March 2, 2025 • 61 mins
In The Crease (ITC) is where history, mystery, and the human condition collide. Hosted by J E DOUBLE F, each episode blends storytelling, analysis, and dark humor to explore the strange, the forgotten, and the unsettlingly relevant.
🎧 New episodes release bi-weekly.
📅 Current Season: ITC Season 4 (Episodes 61–80).
🎧 New episodes release bi-weekly.
📅 Current Season: ITC Season 4 (Episodes 61–80).
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
The Boy, the.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Sport at.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
The Game, the past Company.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Welcome to In the Crease or ITC for short, the
podcast where I feel like I have to follow Adrian
Cronauer as we deep dive into the raw, the remarkable,
and the unforgettable stories that shape our world. I'm your host,
jeble F, also known as a cosmic bard over on
(02:27):
Twitter or x depending on what day it is. Now,
whether you're a history enthusiast, a storyteller, or maybe just
curious a little, it's got something here I think that
will keep you engaged from start to finish. Today we're
stepping in the stories that carry weight, tales of war
(02:47):
heroism and resilience that refuse to fade. A heads up,
though this show will try not to pull punches, you
might hear references to Nazi World War two and maybe
some harsh realities of conflict. So if that's not your thing,
now's the chance to step away. But if you're ready
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to explore with me, we're about to uncover some extraordinary lives.
Two Finnish brothers who etch their names in the military
history through grit and skill. It might be intense, it
is real, and it's packed with more turns than you expect,
and I'm just glad I'm getting this out before the
fat Electricians steals this. So settle in and get comfortable,
(03:34):
for we are about to begin. This is in the
crease where we don't just recount history, we try to
bring it to light. So let's get started now. In
the annals of Finnish military history. Yes, oh my god,
just talking about Finland again, the Uti Lighten brothers Arn'tie
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Edward Udelighten and I know el Maari lu Uten Lighten
stand out as a bit of a unique duo of
wartime legends. Born a decade apart, the two brothers followed
very different paths into combat. One became a renowned infantry
captain nicknamed Moroccan Kaoui which is the Terror of Morocco
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for his ferocity on the battlefield, while the other soared
into the skies as Finland's Ace of Aces, the top
fighter pilot of the nation. Despite their divergent military career,
one in the trenches in forest and other in fighter cockpits,
both earned an esteem place in Finland's fight for survival
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during World War Two. Their exploits during the Winter War
of thirty nine and forty and the Continuation War of
forty one to forty four turned them into near mythical
figure symbolizing the courage, skill and resolve also known by
Fenns as Secial of the Finnish Armed Voices. We begin
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with their early life and family background, uncovering the influences
that shaped them. We then delve into the career of
Captain arna eudelighten the older brothers who's daring service in
the French Foreign Legion and later heroics and Finland's Winter
War and earned him the moniker Terror of Morocco. Then
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we will turn to io U to lighten, the younger brother,
who became Felin's greatest fighter ace, credited with a stunning
tallly of aerial victories in World War Two. We'll also
explore the bond between brothers, highlighting how their lives intertwined
in the ways they inspired and supported one another. But
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beyond their individual stories, will consider their broader impact on
Finnish military history. How Arnie's defiant leadership helped forge the
legendary coal lost spirit of the Winter War, and how
Ilmari's aerial mastery sets records that put Finland on the
world map of Aba in legacy and modern recognition. We
will look at how Finland today remembers these two men,
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from memorials in literature, to recent films and cultural references. Throughout,
I'm gonna sprinkle some antidotes and even moments of humor.
We'll see if they land or not. From Arnie's famous
quiffs on the battlefield to legends of Ila Marii's almost
unbelievable luck in combat. To paint a more humanizing portrait
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of both men beyond their battlefield reputations, and by presenting
their story side by side and hopefully an engaging narrative,
I aim to honor two amazing Finnish brothers service and
explain why they remain such celebrated figures. Now, whether one
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is a history enthusiast familiar with Finland's wartime sago, or
a general reader new to these names, the tale of
El and Arnay offer a fascinating look at two very
different heroes united by blood, war and legacy. And yes,
this is not a make belief story. It takes place
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in Finland, which is real and if you are on
the other side of the fence, you can visit kalornradio
dot com. Back slash store as there is a new merchandise.
Finland is real. No, it's not juxtaposition versus itc mug
in the shop. Not early life. Arnie Edward Judaeliten was
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born on October eighteenth, nineteen oh four, in the town
of Soovala, which is at the time was part of
the Grand Duchy of Finland under the Russian Empire. Ten
years later, on February twenty first, nineteen fourteen, his younger brother, Heinslamari,
was born in Leesca, another town in eastern Finland. The
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boys were born to Thomas Uda Lighten, a railway clerk,
and his wife Helmi Sophia neh Koppenen. The family's life
in the early twentieth century was shaped by a Finland
in transition, on the brink of independence and soon not
the bul tested by war, and both brothers grew up
in Keralia, a region that would soon see conflict. Not
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much detailed information survives about their parents, unfortunately, but it
is clear that the Utilitan children grew up in patriotic
environment during turbulent times. Both brothers would go on to
leave an indelible mark in the history of Finland, as
I said. At the time of Arney's birth, Finland was
still an autonomous Grand duchy of the Russian Empire, and
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by the time Olmari was born a decade later, the
country had just become in the pen That so brothers
technically born to two different countries, most likely born in
the same household. Now Arnie, the eldest, came of age
during a time of conflict. Finland declared independence from Russia
in nineteen seventeen, and a civil war erupted in nineteen
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eighteen between the Whites and the Reds now the Whites
in this instant means the non communist forces and the
Reds meeting the communist Although only thirteen to fourteen years old,
Arnie was drawn to the fighting. He participated in the
Finnish Civil War in a support role, loading machine gun
belts for the White troops in nineteen eighteen. This early
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baptism of fire left a deep impression on him. The
very next year, still a teenager, Arnie even attempted to
volunteer for the Anuse Expedition in nineteen nineteen, a military
venture aiming to annex parts of Russia's East Carolina to Finland.
He was so eager to serve that he forged his
parents' consent, but recruiters discovered his deception turned him away
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due to his young age. These useful exploits show a
boy hungry for adventure in military glory from the start.
In contrast to Omar was a small child during those
tumultuous years. He was just a toddler in nineteen eighteen,
but he undoubtedly grew up hearing accounts of Finland's face
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for freedom and his bigger brother's adventures. By the twenties,
as Finland settled into independence, the Unilitan family resided in Sotavola,
where Arnie attended the local high school and proved to
be an active athletic youth. He excelled at skiing, horseback riding, fencing,
and even the Finnish variant of baseball pessepola, playing on
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a local team in nineteen twenty four. Now, this level
of sports and the outdoors would serve him well in
military life. Now, it's likely that Amari also inherited an
interest in physical fitness and mechanics as a teenager in
the early thirties, for Amari learned aircraft mechanics and then
pilot training indicating a technical aptitude in drive from the
very young age as well. Now, a crucial link between
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the brothers emerged in nineteen thirties. By this time, Arnie
was already pursuing a military career and Amari was reaching
adulthood and a Finland that was rapidly modernizing into and
within its small armed forces. According to later accounts, it
was Arnie who helped sparked Elmari's passion for aviation by
giving him a special book, The Wartime Memoir of Manfred
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von Richthoven, the famous World War One flying ace known
as the Red Baron. This gift made a profound impression
on the young l Maury. Reading The Red Baron's tales
awakened him within him the dream of becoming a fighter pilot. Indeed,
around nineteen thirty two and thirty three, Almari joined the
Finish Air Force and began his pilot training, following the
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calling that that book apparently stirred within him. And while
Lamari was finding his wings, Arnie's life took a more
complicated route. He had decided to become a professional soldier
in rolling in Finland's Reserve Officer school in nineteen twenty five,
and then the Cadet Office School in twenty six twenty seven. However, Arnie,
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having a bit of an independent streak and a pinchant
for hard living, soon caused some trouble. He was forced
to drop out of Cadet school in nineteen twenty seven
for a quote lifestyles unsuitable for an active officer unquote
a polite way of saying. He clashed with the strict
discipline expected of Finnish officers, so he resigned from the
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Finnish Army in nineteen twenty eight, a setback that could
have ended his military ambitions. But Arnie was not done
with soldiering, indeed, far from it. He was the call
of adventure and war was too strong within him, and
he would soon lead him far from home to the
deserts of North Africa. Now, when the Finnish Army's peacetime
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routine proved too confining for arna Udeliten, he sought action elsewhere.
In June of nineteen thirty, at age twenty five, he
traveled to France and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.
He was transferred to North Africa for five years, saw
combat in French colonial campaigns battling Berber rebels in Morocco's
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Atlas Mountains. Because of his service in Morocco, fellow Finns
would later nickname him merokan Ca, which meaning the Terror
of Morocco. By the time he returned to Finland in
June of nineteen thirty five, he had been decorated with
the Legion Cross and even granted French citizenship for his
valor and service. But back in Finland Army, Arney decided
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to resume his military life. He was reinstated as a
junior officer in the Finnish Army and by nineteen thirty
eight was serving as an aryan stre rector for the
Civil Guard in Ulu. His exotic military background made him
somewhat of a minor celebrity among his compatriots. The company
he led, of course, was informally dubbed the Moroccan Company
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in reference to his nickname. In fact, the men in
this handpicked company were all proven fighters, many were decorated
for bravery. His legion reputation and hands on combat experience
earned him respect, but Arnie being Arnie, he still struggled
with authority in the stead peacetime Army. In the autumn
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of nineteen thirty nine, just as the tensions with the
Soviet Union were reaching a breaking point. Arnie even considered
leaving Finland again to rejoin the French Foreign Legion. Now,
fate would intervene in the forms of a Soviet invasion
of Finland and November of nineteen thirty nine, the outbreak
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of the Winter War changed the course of his future,
and Arnie was swept back into the ranks to fend
his homeland. In the Winter War, it pitted tiny, little
idy biddy Finland against the enormous, gigantic Soviet Union and
a brutal struggle for survival. Lieutenant Utiliten now thirty five,
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was placed in command of a company an Infanty Infantry
Regiment thirty four on the Eastern Front. It was the
crucible the Battle of Cola and Ladoga, Kerala that his
leadership in bravery became the stuff of legend. Cola was
one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front.
