SBS Model D48008 Gloster Gladiator Finnish Air Force WW II

The Finnish air force began to use the blue right-facing swastika (Fin. Hakaristi) on a white background as its hallmark as early as 1918, so when Finland regained independence. Interestingly, this swastika by no means referred to the Nazi ideology (which, by the way, no one had heard of back then!), But was rather perceived as a symbol of happiness and prosperity taken from Norse mythology. During the Winter War (1939-1940) and the Continuation War (1941-1944) with the Soviet Union, these swastikas were painted on the middle parts of the fuselages and on the wings of Finnish aircraft. However, they were very rarely applied to horizontal ballasts. In the case of combat vehicles (e.g. tanks), they were most often painted on the towers and on the front armor plate. They were often painted blue with a white border just off the shoulders. These arms also happened to be shortened to 20-30% of their proper length. It is worth adding that in the case of the land forces, Hakaristi was officially adopted only in 1941. Previously, however, to mark Finnish vehicles, white and blue stripes were used, most often placed on tank turrets.