Finnish agents infiltrate Soviet Union via hot air balloon during Cold War mission

In late August 1954, off the coast of Northern Norway, the fishing trawler Telco anchored in a secluded fjord near the Soviet border. The Arctic Ocean was calm as two Finnish soldiers, Arvo Juvonen and Viljo Suikkanen, stood on deck, watching the distant Russian Murmansk coast through binoculars. These operatives were not there to fish; they were preparing to infiltrate the Soviet Union via a hot air balloon as part of an operation undertaken by Norway’s military intelligence and the CIA.

Juvonen and Suikkanen had trained with the CIA in Colorado before undertaking this mission, which was aimed at spying on Murmansk’s Vajenga airport and the surrounding region. After waiting two weeks for suitable winds, they moved to a mountain hut near Seidafjellet, where they could better anticipate weather conditions.

On September 8, 1954, the right wind finally arrived, and the hot air balloon lifted off from the Telco. Rising to two to three kilometers, the balloon eventually drifted over Petsamo, where the winds quieted down. The agents managed to remain undetected and landed near Liinahamar, though their intended journey to Murmansk was cut short.

For several days, Juvonen and Suikkanen observed the airfield’s operations, gathering intel on what appeared to be MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighter jets. Their luck turned when a low-flying observation aircraft spotted Suikkanen’s wet clothes hung out to dry, leading to their discovery and a military chase.

The agents managed to confuse their pursuers with a distraction before making a grueling trek over 30 kilometers back to Norway, successfully evading capture. Their findings included critical observations on military activity and infrastructure in the area. Following their daring exploits, both agents continued their intelligence work during the Cold War, with their stories documented in various historical accounts over the years.