Throughout the winter of thirty nine and forty the fighting
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there was desperate. Soviet divisions attacked repeatedly trying to break
through to the vital roads beyond the fins. Though vastly outnumbered,
held the line with almost superhuman determination. During the battles,
Arnie's combat experience in bold style proved invaluable, yet a
talent for inspiring his men. Those who served with him
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later praised his courage and his neck for instilling fighting
spirit by personal example. At one critical moment, Major General
Vodemar Hoglan, commander of the region, inquired by radio if
the troops at Cola could hold out until the under
the mounting pressure eu to Lighten's reply was iconic in
its brevity and resolve. Kayla kesta elakaka cocun used kaman. Basically,
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cola will hold unless the orders are to run now.
This defiant promise once again embodied the Finnish sisu of
the good defenders. Uti Lighten meant what he said. Only
a week earlier he had ignored in order to withdraw
at Cola, choosing instead to stay and fight. His superior
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Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm Titanen later noted that Udi Lighten created
the colas heared on that front by his steadfast example.
The phrase cola casta, Cola will hold became a sort
of slogan for Finnish perseverance, and true enough, Cola did hold.
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Now under Arney's command, Jr. Thirty fourth sixth Company performed
so well that it began to be called again the
Moroccan Company after him. The troops were crack marksmen and
skiers that he personally trained in guerrilla tactics, using many
tricks he had learned while with the Legion. This unconventional
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approach paid off in the dense woods and deep snow
of Cola, where small Finnish units excelled at ambushing and
harassing larger Soviet formations. Utiliten's company managed to saw far
larger enemy forces. His men were inspired by his personal courage,
and according to those who served there, the men had
the ability to electrify his troops and instilled fighting spirit
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just by his sheer presence. They even affectionately called him Papa,
suggesting that despite or maybe because of his ferocity he
has seen, he was seen as a paternal figure who
cared for their well being. Now within Arney's company at
Cola served another individual who also would become legendary in
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his own right. Sim Ohaya, the humble farmer turned sniper
who earned the nickname White Death for his astonishing marksmanship.
Under Udaalaiten's leaderships, heemo killed and estimated two hundred plus
Souvie soldiers in just a few months, becoming one of
history's deadliest snipers. The fact that Haya and Moroccan Caou
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fought in the same sector added to the almost mythical
status of the coal of battles. It was as if
that one remote forest front had an outside his share
of Finland's biggest balls. Eutylitan's bravery did not come without cost.
The Winter War was unforgiving. He was wounded several times
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in combat, and by the war's end he had lost
one finger on his ring hand to a Russian shrapnel blast,
but injuries did not diminish his ferocity. By early nineteen forty,
Arne had been promoted to captain and he was placed
in command of a specialized unit that continued the fight
at Colap. This elite unit of quote, good shots and
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good skiers unquote, was proudly referred to by many as
CAPTAINI eutiletan Merokokin Compini or Captain Eutylitan's Morocco Company, further
cementing Arnie's persona as a larger than life warrior whose
very nickname could motivate his men. His conduct during the
Winter War was so impactful that Lieutenant Colonel Tatanan credited
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him with creating the coal of spirit among the troops.
Now eyewitness accounts described Captain Udeliton as a fearless leader
who often led from the front. He was known for
taking care of his men and being fair minded in
the thick of battle, which of course earned him the
respect of his soldiers. He could rouse exhausted, freezing troops
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to keep fighting when things seemed the most dire by
sharing their risk in refusing to yield. Yet Arney style
was not gentle. He was, after all, the terror to
both the enemy and sometimes his own unit. He was
high strung and could be ferocious and enforcing discipline. In
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one incident later recounted, Arne even fired a pistol shot
near a reluctant subordinate's feet to prod him into action.
He tolerated no cowardice or hesitation. Soldiers would half joke
that Arne kept his pistol more out of his holster
than in it, a testament to his quick trigger when
pushing his men. Despite such intimidation, tactics those under his
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command knew that he ultimately had their backs. His men
respected him deeply and understood that his fierceness toward them
was part of his drive to keep them alive and fighting.
By the end of the Winter War in March nineteen forty,
Arne Udi Lten was a national hero. It had also
been hardened by the truly horrific conditions of that conflict.
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Years later, on his seventieth birthday in nineteen seventy four,
Arney reflected that the battles he fought in the Sahara
quote were nothing compared to the Winter War unquote, where
he described it as inhuman and day to day. Coming
from someone who had seen colonial warfare of close, this
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was a powerful statement about the intensities of Finland's fight
in thirty nine and forty. Now having spent nearly his
entire youth in adulthood in war or preparing for war,
Arney actually found peace time to be the hardest battle.
After his resignation, the forty year old veteran settled in
Helsinki without a clear purpose or daily military structure. He
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drifted through odd jobs to support himself. He had difficulty
adjusting to civilian life and eventually turned heavily to alcohol
as an escape. The larger than life Terra Morocco, who
had once epitomized bravery, now became an example of how
war can haunt and unmore a person. On October twenty eighth,
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nineteen seventy six, Arnie Edward Udelighton died alone in a
nursing home in Helsinki at the age of seventy two.
He was buried at Mommy sent Cemetery in Helsinki. His
grave mark by a simple headstone. Thus ended the life
of a man who had been both a national hero
and in later years a tragic figure. In Finnish memory, however,
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Arne and cahu Uta Lighten is remembered first and foremost
as the embodiment of the Winter Wars fighting spirit, a
fearless frontier leader who never gave an inch to the enemy.
His famous promise cola keats lives on as a defining
phrase of Finnish resolve now. While his older brother fought
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on the ground, Ilo mai Udaliten duld in the skies
I know Il mari elu Udaalitin was Finland's greatest fighter pilot,
officially credited with ninety four confirmed aerial combat victories, the
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highest score of any non German pilot of World War Two.
This tally makes him the top flying ace of Finnish
Air Force, and indeed one of the top aces in
the world during that conflict. He led all finished pilots
and victories against Soviet aircraft in World War Two, and
in the entire history of air warfare, very few fighter
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pilots from any country have surpassed a Mari School score.
And I know what you're thinking, and you're right. The
Fins largely fought against the Soviets, which means they were
fighting alongside Germans. That said, they never actually signed up
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with the Nazi, so let's cut them some slack, and
eventually later they kicked them out. But I would be
remiss if I didn't mad that story, because you're gonna
hear about the Soviet during World War Two. Now, his
path to the cockpit began in the early thirties. He
entered the Finnish military in thirty two for his compulsory
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service and initially worked as an aircraft mechanic in the
Alma Volumat or the Air Force, demonstrating a natural applic
for aviation he learned to fly on his own time
and formally joined the Air Force as a pilot trainee
in thirty three. By thirty five he had qualified as
a sergeant pilot, which is basically a non commissioned officer pilot,
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and on the first of May and thirty five he
was promoted to sergeant. He was subsequently assigned to the
number twenty four fighter Squadron in March of thirty nine.
Squadron twenty four would soon become the most fabled fighter
unit in Finland, and Utiliten was poised to play a
major role in its At the outbreak of the Winter
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War in late November thirty nine, Sergeant utel Lighten and
his squadron were moved to Amala Airfield in southeast of Finland,
closer to the front. The unit was equipped with the
Foker d XXI, a Dutch made single seat fighter. The
Foker was an outdated design, a fixed landing gear monoplane
that was slower and less armed than the Soviet fighters
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it would face, such as the Soviet Polikarpoff I sixteen. Nonetheless,
finished pilots made the most of what they had and
let's face the folks. Thirty construction and good maneuverability, and
in a dive could actually be quite effective in the
hand of a skilled flyer. Now, as war began, Finland's
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fighter force was tiny, and every pilot had to make
a difference. Lamari's first taste of air combat came on
December nineteenth, nineteen thirty nine, after weeks of poor flying.
Whether The sky's cleared that day and the Finish fighter
scrambled to intercept incoming Soviet bombers. Near the town of Antrea,
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Eutel Lighten caught sight of three Soviet Illusion dB three
bombers diving from above. He attacked persistently, even as the
bombers jettison their payloads and turned for home. Eutel Lightin's
gunfire riddled the enemy planes. He shot out the dB
three's rear gunners and then poured bullets into one of
their engines. One bomber nosed over and crashed, and he
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damaged the other two quote it was more like firing
on a training target unquote, he later said modestly of
the encounter. This action earned you to Lighten his first
aerial victory that downed dB three and two more as damaged.
A few days later, on December thirty first of thirty nine,
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he engaged a faster Soviet I sixteen fighter and a
tight dogfight. Using cloud cover to outmaneuver his opponent, he
got behind the I sixteen and shot it down. By
the end of the Winter War in March nineteen forty,
Utiliten had achieved two individual kills in one shared kill.
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Given the brevity of that war, which was only three
and a half months, this was a respectable start for
a young sergeant. It would also give him invaluable combat
experience and confidence. Although his score in the Winter War
was modest, Uti Lighten had proved himself a rising star.
He also gained a reputation as a cool headed and
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precise pilot who never wasted ammunition. Philin's handful of fighter
pilots became national heroes during the Winter War. Their exploits
were followed closely by the public as rare good news,
and Uti Layten's role flying alongside aces like Lieutenant Yorma Sarvanto,
who famously downed six Soviet bombers in one mission in
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January of nineteen forty, put him in fine company. The
Winter War ended in March of forty with a hard
piece for Finland, but the pilots of Squadron twenty four
had made the Soviet Air Force pay very dearly, achieving
in an outstanding victory to lost Ratio. Now, after a
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tense interim peace, Finland found itself at war again with
the Soviet Union just a little over a year later
in June of nineteen forty one, this time allied with
Germany in hopes of regaining lost territories. By now warrant
officer of Utiliten, promoted once more, was a seasoned fighter pilot.
His squadron still Unit twenty four had re equipped with
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American made Brewster B two three nine Buffalo fighters. Those
considered a mediocre aircraft elsewhere, the study Brewster Buffalo and
finished Hands proved highly effective, thanks in Part two pilots
like Elu, who exploited its strengths, which were good maneuverability
and range, and learned how to mitigate its weaknesses. As
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soon as the hostilities resumed, Utilitan's victory count began climbing rapidly.
On July twenty first, nineteen forty one, he and five
other Brewsters intercepted Soviet fighters, then the IE one fifty
threes that were strafing Finnish troops near Kakasali. At the fight,
Amari shot down one eye, one, five three, making him
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an ace now with five victories in the Brewster. He
followed that up with more successes. August first, during a
large dog fight over Rusharva, he downed two Soviet I
sixteen fighters, and by the end of forty one his
tally was already reaching in the double digits. Throughout forty
one and forty two, he continued to fly with Unit
twenty four, and his victory count kept climbing. He was
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promoted to staff sergeant and became one of the squadron's
leading hornets, a finish term for hot shot pilots. On
the sixth of February and forty two, he and other
Finns encountered a formation of Soviet bombers tuple off SB
two's escorted by fighters Euteliten dives. It dived down into
the Meliu and shot down two bombers in that engagement,
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and of course these feats made headlines in Finland, and
by early forty two his personal score had now exceeded twenty.
