The history of the Midnight Hawks began before World War II, when the Finnish Air Force Academy used Gloster Gamecocks and other aircraft for display flying.

Originally the show was just the Training Air Wing's Midsummer party for the families, relatives and the people of the Kauhava village where the academy was located.

The formation flying had been part of the normal training syllabus and no special team names or aircraft had been used.

Immediately the name spread around the country and the wider world - the Finnish Air Force Display Team Midnight Hawks had been born.

All the members of the team are flight instructors in the Finnish Air Force Academy, and in active service.