Finnish Aces

The small number of Finnish fighter pilots who defended Finland in three separate wars between 1939 and 1945 amassed scores only bettered by the Luftwaffe's pilots. Initially equipped with a mixed collection of fighters acquired from sources across the world, the Finnish Air Force was thrust into defensive combat in the Winter War (against an invasion by the Soviet Union in 1939), followed by the Continuation War, (in league with Germany and the other Axis powers against the Soviets), in 1941-1944. The third conflict was the Lapland War against Germany in 1944-1945. The famous Finnish aces and their aircraft are described in detail in this book with many photographs and colour profiles. Included are Ilmari Juutilainen, Hans Wind and Eino Luukkanen among others.