On the twenty sixth of April, after achieving twenty two victories,
Euteliten was awarded the Mannerheim Cross, second class, Finland's highest
military honor, becoming his unit's first night of Mannaheim Cross.
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He was twenty eight years old and now indisputably one
of Finland's greatest living war heroes, and during forty two
he continued to excel All told, he scored thirty four
victories in the Brewster B two thirty nine Buffalo fighter.
Many of these were against Soviet aircraft like Logs threes
and mid threes, which he out flew through superior tactics
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and markmanship. By late forty two, he was among top
bases in the world at the stage of the war,
not surprisingly, when the Finnish Air Force acquired a batch
of modern German fighters in forty three, the Messerschmidt BF
one oh nine G two, Uteliden was, of course the
first group of pilots chosen to transition to the new planes.
In early forty three, Eutelighten was also among the Finnish
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pilots sent to Germany to train on the BF one
O nine. He even personally flew one of the new
fighters back to Finland after training. The BF one O
nine was a quantum leaping performance over the Brewster. It
was faster, it climbed quicker, and U packed a heavier punch.
With this new superior speed and firepower, he continued to
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dominate the skies. He was transferred in forty three to
Unit thirty four, the new squadron equipped with the BF
one H nine G twos, and then in these measure Schmidts,
his kill rate accelerated further. He added another fifty eight
victories in nineteen forty three and forty four, and on
June thirtieth, nineteen forty four, during the Soviet Summer Offensive,
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Uti Lighten had his most spectacular day. He shot down
six Soviet aircraft in a single day, an ace and
a day feat that matched the finish record first set
by Lieutenant Yorma Sarvanto in January of forty By the
time of the ceasefire in September forty four, his official
counsel stood at ninety four confirmed victories, making him not
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only the top finish ace of World War Two, but
also the highest scoring non German fighter pilot of the
entire war. Despite their divergent pass though the Utiliten brothers
actually remained close and influenced each other profoundly. Arnee and
Omari were separated in age by ten years and in
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wartime roles by an even wider golf, one fighting in
those freezing foxholes in the other up in the wild
blue wonder. Yet their brotherly connection and third through it all.
Even before the wars, Arnie had that direct hand in
shaping Imari's destiny with that Ricktoven book gift, and Elmari
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always looked up to Arnie as a daring adventure and Arnie,
in turn took pride in Ilmari's eagerness to serve. This
fraternal encouragement bore fruit when Omari pursued flight training and
joined the Air Force, which was actually a somewhat unusual
pass in those days that his family fully supported. When
World War Two came to Finland, their pass rarely crossed physically.
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Arnie was commanding troops on the front lines and Amari
miles above. However, each brother was well aware of there's
each other's exploits. News of Captain Mutilane and Serroke stand
of Cola in the winter war undoubtedly reached Amari and
filled him with pride, just as Arnie later learned of
Amari's growing tally of downed Soviet plans. They corresponded when
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they could through letters via family or military post, and
sent regards, and one surviving note from nineteen forty two,
Arnie congratulated Amari on receiving the Mannerheim crossed and playfully
urged him to quote keep those reds off my back unquote.
Amari responded by expressing admiration for Arnie's winter warfeed, saying
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that his own achievements paled in comparison to what big
brother had done on the ground. This mutual admiration shows
that each brother valued the other's roles deeply. That said,
personality wise, the brothers were very, very different. Arnie was
hot tempered, aggressive and sometimes unruly. Omari was calm, disciplined,
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and good natured. Yet these differences often complimented each other
and formed a bit of a ying yang dynamic. During
the war, both excelled within their own realms, the fiery
leadership of Arnie on the ground and m Marii's cool
mastery in the air. After the war, as we have seen,
Amar often became a pillar of support for Arnie. The
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younger brother's steady temperament was a bomb to the elder
stormy soul if Arnie got into trouble. More like when
he got into trouble, it was often Omari who could
step in the sort things out. He would lend Arnie money,
help him find work, and even physically take him away
from bad company when necessary. Family noted that Omari had
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inexplicable grip on Arnie. The respect Arnie had for his
little brother's judgment was perhaps the only thing that could
check his behavior at times. Conversely, Arnie's wartime bravery was
a source of inspiration for Amari throughout his flying career
maintained Amari maintained immense respect for his older brother's combat
experience on the ground, and interviews later, Amari would emphasize
(36:14):
how Arney's example of courage and never say die spirit
at Cola guided him in his own moments of crisis.
The fate put them in different arenas of war, Arnie
and Amari always remained brothers first. They saw each other
whenever circumstances allowed. For instances between the Winter War and
the Continuation War when they were briefly home and on
(36:35):
short leaves. During the Continuation War, Sadly, those moments were few,
but they were precious. After the wars, the two would
often reminisce together at family gathering or veteran reunions. People
who saw them together observed the deep affection beyond a
playful banter. Arnie might tease Amari, saying, you had it
easy up there, just you and your machine, and Amari
(36:57):
would reply with a grin. Next time, I'll let you
borrow my plane and see how easy it is. They
would eat, share a laugh, each deeply proud of the other.
And with that, let's take a brief moment, and when
we come back, we'll have some more, hopefully engaging stories
about the brothers and things you have to come. We
(37:17):
will be back in about three minutes.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Through the frost and bitter cold, they stood a shake
and fierce and freeze.
Speaker 5 (37:45):
With hearts of iron and.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Strong and involved, they thought to keep their land at sea.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
One took flight, whary goes.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
So above the clouds, so fast and light. One hell
ground through fire.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
And war, with fearless man still by his side.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
The winds may, how.
Speaker 5 (38:28):
The skies may with, but still the spirits guy's away
whendless night they watch, they keep their goals with beyond
the frame, stealing under rule to fight, one with the lads,
(38:57):
one with winds through the storm and endless night. Their
legend in the north still scenes the windsday, how the
skies may wait, but still the stars, Guy's night, landless.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
Night, the what stay there?
Speaker 5 (39:21):
Acos live beyond the frame. No chains could hold, no
(39:43):
fear could find.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Their soul still march in winters, glow through frozen night,
through faint unkind. They stood against the enlistful.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
The Winsley How the sky's namely the skill as their
guy's to night, the one stay, never God.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Make beyond the phrase, through forest deep and sky so high.
Speaker 5 (40:19):
Their names will never fade.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
So welcome back. I hope you've enjoyed that first very
long just looking at the clock on who ran a
little longer than I expected, might run a little over tonight,
how I apologize in advanced So you know the brothers' stories,
So what about in Finland today? How does their journey
(41:23):
lend anything to today? The Utiliten Brothers are remembered as
war heroes and continue to be honored in various ways.
Their legacy is preserved through memorials, literature, and pop culture.
Ensuring that new generations learn about their contributions and sacrifices. Now,
(41:45):
both brothers have been commemorated in their hometown regions and
by the veteran community. Bilf mari U to Lighten, for instance,
is honored in Lasca, the town of his birth, with
a memorial plaque at Railway Park unbailed in nineteen ninety one.
This plaque marks the site of his birth home and
briefly recounts his status as Finland's top ace, ensuring that
(42:05):
locals and visitors recognize the historical significance of that place.
He is buried in Chusula, and his grave has become
a site of homage for aviation history enthusiasts, a way
to pay respects to the ace who defended Finland's skies.
Arney's grave lies in heil Sinki's Mammy Cemetery, marked modestly
(42:27):
with his name rank in the nickname mineral Cooke and Calhoun. Well.
This is while there is no large statue of Arne,
his memory is very much alive in the places he fought.
At Cola, which has now across the border in Russia,
Finnish veterans and enthusiasts have erected memorials over the years.
(42:48):
One such moment or monument at Cola features the inscription
Cola Casta, directly invoking his famous words and honoring all
the Finns who fault there. In the municipality of Roschavi, Finland,
which houses a Winter War museum near where Simohaya lived,
exhibits prominently feature Captain Arnie Utulaiten and the Battle of Kola.
(43:09):
Through such memorials and displays, the brothers contributions are integrated
into the physical and educational landscape of Finland. The Finnish
state military have also officially recognized the Eutylitans. Both brothers
were award its high decorations during the war, with Arnie
receiving the Cross of Liberty and other medals for bravery
(43:31):
and Amari famously receiving the Mannerheim Cross not once but twice.
On anniversaries of the war, such as the one hundredth
anniversary of Finland's independence in twenty seventeen, their names are
often mentioned in speeches and articles as exemplars of the
courage of the Greatest generation. In ninety seven, when the
(43:52):
Finnish Air Force celebrated its eightieth anniversary, almai Utilitan was
invited to be an honored guest, and he took part
in the celebrity or celebratory fight in an F eighteen hornet,
symbolically bringing the past to the present. These kinds of
honors demonstrate that the institutions of Finland have not forgotten
(44:15):
the brothers. Now the stories of Arnay and Omare have
been captured in numerous books, from history text to biographies
to memoirs. Omari's own memoir put Lighten and Kssuna has
been translated into English Red Devil in one edition and
sometimes referred to as Blazing the Sky or Ace of
(44:36):
the White Cross and others, and in the Japanese. This
book made his personal account accessible to a wider audience
and remains a key source on the air war in Finland.
Many WW two aviation books in English that cover the
continuational war reference you to Leyden's exploits, often highlighting that
he was the top non Luftwaff Luftwaffa ace of the war.
(45:02):
Now Arne did not leave a memoir, but he appears
in various Winter War histories and memoirs of others. Finnish
historian author Aria Rassalinen wrote a detailed biography of Arne
in the two thousands, which the title translates to roughly
Merico and Kohui The Life of Arne Eutylitan, which delves
into archive materials and personal letters. Such works help paint
(45:26):
a fuller picture of Arnae beyond just antidotes, including his
legion years in postwar life, contributing to a nuanced public
memory of him. Their lives have also been made into
fiction and film. Finnish novelists have included the brothers or
characters inspired by them, and historical novels. For example, Pekka
(45:46):
Yachtinsen's novel Tyston Bolkan uses a character based on Arne
Eutyltan to anchorage Winter War storyline. More recently, interest in
the story has crossed borders. French author Olivia Norex twenty
twenty four. His racle novel Les Devia Winter's a Warrior
features Arne as a character and draws on his French
(46:07):
Foreign Legion background. Norick noted that his own grandfather served
in the French Foreign Legion at the same time as
Arnie in the nineteen thirties. In the realm of film
and television. A significant tribute came in twenty twenty three
with the release of a Finnish documentary drama titled Moroccan
Kabu The Terror of Morocco. This film focuses on Arnie's life,
(46:29):
dramatizing key episodes from his French Foreign Legion service through
the Winter War and interweaving expert interviews. It does not
shy away from his personal struggles, providing a balanced portrait
of a complex man. The film aired on Finnish television
and streaming platforms, bringing Arne's story to a wider modern audience.
