The Foreign Service Journal, May 2007

Henry got into trouble a second time after his death. During the 1950s “Red Scare” in the United States, fin- ger-pointing by an inside informant (who had apparently heard rumors of the State Department’s internal investigation) led to a posthumous FBI investigation to see if he had been a Soviet agent. In January 1956, the FBI conclud- ed that State Department and “Bureau files contain no details con- cerning Antheil’s involvement in Soviet espionage activities” and that “no further investigation is recom- mended at this time.” (Back in Helsinki in June 1940, Henry’s fian- cée Greta had been the subject of a background check of her own.) Memories of Antheil continued to fade until the beginning of the 21st century, when a series of articles in the Estonian and Finnish press gener- ated renewed interest in the story of the “Kaleva.” At about the same time, Aero Airlines resumed regularly scheduled flights between Helsinki and Tallinn using French-built ATR- 72 twin-turboprops. Although the Finnish Aero Com- pany changed its name to Finnair in 1953 (Finnair still uses the original OH call sign on its planes), Aero was reborn in March 2002 as Finnair’s Estonian subsidiary. (Finnair had already resumed flying between Hel- sinki and Tallinn in March 1990 after a 50-year hiatus.) On June 14, 2005, Estonian, Fin- nish and Russian researchers gath- ered for a symposium at the Helsinki Aviation Museum to mark the 65th anniversary of the incident. That same year, Ants Vist, Toivo Kallas and the Estonian company “Polar Films” began working on a documentary film on the fate of the “Kaleva.” Thanks to a grant issued by the U.S. embassy in Tallinn, a Polar Films crew traveled to the U.S. in October and November 2006 to interview Antheil’s surviving relatives. Fittingly, Henry Antheil’s name will forever be within sight of the black- blue-white Estonian flag that hung in the State Department’s main lobby throughout the five long decades of Soviet occupation, waiting patiently for the next flight from Tallinn. M A Y 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 51 Although Antheil did not speak Russian, by all accounts embassy life in Moscow suited him. SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2007 represents our 37 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives