look up to the treetop you can notice that a piece of wood has been tied with a wire to the tree. Remains from an antenna perhaps?

- View from the rock towards the island of Svedjeholmen and the area of Skåldö.

- Communications. There would be nothing to be seen today, from the above "position". Structure 467 could have been just a tent in this area. (Picture: The Finnish Defence Forces. Published 1942 in a book Hangö Belägras)