(46:52):
Elmari's career, on the other hand, has been featured in
documentaries about fighter races in the Air War. The seventies
finished documentary series Schumann Ilamato or The Air War of
Finland devoted considerable time to interviews with Eutylitan in which
he recounted some dogfights. Internationally, the History Channel and others
have produced episodes on great aces that include Ilu and
(47:13):
euverly noting his achievement of never being shot down in
his remarkable kill count. Fans of flight simulators and wargames
have even created mods and scenarios where players can fly
as the Mari Euteliten and virtual recreations of his battles,
reflecting how his fame has trickled in the subcultures of
military enthusiasts. Now the brother's legacy has subtly embedded itself
(47:39):
in Finnish culture. As mentioned, the phrase cola casta has
become a proverbial expression in Finnish, meaning to preserve through anything.
In fact, a Finnish punk band in the late seventies
named itself Cola Kesta, a nod to the Winter War
slogan that a group of young musicians decade laters would
find residents in a World War II battlephrase speaks of
(48:00):
how deeply Arnie Standacola entered the national psyche in everyday contacts.
If finn might use cola casta to encourage someone to
hang out or hang on in a tough situation, often
without realizing they might be quoting Lieutenant Udiliten verbatim for Ilmari.
One cultural legacy is how widely known the basic facts
(48:22):
of his career are in Finland. Many Fins, even if
not history buffs no that Finland's top World War Two
pilots scored ninety four victories. His nickname Elu and that
claim that his plane was never hit in air combat
or points of pride, often repeated and finished trivia or
historical calendar. Yes, you heard me right, his plane was
(48:49):
never hit in air combat. The aircrafts he flew have
also become celebrated. The Finnish Air Force has preserved one
of the Brewster Buffalo fighters that crashed during the war
and was recovered decades later. It displayed in the Aviation
Museum of Central Finland. Although Utilitan did not fly that
(49:09):
specific plane in combat, it belonged to another pilot. The
buffalo is often presented in exhibitions alongside the story of
Utylitan and his victory, symbolizing the era of the flying Fins.
They also preserved a Measureschmidt BF one O nine and
Finland painted in wartime callers. Once again, while not Utilitan's
personal aircraft, it stands in for all of the feats
(49:31):
of the finished one oh nine pilots, with Elu chief
among them. Now, perhaps the most significant modern recognition is
how their stories continue to inspire and instruct the Finnish
defense forces. Include the histories of units and individuals like
the Utilitans and their curriculum for officers and NCOs. Case
studies of the Battle of Cola, with Arnie's leadership and
(49:54):
Simo's sniping are taught in tactic courses as an example
of successful defensive combat under very extreme pressure. Similarly, Omari's
tactics are and discipline are discussed in fighter tactics trainings.
It's not an exaggeration to say that every pilot graduating
from the Finnish Air Force Academy knows at least one
(50:15):
of the util latan's name and motto, and that was
actually one of his sayings to a new wingman was
aim well and you won't need a second pass. Now
beyond the military sphere, the legacy has kept a live
by historial history enthusiasts and local communities, and by some
dumbass in Vermont doing a podcast. More veterans associations in
(50:37):
Finland have published articles about the brothers to ensure that
even as the World War Two generation passes, their grandchildren
and great grandchildren can read about it and appreciate what
these men did. In some the Unolten Brothers are far
from forgotten. In Finland. They are woven into the country's
remembrance of World War two. Through memorials, books, films, cultural idioms,
(51:01):
and education, their examples continue to guide and inspire. Well
that's said, if you've never met a Finn, you have
to understand there is a dry humor and wit about them.
And war is often remembered for its tragedy and heroism,
but within the Unilite and Brothers stories there is also
(51:22):
some later antidotes and quirks that show their human side.
Both Arnie and Amari, despite their deadly seriousness of their professions,
had moments that could raise a smile or reveal an
unexpected facet of their personalities. And I have gathered a
few of those stories. One is the one fingered salute.
(51:43):
After Arnie lost a finger to shrapnel in the Winter War,
he half jokingly remarked that he ought to mail the
missing finger back to the Soviets with a thank you note,
a grim bit of humor that his men remembered by
thanking the enemy for a wound, Arnie turned the injury
on its head. He told he medic that the Russians
had done him a favor quote, one less cold finger
(52:06):
to worry about. I should send it back and thank them.
Then you have Omari's incredible clean plane. Perhaps the most
famous antidote about Amari Dalyiten is the legend of his
untouched plane. Throughout over four hundred sorties and countless dogfights,
(52:31):
not a single enemy fighter managed to put a bullet
hole in any of his aircraft. This almost supernatural streak
led to endless banter among his peers. Fellow pilots teased
that he must have been invisible to the Soviets, where
they had a personal guardian angel on his wing, and
Omari would jokingly play along, saying things like the Russians
(52:54):
just never got around to hitting me. Ground crew members
often marveled that his brewster is Later, his messagement came
back without a scratch from fighters, even on the fiercest
of days. This prompted humor that his mechanic had the
easiest job in the squadron, just for fuel the damn
thing in rearm no patching is required, and it became
(53:15):
a point of pride that they have joked that his
planes were charmed. The men in a squadron even painted
a little green Grimlin symbol under his cockpit as a
tongue in cheek mascot to ward off the bullets. The
fact that his only significant damage was from friendly anti
aircraft fire once did force him to land made for
(53:38):
an ironic, ironic story. Amari would tell with a smile,
I had to be shot down by our own boys
because the Soviets couldn't manage it, and that shoot first
comment I made a little bit ago. He never lost
a wing man. Udi Lighton was also proud that he
(54:00):
never lost on wingman in combat. He attributed this to
one simple rule, aggressively rapidly engaged the enemy before they
engage you. Once a junior pilot nervously asked Ilou how
he always kept his wingmen safe, and he winked and
his smiled and said, because I shoot down anyone who
could shoot my wingman. Rather effective, don't you think? The
(54:23):
wheye response became a catfa age in his squadron, shoot
them before they shoot us. It was repeated in a
semi humorous way whenever they went into battle formation a
sort of final, lighthearted confidence boost. The underlying truth was serious,
but delivering it with a bit of sense of humor
eased attention for younger pilots. Now, these moments, in some
(54:45):
of their humor, do not detract from their valor. Instead,
I think it enhances their legacy by reminding us that
behind the metals and tallies were real men with personality
and charm. So the story of Arnay and omari Uda
Laiten is at its heart a tale of two brothers.
(55:06):
He became heroes in the nation's darkest hours against a
bunch of Soviet Communists. It is a narrative rich in contrast,
one brother having fought to nashisly on frozen tundras of
Keralia and the other the wood in the skies above.
One known for his gritty frontline leadership, the other for
(55:26):
peerless skill and aerial combat. Yet for all their differences
in arena and temperament, they shared a common devotion to
Finland and an uncommon courage that set them apart. Now,
through this podcast, we have traced their journeys from a
shared childhood and an Arab upheaval, to the divergent past
(55:48):
they took to the military, and finally to the enduring
impact they've had on Finnish history. Arnie Edward Eutelton, The
Terror of Morocco, will forever be remembered as the indominal
and tree officer who helped ensued that Cola casta that
Cola held during the Winter War. I know Ilmari hilu
(56:10):
Utilitan finish finding's ace of aces would leave an equally
profound mark, but theanos of air warfare. His ninety four
aerial victories are not just a national record, but an
international one, placing him among the elite few few in
aviation history. Beyond the numbers, his story is one of
(56:31):
cool professionalism, relentless practice and the modest of demeanors. He
never lost sight of the team effort behind his success,
from the ground crews to those wingmen. His legacy lives
on every time a Finnish fighter pilot straps into the
cockpit with a Swan insignia on the wing, the symbol
of the Finnish Air Force. Together, the Uniliten brothers represent
(56:57):
the multifaceted heroism of Finland during World War II. They
came from the same family, even served in some of
the same battles, albeit in different capacities, and both will
go on to achieve legendary status. It is exceedingly rare
in any country's history for two siblings to reach such
(57:20):
heights of distinction. This fraternal aspect of their story adds
a layer of poignancy. It reminds us that the epic
of a nation is ultimately composed of the stories of families,
of brothers, of sisters, fathers and sons, who each contribute
in their own way. In Finland, the unilitans importance is
(57:44):
submit it by how they are remembered and honored, and
on a broader level, their legacy extends beyond Finland's border
as well. Military historians around the world study the Winter
War for lessons and defensive warfare. But as we conclude
this podcast, it is fitting to reflect on the qualities
(58:09):
that made the Utilitans extraordinary. They had bravery and abundance,
whether it be Arnie standing firm under artillery barrages or
il Maury diving alone into a formation of any enemy bombers.
They possessed skill and dedication. Arnie would hone his men
(58:31):
into an effective fighting unit, and Olmari perfected his markmanship
and tactics to lethal effect. They demonstrated leadership and camaraderie.
Both earned the respect and love of those who served
with the forging bonds that outlasted the war, and perhaps
more endearingly, they retained their humanity and humor, finding those
(58:53):
moments to laugh, even in Arnie's worst days, to encourage
others with a joke or a warm gesture, even amidst
terrible circumstances. The legacy of Arnie and al mare Euteliten
ultimately reminds us of the power of individual contributions and
shaping history. Decades after the guns of World War Two
(59:14):
have fallen silent, the Utiliten Brothers continue to be invoked
as exemplars of Finnish sisu and heroism. That's all for
this episode of Increase. I am jef aka a cosmic
bart on Twitter X, signing off after another journey through
(59:38):
history's most gripping moments. We have covered some heavy ground today,
exploring more courage and survival, maybe even touching, like said,
on the issues of World War Two along the way.
Thanks for staying with me through it all. We delved
into the lives of two finished brothers who stood tall
(59:59):
in their own ways. You can find me on Twitter
and X, as I said a cosmic Bard, and contact
me for more thoughts, updates, or just to chat about
what we covered. We'll be back soon with another set
of stories. Until then, keep your mind open and your
(01:00:19):
curiosity alive. This has been an increase with a double left.
Thanks for joining me on this ride. I love you Julian,
I love you Tristan, and especially you EP. Good night,
(01:01:02):
Pepper people.
