Kurt Volmar Berger (1896–1977) was an aviation engineer and the chief designer at the Finnish aircraft manufacturing company

Valtion Lentokonetehtaat ''Valtion lentokonetehdas'' (State aircraft factory) was a Finnish aircraft manufacturing company that was founded on 23 February 1928 from the IVL or I.V.L. factory (Ilmailuvoimien lentokonetehdas, Finnish Air Force Aircraft Factory), founded in ...

. K. V. Berger's father, Arnold Berger, was a minister and his mother was Fanny Berger. He became an

abitur ''Abitur'' (), often shortened colloquially to ''Abi'', is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen year ...

ient from ''Helsingin Uusi Yhteiskoulu'' in 1916 and began studies as an electrical engineer at the Helsinki University of Technology the same autumn, but volunteered for service with the Helsinki Jaeger Brigade. In 1918 he traveled to Libau in Germany, to start pilot training with floater-equipped aircraft. However, his studies were interrupted by the end of World War I and Germany's loss. Berger managed to receive his international civil pilot papers in 1921. In order to continue with his studies, he enrolled in the East London College in 1919 (nowadays called Queen Mary, University of London), graduating on 5 September 1922. He was appointed Engineer at the Finnish Air Force Headquarters at

Santahamina Santahamina ( sv, Sandhamn) is an island and neighbourhood of Eastern Helsinki, Finland. At present it is a military base housing the Guard Jaeger Regiment, making access restricted. The Finnish National Defence University (NDU) is also located ...

on 1 November 1923, and later Chief Engineer on 1 March 1924. He was therefore sent to the Finnish Air Force Aircraft Manufacturers company (''Ilmavoimien Lentokonetehdas''), where he would design the IVL C.24, IVL Haukka I, IVL Haukka II,

IVL Sääski IVL may refer to: * The IATA code for Ivalo Airport * Involucrin, a human gene * Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas, a Finnish defense, aviation and aerospace company * Indian Volley League, a professional volleyball league in India * Julius (nomen) ...

and

IVL Kotka VL Kotka ("Eagle") was a Finland, Finnish two-seat, biplane maritime patrol aircraft, designed and built by the or ''VL'' ("State Aircraft Factory"). It was meant as a cheaper replacement (compared to the Blackburn Ripon) for the outdated Hansa ...

aircraft. Berger also participated in the Finnish Air Force's purchases of foreign fighters from Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy and France in the late 1920s and 1930s. Berger was acquitted from his position at the VL during a company restructuring in 1933 and he continued to work as aircraft inspector at Lentoasema I and Flight Regiment 2. After the Soviet-Finnish Winter War 1939–40 he supervised the assembly of the

Brewster Buffalo The Brewster F2A Buffalo is an American fighter aircraft which saw service early in World War II. Designed and built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, it was one of the first U.S. monoplanes with an arrestor hook and other modifications ...

fighters in Sweden, as well as served as Chief Engineer of Maintenance and Office Engineer at the Finnish Air Force Headquarters. After the wars he continued as a private entrepreneur.

References

* Raunio, Jukka: ''Valtion lentokonetehtaan historia Osa 1: Pioneerivuodet 1921-1932''. Halli: Jukka Raunio, 2005. . * Heinonen, Timo: ''Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita.'' Tikkakoski: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo, 1992. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Berger, Kurt 1896 births 1977 deaths Alumni of East London College