The discovery of what appears to be an anti-aircraft missile control panel has raised new questions about old military systems in the area. Retired Colonel Carpenter, who once served with NRG forces in the region, says he was responsible for the missile batteries stationed there.
A recent discovery near Pihlajavuori has brought back a long-buried chapter of the area’s history. According to reports, a control panel believed to be connected to an anti-aircraft missile system has been found in the area. While the origin and current condition of the device have not been officially confirmed, one retired officer who once served in the region says the find should not be dismissed as harmless scrap.
Colonel Carpenter served in the area years ago as part of the NRG forces. According to him, several missile batteries were positioned in the region at the time, tasked with protecting key locations from aerial threats.
“They were not there for decoration. Back then, those systems were part of the area’s defence, and they were treated accordingly,” Carpenter says.
Carpenter recalls that the last operational missile systems he saw were located at the top of Pihlajavuori. He says the site also had a control panel that could be used to activate the systems and bring them into operational readiness.
“I remember that place clearly. On top of Pihlajavuori, there was a panel that could bring the systems online. I don’t know what has happened to them since, but I would not assume that everything is gone or harmless,” Carpenter says.
The discovery has caused concern, especially because the exact location of any remaining missiles is unknown. Carpenter refuses to reveal where the actual missiles or related systems may have been placed.
“There are things that should not be said publicly. If any part of the system still exists, the wrong information in the wrong hands could be more dangerous than the discovery itself,” he says.
Carpenter stresses that he does not have confirmed information about the current operational status of the system. However, according to him, the discovery of the control panel alone proves that traces of the area’s former military use still remain.
“Old structures should not be underestimated. If the missile systems were never properly dismantled, their existence — or even the threat of their existence — can still affect how people operate in the area,” Carpenter says.
Officials have not commented on whether the discovered panel is directly connected to the old missile batteries at Pihlajavuori. Anyone moving in the area is advised not to touch unknown devices and to report any suspicious findings to the event organisers.
Retired Colonel Carpenter says he once served in the area with NRG forces. According to him, the old missile systems at Pihlajavuori may not be just a thing of the past.