The Boy, the.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Sport at.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
The Game, the past Company.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Welcome to In the Crease or ITC for short, the
podcast where I feel like I have to follow Adrian
Cronauer as we deep dive into the raw, the remarkable,
and the unforgettable stories that shape our world. I'm your host,
jeble F, also known as a cosmic bard over on
(02:27):
Twitter or x depending on what day it is. Now,
whether you're a history enthusiast, a storyteller, or maybe just
curious a little, it's got something here I think that
will keep you engaged from start to finish. Today we're
stepping in the stories that carry weight, tales of war
(02:47):
heroism and resilience that refuse to fade. A heads up,
though this show will try not to pull punches, you
might hear references to Nazi World War two and maybe
some harsh realities of conflict. So if that's not your thing,
now's the chance to step away. But if you're ready
(03:10):
to explore with me, we're about to uncover some extraordinary lives.
Two Finnish brothers who etch their names in the military
history through grit and skill. It might be intense, it
is real, and it's packed with more turns than you expect,
and I'm just glad I'm getting this out before the
fat Electricians steals this. So settle in and get comfortable,
(03:34):
for we are about to begin. This is in the
crease where we don't just recount history, we try to
bring it to light. So let's get started now. In
the annals of Finnish military history. Yes, oh my god,
just talking about Finland again, the Uti Lighten brothers Arn'tie
(03:55):
Edward Udelighten and I know el Maari lu Uten Lighten
stand out as a bit of a unique duo of
wartime legends. Born a decade apart, the two brothers followed
very different paths into combat. One became a renowned infantry
captain nicknamed Moroccan Kaoui which is the Terror of Morocco
(04:15):
for his ferocity on the battlefield, while the other soared
into the skies as Finland's Ace of Aces, the top
fighter pilot of the nation. Despite their divergent military career,
one in the trenches in forest and other in fighter cockpits,
both earned an esteem place in Finland's fight for survival
(04:38):
during World War Two. Their exploits during the Winter War
of thirty nine and forty and the Continuation War of
forty one to forty four turned them into near mythical
figure symbolizing the courage, skill and resolve also known by
Fenns as Secial of the Finnish Armed Voices. We begin
(05:01):
with their early life and family background, uncovering the influences
that shaped them. We then delve into the career of
Captain arna eudelighten the older brothers who's daring service in
the French Foreign Legion and later heroics and Finland's Winter
War and earned him the moniker Terror of Morocco. Then
(05:22):
we will turn to io U to lighten, the younger brother,
who became Felin's greatest fighter ace, credited with a stunning
tallly of aerial victories in World War Two. We'll also
explore the bond between brothers, highlighting how their lives intertwined
in the ways they inspired and supported one another. But
(05:43):
beyond their individual stories, will consider their broader impact on
Finnish military history. How Arnie's defiant leadership helped forge the
legendary coal lost spirit of the Winter War, and how
Ilmari's aerial mastery sets records that put Finland on the
world map of Aba in legacy and modern recognition. We
will look at how Finland today remembers these two men,
(06:06):
from memorials in literature, to recent films and cultural references. Throughout,
I'm gonna sprinkle some antidotes and even moments of humor.
We'll see if they land or not. From Arnie's famous
quiffs on the battlefield to legends of Ila Marii's almost
unbelievable luck in combat. To paint a more humanizing portrait
(06:27):
of both men beyond their battlefield reputations, and by presenting
their story side by side and hopefully an engaging narrative,
I aim to honor two amazing Finnish brothers service and
explain why they remain such celebrated figures. Now, whether one
(06:50):
is a history enthusiast familiar with Finland's wartime sago, or
a general reader new to these names, the tale of
El and Arnay offer a fascinating look at two very
different heroes united by blood, war and legacy. And yes,
this is not a make belief story. It takes place
(07:12):
in Finland, which is real and if you are on
the other side of the fence, you can visit kalornradio
dot com. Back slash store as there is a new merchandise.
Finland is real. No, it's not juxtaposition versus itc mug
in the shop. Not early life. Arnie Edward Judaeliten was
(07:38):
born on October eighteenth, nineteen oh four, in the town
of Soovala, which is at the time was part of
the Grand Duchy of Finland under the Russian Empire. Ten
years later, on February twenty first, nineteen fourteen, his younger brother, Heinslamari,
was born in Leesca, another town in eastern Finland. The
(08:02):
boys were born to Thomas Uda Lighten, a railway clerk,
and his wife Helmi Sophia neh Koppenen. The family's life
in the early twentieth century was shaped by a Finland
in transition, on the brink of independence and soon not
the bul tested by war, and both brothers grew up
in Keralia, a region that would soon see conflict. Not
(08:25):
much detailed information survives about their parents, unfortunately, but it
is clear that the Utilitan children grew up in patriotic
environment during turbulent times. Both brothers would go on to
leave an indelible mark in the history of Finland, as
I said. At the time of Arney's birth, Finland was
still an autonomous Grand duchy of the Russian Empire, and
(08:47):
by the time Olmari was born a decade later, the
country had just become in the pen That so brothers
technically born to two different countries, most likely born in
the same household. Now Arnie, the eldest, came of age
during a time of conflict. Finland declared independence from Russia
in nineteen seventeen, and a civil war erupted in nineteen
(09:10):
eighteen between the Whites and the Reds now the Whites
in this instant means the non communist forces and the
Reds meeting the communist Although only thirteen to fourteen years old,
Arnie was drawn to the fighting. He participated in the
Finnish Civil War in a support role, loading machine gun
belts for the White troops in nineteen eighteen. This early
(09:31):
baptism of fire left a deep impression on him. The
very next year, still a teenager, Arnie even attempted to
volunteer for the Anuse Expedition in nineteen nineteen, a military
venture aiming to annex parts of Russia's East Carolina to Finland.
He was so eager to serve that he forged his
parents' consent, but recruiters discovered his deception turned him away
(09:54):
due to his young age. These useful exploits show a
boy hungry for adventure in military glory from the start.
In contrast to Omar was a small child during those
tumultuous years. He was just a toddler in nineteen eighteen,
but he undoubtedly grew up hearing accounts of Finland's face
(10:15):
for freedom and his bigger brother's adventures. By the twenties,
as Finland settled into independence, the Unilitan family resided in Sotavola,
where Arnie attended the local high school and proved to
be an active athletic youth. He excelled at skiing, horseback riding, fencing,
and even the Finnish variant of baseball pessepola, playing on
(10:40):
a local team in nineteen twenty four. Now, this level
of sports and the outdoors would serve him well in
military life. Now, it's likely that Amari also inherited an
interest in physical fitness and mechanics as a teenager in
the early thirties, for Amari learned aircraft mechanics and then
pilot training indicating a technical aptitude in drive from the
very young age as well. Now, a crucial link between
(11:04):
the brothers emerged in nineteen thirties. By this time, Arnie
was already pursuing a military career and Amari was reaching
adulthood and a Finland that was rapidly modernizing into and
within its small armed forces. According to later accounts, it
was Arnie who helped sparked Elmari's passion for aviation by
giving him a special book, The Wartime Memoir of Manfred
(11:29):
von Richthoven, the famous World War One flying ace known
as the Red Baron. This gift made a profound impression
on the young l Maury. Reading The Red Baron's tales
awakened him within him the dream of becoming a fighter pilot. Indeed,
around nineteen thirty two and thirty three, Almari joined the
Finish Air Force and began his pilot training, following the
(11:53):
calling that that book apparently stirred within him. And while
Lamari was finding his wings, Arnie's life took a more
complicated route. He had decided to become a professional soldier
in rolling in Finland's Reserve Officer school in nineteen twenty five,
and then the Cadet Office School in twenty six twenty seven. However, Arnie,
(12:16):
having a bit of an independent streak and a pinchant
for hard living, soon caused some trouble. He was forced
to drop out of Cadet school in nineteen twenty seven
for a quote lifestyles unsuitable for an active officer unquote
a polite way of saying. He clashed with the strict
discipline expected of Finnish officers, so he resigned from the
(12:41):
Finnish Army in nineteen twenty eight, a setback that could
have ended his military ambitions. But Arnie was not done
with soldiering, indeed, far from it. He was the call
of adventure and war was too strong within him, and
he would soon lead him far from home to the
deserts of North Africa. Now, when the Finnish Army's peacetime
(13:04):
routine proved too confining for arna Udeliten, he sought action elsewhere.
In June of nineteen thirty, at age twenty five, he
traveled to France and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.
He was transferred to North Africa for five years, saw
combat in French colonial campaigns battling Berber rebels in Morocco's
(13:25):
Atlas Mountains. Because of his service in Morocco, fellow Finns
would later nickname him merokan Ca, which meaning the Terror
of Morocco. By the time he returned to Finland in
June of nineteen thirty five, he had been decorated with
the Legion Cross and even granted French citizenship for his
valor and service. But back in Finland Army, Arney decided
(13:52):
to resume his military life. He was reinstated as a
junior officer in the Finnish Army and by nineteen thirty
eight was serving as an aryan stre rector for the
Civil Guard in Ulu. His exotic military background made him
somewhat of a minor celebrity among his compatriots. The company
he led, of course, was informally dubbed the Moroccan Company
(14:12):
in reference to his nickname. In fact, the men in
this handpicked company were all proven fighters, many were decorated
for bravery. His legion reputation and hands on combat experience
earned him respect, but Arnie being Arnie, he still struggled
with authority in the stead peacetime Army. In the autumn
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of nineteen thirty nine, just as the tensions with the
Soviet Union were reaching a breaking point. Arnie even considered
leaving Finland again to rejoin the French Foreign Legion. Now,
fate would intervene in the forms of a Soviet invasion
of Finland and November of nineteen thirty nine, the outbreak
(14:58):
of the Winter War changed the course of his future,
and Arnie was swept back into the ranks to fend
his homeland. In the Winter War, it pitted tiny, little
idy biddy Finland against the enormous, gigantic Soviet Union and
a brutal struggle for survival. Lieutenant Utiliten now thirty five,
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was placed in command of a company an Infanty Infantry
Regiment thirty four on the Eastern Front. It was the
crucible the Battle of Cola and Ladoga, Kerala that his
leadership in bravery became the stuff of legend. Cola was
one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front.
Throughout the winter of thirty nine and forty the fighting
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there was desperate. Soviet divisions attacked repeatedly trying to break
through to the vital roads beyond the fins. Though vastly outnumbered,
held the line with almost superhuman determination. During the battles,
Arnie's combat experience in bold style proved invaluable, yet a
talent for inspiring his men. Those who served with him
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later praised his courage and his neck for instilling fighting
spirit by personal example. At one critical moment, Major General
Vodemar Hoglan, commander of the region, inquired by radio if
the troops at Cola could hold out until the under
the mounting pressure eu to Lighten's reply was iconic in
its brevity and resolve. Kayla kesta elakaka cocun used kaman. Basically,
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cola will hold unless the orders are to run now.
This defiant promise once again embodied the Finnish sisu of
the good defenders. Uti Lighten meant what he said. Only
a week earlier he had ignored in order to withdraw
at Cola, choosing instead to stay and fight. His superior
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Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm Titanen later noted that Udi Lighten created
the colas heared on that front by his steadfast example.
The phrase cola casta, Cola will hold became a sort
of slogan for Finnish perseverance, and true enough, Cola did hold.
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Now under Arney's command, Jr. Thirty fourth sixth Company performed
so well that it began to be called again the
Moroccan Company after him. The troops were crack marksmen and
skiers that he personally trained in guerrilla tactics, using many
tricks he had learned while with the Legion. This unconventional
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approach paid off in the dense woods and deep snow
of Cola, where small Finnish units excelled at ambushing and
harassing larger Soviet formations. Utiliten's company managed to saw far
larger enemy forces. His men were inspired by his personal courage,
and according to those who served there, the men had
the ability to electrify his troops and instilled fighting spirit
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just by his sheer presence. They even affectionately called him Papa,
suggesting that despite or maybe because of his ferocity he
has seen, he was seen as a paternal figure who
cared for their well being. Now within Arney's company at
Cola served another individual who also would become legendary in
(18:26):
his own right. Sim Ohaya, the humble farmer turned sniper
who earned the nickname White Death for his astonishing marksmanship.
Under Udaalaiten's leaderships, heemo killed and estimated two hundred plus
Souvie soldiers in just a few months, becoming one of
history's deadliest snipers. The fact that Haya and Moroccan Caou
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fought in the same sector added to the almost mythical
status of the coal of battles. It was as if
that one remote forest front had an outside his share
of Finland's biggest balls. Eutylitan's bravery did not come without cost.
The Winter War was unforgiving. He was wounded several times
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in combat, and by the war's end he had lost
one finger on his ring hand to a Russian shrapnel blast,
but injuries did not diminish his ferocity. By early nineteen forty,
Arne had been promoted to captain and he was placed
in command of a specialized unit that continued the fight
at Colap. This elite unit of quote, good shots and
(19:32):
good skiers unquote, was proudly referred to by many as
CAPTAINI eutiletan Merokokin Compini or Captain Eutylitan's Morocco Company, further
cementing Arnie's persona as a larger than life warrior whose
very nickname could motivate his men. His conduct during the
Winter War was so impactful that Lieutenant Colonel Tatanan credited
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him with creating the coal of spirit among the troops.
Now eyewitness accounts described Captain Udeliton as a fearless leader
who often led from the front. He was known for
taking care of his men and being fair minded in
the thick of battle, which of course earned him the
respect of his soldiers. He could rouse exhausted, freezing troops
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to keep fighting when things seemed the most dire by
sharing their risk in refusing to yield. Yet Arney style
was not gentle. He was, after all, the terror to
both the enemy and sometimes his own unit. He was
high strung and could be ferocious and enforcing discipline. In
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one incident later recounted, Arne even fired a pistol shot
near a reluctant subordinate's feet to prod him into action.
He tolerated no cowardice or hesitation. Soldiers would half joke
that Arne kept his pistol more out of his holster
than in it, a testament to his quick trigger when
pushing his men. Despite such intimidation, tactics those under his
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command knew that he ultimately had their backs. His men
respected him deeply and understood that his fierceness toward them
was part of his drive to keep them alive and fighting.
By the end of the Winter War in March nineteen forty,
Arne Udi Lten was a national hero. It had also
been hardened by the truly horrific conditions of that conflict.
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Years later, on his seventieth birthday in nineteen seventy four,
Arney reflected that the battles he fought in the Sahara
quote were nothing compared to the Winter War unquote, where
he described it as inhuman and day to day. Coming
from someone who had seen colonial warfare of close, this
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was a powerful statement about the intensities of Finland's fight
in thirty nine and forty. Now having spent nearly his
entire youth in adulthood in war or preparing for war,
Arney actually found peace time to be the hardest battle.
After his resignation, the forty year old veteran settled in
Helsinki without a clear purpose or daily military structure. He
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drifted through odd jobs to support himself. He had difficulty
adjusting to civilian life and eventually turned heavily to alcohol
as an escape. The larger than life Terra Morocco, who
had once epitomized bravery, now became an example of how
war can haunt and unmore a person. On October twenty eighth,
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nineteen seventy six, Arnie Edward Udelighton died alone in a
nursing home in Helsinki at the age of seventy two.
He was buried at Mommy sent Cemetery in Helsinki. His
grave mark by a simple headstone. Thus ended the life
of a man who had been both a national hero
and in later years a tragic figure. In Finnish memory, however,
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Arne and cahu Uta Lighten is remembered first and foremost
as the embodiment of the Winter Wars fighting spirit, a
fearless frontier leader who never gave an inch to the enemy.
His famous promise cola keats lives on as a defining
phrase of Finnish resolve now. While his older brother fought
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on the ground, Ilo mai Udaliten duld in the skies
I know Il mari elu Udaalitin was Finland's greatest fighter pilot,
officially credited with ninety four confirmed aerial combat victories, the
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highest score of any non German pilot of World War Two.
This tally makes him the top flying ace of Finnish
Air Force, and indeed one of the top aces in
the world during that conflict. He led all finished pilots
and victories against Soviet aircraft in World War Two, and
in the entire history of air warfare, very few fighter
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pilots from any country have surpassed a Mari School score.
And I know what you're thinking, and you're right. The
Fins largely fought against the Soviets, which means they were
fighting alongside Germans. That said, they never actually signed up
(24:31):
with the Nazi, so let's cut them some slack, and
eventually later they kicked them out. But I would be
remiss if I didn't mad that story, because you're gonna
hear about the Soviet during World War Two. Now, his
path to the cockpit began in the early thirties. He
entered the Finnish military in thirty two for his compulsory
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service and initially worked as an aircraft mechanic in the
Alma Volumat or the Air Force, demonstrating a natural applic
for aviation he learned to fly on his own time
and formally joined the Air Force as a pilot trainee
in thirty three. By thirty five he had qualified as
a sergeant pilot, which is basically a non commissioned officer pilot,
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and on the first of May and thirty five he
was promoted to sergeant. He was subsequently assigned to the
number twenty four fighter Squadron in March of thirty nine.
Squadron twenty four would soon become the most fabled fighter
unit in Finland, and Utiliten was poised to play a
major role in its At the outbreak of the Winter
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War in late November thirty nine, Sergeant utel Lighten and
his squadron were moved to Amala Airfield in southeast of Finland,
closer to the front. The unit was equipped with the
Foker d XXI, a Dutch made single seat fighter. The
Foker was an outdated design, a fixed landing gear monoplane
that was slower and less armed than the Soviet fighters
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it would face, such as the Soviet Polikarpoff I sixteen. Nonetheless,
finished pilots made the most of what they had and
let's face the folks. Thirty construction and good maneuverability, and
in a dive could actually be quite effective in the
hand of a skilled flyer. Now, as war began, Finland's
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fighter force was tiny, and every pilot had to make
a difference. Lamari's first taste of air combat came on
December nineteenth, nineteen thirty nine, after weeks of poor flying.
Whether The sky's cleared that day and the Finish fighter
scrambled to intercept incoming Soviet bombers. Near the town of Antrea,
(26:36):
Eutel Lighten caught sight of three Soviet Illusion dB three
bombers diving from above. He attacked persistently, even as the
bombers jettison their payloads and turned for home. Eutel Lightin's
gunfire riddled the enemy planes. He shot out the dB
three's rear gunners and then poured bullets into one of
their engines. One bomber nosed over and crashed, and he
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damaged the other two quote it was more like firing
on a training target unquote, he later said modestly of
the encounter. This action earned you to Lighten his first
aerial victory that downed dB three and two more as damaged.
A few days later, on December thirty first of thirty nine,
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he engaged a faster Soviet I sixteen fighter and a
tight dogfight. Using cloud cover to outmaneuver his opponent, he
got behind the I sixteen and shot it down. By
the end of the Winter War in March nineteen forty,
Utiliten had achieved two individual kills in one shared kill.
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Given the brevity of that war, which was only three
and a half months, this was a respectable start for
a young sergeant. It would also give him invaluable combat
experience and confidence. Although his score in the Winter War
was modest, Uti Lighten had proved himself a rising star.
He also gained a reputation as a cool headed and
(28:02):
precise pilot who never wasted ammunition. Philin's handful of fighter
pilots became national heroes during the Winter War. Their exploits
were followed closely by the public as rare good news,
and Uti Layten's role flying alongside aces like Lieutenant Yorma Sarvanto,
who famously downed six Soviet bombers in one mission in
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January of nineteen forty, put him in fine company. The
Winter War ended in March of forty with a hard
piece for Finland, but the pilots of Squadron twenty four
had made the Soviet Air Force pay very dearly, achieving
in an outstanding victory to lost Ratio. Now, after a
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tense interim peace, Finland found itself at war again with
the Soviet Union just a little over a year later
in June of nineteen forty one, this time allied with
Germany in hopes of regaining lost territories. By now warrant
officer of Utiliten, promoted once more, was a seasoned fighter pilot.
His squadron still Unit twenty four had re equipped with
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American made Brewster B two three nine Buffalo fighters. Those
considered a mediocre aircraft elsewhere, the study Brewster Buffalo and
finished Hands proved highly effective, thanks in Part two pilots
like Elu, who exploited its strengths, which were good maneuverability
and range, and learned how to mitigate its weaknesses. As
(29:35):
soon as the hostilities resumed, Utilitan's victory count began climbing rapidly.
On July twenty first, nineteen forty one, he and five
other Brewsters intercepted Soviet fighters, then the IE one fifty
threes that were strafing Finnish troops near Kakasali. At the fight,
Amari shot down one eye, one, five three, making him
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an ace now with five victories in the Brewster. He
followed that up with more successes. August first, during a
large dog fight over Rusharva, he downed two Soviet I
sixteen fighters, and by the end of forty one his
tally was already reaching in the double digits. Throughout forty
one and forty two, he continued to fly with Unit
twenty four, and his victory count kept climbing. He was
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promoted to staff sergeant and became one of the squadron's
leading hornets, a finish term for hot shot pilots. On
the sixth of February and forty two, he and other
Finns encountered a formation of Soviet bombers tuple off SB
two's escorted by fighters Euteliten dives. It dived down into
the Meliu and shot down two bombers in that engagement,
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and of course these feats made headlines in Finland, and
by early forty two his personal score had now exceeded twenty.
On the twenty sixth of April, after achieving twenty two victories,
Euteliten was awarded the Mannerheim Cross, second class, Finland's highest
military honor, becoming his unit's first night of Mannaheim Cross.
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He was twenty eight years old and now indisputably one
of Finland's greatest living war heroes, and during forty two
he continued to excel All told, he scored thirty four
victories in the Brewster B two thirty nine Buffalo fighter.
Many of these were against Soviet aircraft like Logs threes
and mid threes, which he out flew through superior tactics
(31:23):
and markmanship. By late forty two, he was among top
bases in the world at the stage of the war,
not surprisingly, when the Finnish Air Force acquired a batch
of modern German fighters in forty three, the Messerschmidt BF
one oh nine G two, Uteliden was, of course the
first group of pilots chosen to transition to the new planes.
In early forty three, Eutelighten was also among the Finnish
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pilots sent to Germany to train on the BF one
O nine. He even personally flew one of the new
fighters back to Finland after training. The BF one O
nine was a quantum leaping performance over the Brewster. It
was faster, it climbed quicker, and U packed a heavier punch.
With this new superior speed and firepower, he continued to
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dominate the skies. He was transferred in forty three to
Unit thirty four, the new squadron equipped with the BF
one H nine G twos, and then in these measure Schmidts,
his kill rate accelerated further. He added another fifty eight
victories in nineteen forty three and forty four, and on
June thirtieth, nineteen forty four, during the Soviet Summer Offensive,
(32:30):
Uti Lighten had his most spectacular day. He shot down
six Soviet aircraft in a single day, an ace and
a day feat that matched the finish record first set
by Lieutenant Yorma Sarvanto in January of forty By the
time of the ceasefire in September forty four, his official
counsel stood at ninety four confirmed victories, making him not
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only the top finish ace of World War Two, but
also the highest scoring non German fighter pilot of the
entire war. Despite their divergent pass though the Utiliten brothers
actually remained close and influenced each other profoundly. Arnee and
Omari were separated in age by ten years and in
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wartime roles by an even wider golf, one fighting in
those freezing foxholes in the other up in the wild
blue wonder. Yet their brotherly connection and third through it all.
Even before the wars, Arnie had that direct hand in
shaping Imari's destiny with that Ricktoven book gift, and Elmari
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always looked up to Arnie as a daring adventure and Arnie,
in turn took pride in Ilmari's eagerness to serve. This
fraternal encouragement bore fruit when Omari pursued flight training and
joined the Air Force, which was actually a somewhat unusual
pass in those days that his family fully supported. When
World War Two came to Finland, their pass rarely crossed physically.
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Arnie was commanding troops on the front lines and Amari
miles above. However, each brother was well aware of there's
each other's exploits. News of Captain Mutilane and Serroke stand
of Cola in the winter war undoubtedly reached Amari and
filled him with pride, just as Arnie later learned of
Amari's growing tally of downed Soviet plans. They corresponded when
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they could through letters via family or military post, and
sent regards, and one surviving note from nineteen forty two,
Arnie congratulated Amari on receiving the Mannerheim crossed and playfully
urged him to quote keep those reds off my back unquote.
Amari responded by expressing admiration for Arnie's winter warfeed, saying
(34:41):
that his own achievements paled in comparison to what big
brother had done on the ground. This mutual admiration shows
that each brother valued the other's roles deeply. That said,
personality wise, the brothers were very, very different. Arnie was
hot tempered, aggressive and sometimes unruly. Omari was calm, disciplined,
(35:07):
and good natured. Yet these differences often complimented each other
and formed a bit of a ying yang dynamic. During
the war, both excelled within their own realms, the fiery
leadership of Arnie on the ground and m Marii's cool
mastery in the air. After the war, as we have seen,
Amar often became a pillar of support for Arnie. The
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younger brother's steady temperament was a bomb to the elder
stormy soul if Arnie got into trouble. More like when
he got into trouble, it was often Omari who could
step in the sort things out. He would lend Arnie money,
help him find work, and even physically take him away
from bad company when necessary. Family noted that Omari had
(35:51):
inexplicable grip on Arnie. The respect Arnie had for his
little brother's judgment was perhaps the only thing that could
check his behavior at times. Conversely, Arnie's wartime bravery was
a source of inspiration for Amari throughout his flying career
maintained Amari maintained immense respect for his older brother's combat
experience on the ground, and interviews later, Amari would emphasize
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how Arney's example of courage and never say die spirit
at Cola guided him in his own moments of crisis.
The fate put them in different arenas of war, Arnie
and Amari always remained brothers first. They saw each other
whenever circumstances allowed. For instances between the Winter War and
the Continuation War when they were briefly home and on
(36:35):
short leaves. During the Continuation War, Sadly, those moments were few,
but they were precious. After the wars, the two would
often reminisce together at family gathering or veteran reunions. People
who saw them together observed the deep affection beyond a
playful banter. Arnie might tease Amari, saying, you had it
easy up there, just you and your machine, and Amari
(36:57):
would reply with a grin. Next time, I'll let you
borrow my plane and see how easy it is. They
would eat, share a laugh, each deeply proud of the other.
And with that, let's take a brief moment, and when
we come back, we'll have some more, hopefully engaging stories
about the brothers and things you have to come. We
(37:17):
will be back in about three minutes.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Through the frost and bitter cold, they stood a shake
and fierce and freeze.
Speaker 5 (37:45):
With hearts of iron and.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Strong and involved, they thought to keep their land at sea.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
One took flight, whary goes.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
So above the clouds, so fast and light. One hell
ground through fire.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
And war, with fearless man still by his side.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
The winds may, how.
Speaker 5 (38:28):
The skies may with, but still the spirits guy's away
whendless night they watch, they keep their goals with beyond
the frame, stealing under rule to fight, one with the lads,
(38:57):
one with winds through the storm and endless night. Their
legend in the north still scenes the windsday, how the
skies may wait, but still the stars, Guy's night, landless.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
Night, the what stay there?
Speaker 5 (39:21):
Acos live beyond the frame. No chains could hold, no
(39:43):
fear could find.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Their soul still march in winters, glow through frozen night,
through faint unkind. They stood against the enlistful.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
The Winsley How the sky's namely the skill as their
guy's to night, the one stay, never God.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Make beyond the phrase, through forest deep and sky so high.
Speaker 5 (40:19):
Their names will never fade.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
So welcome back. I hope you've enjoyed that first very
long just looking at the clock on who ran a
little longer than I expected, might run a little over tonight,
how I apologize in advanced So you know the brothers' stories,
So what about in Finland today? How does their journey
(41:23):
lend anything to today? The Utiliten Brothers are remembered as
war heroes and continue to be honored in various ways.
Their legacy is preserved through memorials, literature, and pop culture.
Ensuring that new generations learn about their contributions and sacrifices. Now,
(41:45):
both brothers have been commemorated in their hometown regions and
by the veteran community. Bilf mari U to Lighten, for instance,
is honored in Lasca, the town of his birth, with
a memorial plaque at Railway Park unbailed in nineteen ninety one.
This plaque marks the site of his birth home and
briefly recounts his status as Finland's top ace, ensuring that
(42:05):
locals and visitors recognize the historical significance of that place.
He is buried in Chusula, and his grave has become
a site of homage for aviation history enthusiasts, a way
to pay respects to the ace who defended Finland's skies.
Arney's grave lies in heil Sinki's Mammy Cemetery, marked modestly
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with his name rank in the nickname mineral Cooke and Calhoun. Well.
This is while there is no large statue of Arne,
his memory is very much alive in the places he fought.
At Cola, which has now across the border in Russia,
Finnish veterans and enthusiasts have erected memorials over the years.
(42:48):
One such moment or monument at Cola features the inscription
Cola Casta, directly invoking his famous words and honoring all
the Finns who fault there. In the municipality of Roschavi, Finland,
which houses a Winter War museum near where Simohaya lived,
exhibits prominently feature Captain Arnie Utulaiten and the Battle of Kola.
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Through such memorials and displays, the brothers contributions are integrated
into the physical and educational landscape of Finland. The Finnish
state military have also officially recognized the Eutylitans. Both brothers
were award its high decorations during the war, with Arnie
receiving the Cross of Liberty and other medals for bravery
(43:31):
and Amari famously receiving the Mannerheim Cross not once but twice.
On anniversaries of the war, such as the one hundredth
anniversary of Finland's independence in twenty seventeen, their names are
often mentioned in speeches and articles as exemplars of the
courage of the Greatest generation. In ninety seven, when the
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Finnish Air Force celebrated its eightieth anniversary, almai Utilitan was
invited to be an honored guest, and he took part
in the celebrity or celebratory fight in an F eighteen hornet,
symbolically bringing the past to the present. These kinds of
honors demonstrate that the institutions of Finland have not forgotten
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the brothers. Now the stories of Arnay and Omare have
been captured in numerous books, from history text to biographies
to memoirs. Omari's own memoir put Lighten and Kssuna has
been translated into English Red Devil in one edition and
sometimes referred to as Blazing the Sky or Ace of
(44:36):
the White Cross and others, and in the Japanese. This
book made his personal account accessible to a wider audience
and remains a key source on the air war in Finland.
Many WW two aviation books in English that cover the
continuational war reference you to Leyden's exploits, often highlighting that
he was the top non Luftwaff Luftwaffa ace of the war.
(45:02):
Now Arne did not leave a memoir, but he appears
in various Winter War histories and memoirs of others. Finnish
historian author Aria Rassalinen wrote a detailed biography of Arne
in the two thousands, which the title translates to roughly
Merico and Kohui The Life of Arne Eutylitan, which delves
into archive materials and personal letters. Such works help paint
(45:26):
a fuller picture of Arnae beyond just antidotes, including his
legion years in postwar life, contributing to a nuanced public
memory of him. Their lives have also been made into
fiction and film. Finnish novelists have included the brothers or
characters inspired by them, and historical novels. For example, Pekka
(45:46):
Yachtinsen's novel Tyston Bolkan uses a character based on Arne
Eutyltan to anchorage Winter War storyline. More recently, interest in
the story has crossed borders. French author Olivia Norex twenty
twenty four. His racle novel Les Devia Winter's a Warrior
features Arne as a character and draws on his French
(46:07):
Foreign Legion background. Norick noted that his own grandfather served
in the French Foreign Legion at the same time as
Arnie in the nineteen thirties. In the realm of film
and television. A significant tribute came in twenty twenty three
with the release of a Finnish documentary drama titled Moroccan
Kabu The Terror of Morocco. This film focuses on Arnie's life,
(46:29):
dramatizing key episodes from his French Foreign Legion service through
the Winter War and interweaving expert interviews. It does not
shy away from his personal struggles, providing a balanced portrait
of a complex man. The film aired on Finnish television
and streaming platforms, bringing Arne's story to a wider modern audience.
(46:52):
Elmari's career, on the other hand, has been featured in
documentaries about fighter races in the Air War. The seventies
finished documentary series Schumann Ilamato or The Air War of
Finland devoted considerable time to interviews with Eutylitan in which
he recounted some dogfights. Internationally, the History Channel and others
have produced episodes on great aces that include Ilu and
(47:13):
euverly noting his achievement of never being shot down in
his remarkable kill count. Fans of flight simulators and wargames
have even created mods and scenarios where players can fly
as the Mari Euteliten and virtual recreations of his battles,
reflecting how his fame has trickled in the subcultures of
military enthusiasts. Now the brother's legacy has subtly embedded itself
(47:39):
in Finnish culture. As mentioned, the phrase cola casta has
become a proverbial expression in Finnish, meaning to preserve through anything.
In fact, a Finnish punk band in the late seventies
named itself Cola Kesta, a nod to the Winter War
slogan that a group of young musicians decade laters would
find residents in a World War II battlephrase speaks of
(48:00):
how deeply Arnie Standacola entered the national psyche in everyday contacts.
If finn might use cola casta to encourage someone to
hang out or hang on in a tough situation, often
without realizing they might be quoting Lieutenant Udiliten verbatim for Ilmari.
One cultural legacy is how widely known the basic facts
(48:22):
of his career are in Finland. Many Fins, even if
not history buffs no that Finland's top World War Two
pilots scored ninety four victories. His nickname Elu and that
claim that his plane was never hit in air combat
or points of pride, often repeated and finished trivia or
historical calendar. Yes, you heard me right, his plane was
(48:49):
never hit in air combat. The aircrafts he flew have
also become celebrated. The Finnish Air Force has preserved one
of the Brewster Buffalo fighters that crashed during the war
and was recovered decades later. It displayed in the Aviation
Museum of Central Finland. Although Utilitan did not fly that
(49:09):
specific plane in combat, it belonged to another pilot. The
buffalo is often presented in exhibitions alongside the story of
Utylitan and his victory, symbolizing the era of the flying Fins.
They also preserved a Measureschmidt BF one O nine and
Finland painted in wartime callers. Once again, while not Utilitan's
personal aircraft, it stands in for all of the feats
(49:31):
of the finished one oh nine pilots, with Elu chief
among them. Now, perhaps the most significant modern recognition is
how their stories continue to inspire and instruct the Finnish
defense forces. Include the histories of units and individuals like
the Utilitans and their curriculum for officers and NCOs. Case
studies of the Battle of Cola, with Arnie's leadership and
(49:54):
Simo's sniping are taught in tactic courses as an example
of successful defensive combat under very extreme pressure. Similarly, Omari's
tactics are and discipline are discussed in fighter tactics trainings.
It's not an exaggeration to say that every pilot graduating
from the Finnish Air Force Academy knows at least one
(50:15):
of the util latan's name and motto, and that was
actually one of his sayings to a new wingman was
aim well and you won't need a second pass. Now
beyond the military sphere, the legacy has kept a live
by historial history enthusiasts and local communities, and by some
dumbass in Vermont doing a podcast. More veterans associations in
(50:37):
Finland have published articles about the brothers to ensure that
even as the World War Two generation passes, their grandchildren
and great grandchildren can read about it and appreciate what
these men did. In some the Unolten Brothers are far
from forgotten. In Finland. They are woven into the country's
remembrance of World War two. Through memorials, books, films, cultural idioms,
(51:01):
and education, their examples continue to guide and inspire. Well
that's said, if you've never met a Finn, you have
to understand there is a dry humor and wit about them.
And war is often remembered for its tragedy and heroism,
but within the Unilite and Brothers stories there is also
(51:22):
some later antidotes and quirks that show their human side.
Both Arnie and Amari, despite their deadly seriousness of their professions,
had moments that could raise a smile or reveal an
unexpected facet of their personalities. And I have gathered a
few of those stories. One is the one fingered salute.
(51:43):
After Arnie lost a finger to shrapnel in the Winter War,
he half jokingly remarked that he ought to mail the
missing finger back to the Soviets with a thank you note,
a grim bit of humor that his men remembered by
thanking the enemy for a wound, Arnie turned the injury
on its head. He told he medic that the Russians
had done him a favor quote, one less cold finger
(52:06):
to worry about. I should send it back and thank them.
Then you have Omari's incredible clean plane. Perhaps the most
famous antidote about Amari Dalyiten is the legend of his
untouched plane. Throughout over four hundred sorties and countless dogfights,
(52:31):
not a single enemy fighter managed to put a bullet
hole in any of his aircraft. This almost supernatural streak
led to endless banter among his peers. Fellow pilots teased
that he must have been invisible to the Soviets, where
they had a personal guardian angel on his wing, and
Omari would jokingly play along, saying things like the Russians
(52:54):
just never got around to hitting me. Ground crew members
often marveled that his brewster is Later, his messagement came
back without a scratch from fighters, even on the fiercest
of days. This prompted humor that his mechanic had the
easiest job in the squadron, just for fuel the damn
thing in rearm no patching is required, and it became
(53:15):
a point of pride that they have joked that his
planes were charmed. The men in a squadron even painted
a little green Grimlin symbol under his cockpit as a
tongue in cheek mascot to ward off the bullets. The
fact that his only significant damage was from friendly anti
aircraft fire once did force him to land made for
(53:38):
an ironic, ironic story. Amari would tell with a smile,
I had to be shot down by our own boys
because the Soviets couldn't manage it, and that shoot first
comment I made a little bit ago. He never lost
a wing man. Udi Lighton was also proud that he
(54:00):
never lost on wingman in combat. He attributed this to
one simple rule, aggressively rapidly engaged the enemy before they
engage you. Once a junior pilot nervously asked Ilou how
he always kept his wingmen safe, and he winked and
his smiled and said, because I shoot down anyone who
could shoot my wingman. Rather effective, don't you think? The
(54:23):
wheye response became a catfa age in his squadron, shoot
them before they shoot us. It was repeated in a
semi humorous way whenever they went into battle formation a
sort of final, lighthearted confidence boost. The underlying truth was serious,
but delivering it with a bit of sense of humor
eased attention for younger pilots. Now, these moments, in some
(54:45):
of their humor, do not detract from their valor. Instead,
I think it enhances their legacy by reminding us that
behind the metals and tallies were real men with personality
and charm. So the story of Arnay and omari Uda
Laiten is at its heart a tale of two brothers.
(55:06):
He became heroes in the nation's darkest hours against a
bunch of Soviet Communists. It is a narrative rich in contrast,
one brother having fought to nashisly on frozen tundras of
Keralia and the other the wood in the skies above.
One known for his gritty frontline leadership, the other for
(55:26):
peerless skill and aerial combat. Yet for all their differences
in arena and temperament, they shared a common devotion to
Finland and an uncommon courage that set them apart. Now,
through this podcast, we have traced their journeys from a
shared childhood and an Arab upheaval, to the divergent past
(55:48):
they took to the military, and finally to the enduring
impact they've had on Finnish history. Arnie Edward Eutelton, The
Terror of Morocco, will forever be remembered as the indominal
and tree officer who helped ensued that Cola casta that
Cola held during the Winter War. I know Ilmari hilu
(56:10):
Utilitan finish finding's ace of aces would leave an equally
profound mark, but theanos of air warfare. His ninety four
aerial victories are not just a national record, but an
international one, placing him among the elite few few in
aviation history. Beyond the numbers, his story is one of
(56:31):
cool professionalism, relentless practice and the modest of demeanors. He
never lost sight of the team effort behind his success,
from the ground crews to those wingmen. His legacy lives
on every time a Finnish fighter pilot straps into the
cockpit with a Swan insignia on the wing, the symbol
of the Finnish Air Force. Together, the Uniliten brothers represent
(56:57):
the multifaceted heroism of Finland during World War II. They
came from the same family, even served in some of
the same battles, albeit in different capacities, and both will
go on to achieve legendary status. It is exceedingly rare
in any country's history for two siblings to reach such
(57:20):
heights of distinction. This fraternal aspect of their story adds
a layer of poignancy. It reminds us that the epic
of a nation is ultimately composed of the stories of families,
of brothers, of sisters, fathers and sons, who each contribute
in their own way. In Finland, the unilitans importance is
(57:44):
submit it by how they are remembered and honored, and
on a broader level, their legacy extends beyond Finland's border
as well. Military historians around the world study the Winter
War for lessons and defensive warfare. But as we conclude
this podcast, it is fitting to reflect on the qualities
(58:09):
that made the Utilitans extraordinary. They had bravery and abundance,
whether it be Arnie standing firm under artillery barrages or
il Maury diving alone into a formation of any enemy bombers.
They possessed skill and dedication. Arnie would hone his men
(58:31):
into an effective fighting unit, and Olmari perfected his markmanship
and tactics to lethal effect. They demonstrated leadership and camaraderie.
Both earned the respect and love of those who served
with the forging bonds that outlasted the war, and perhaps
more endearingly, they retained their humanity and humor, finding those
(58:53):
moments to laugh, even in Arnie's worst days, to encourage
others with a joke or a warm gesture, even amidst
terrible circumstances. The legacy of Arnie and al mare Euteliten
ultimately reminds us of the power of individual contributions and
shaping history. Decades after the guns of World War Two
(59:14):
have fallen silent, the Utiliten Brothers continue to be invoked
as exemplars of Finnish sisu and heroism. That's all for
this episode of Increase. I am jef aka a cosmic
bart on Twitter X, signing off after another journey through
(59:38):
history's most gripping moments. We have covered some heavy ground today,
exploring more courage and survival, maybe even touching, like said,
on the issues of World War Two along the way.
Thanks for staying with me through it all. We delved
into the lives of two finished brothers who stood tall
(59:59):
in their own ways. You can find me on Twitter
and X, as I said a cosmic Bard, and contact
me for more thoughts, updates, or just to chat about
what we covered. We'll be back soon with another set
of stories. Until then, keep your mind open and your
(01:00:19):
curiosity alive. This has been an increase with a double left.
Thanks for joining me on this ride. I love you Julian,
I love you Tristan, and especially you EP. Good night,
(01:01:02):
Pepper people.
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