Finnish Forces

Submarine hunter

Birger Ek (1911-1990) Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #106. He flew 29 sorties on Karelian Isthmus as flight commander and pilot in Bristol Blenheim during Winter War. In beginning of Continuation War he was appointed as flight commander to seperate anti-submarine squadron which flew captured Tupolev SB-2 bombers and operated on the Gulf of Finland. He invented and refined the method of dropping depth charges on the submarines instead of the aircraft bombs, and was first one in the world to try this in action. His SB-2 eventually sunk 4 submarines and other aircrafts of his flight sunk 4 and badly damaged 2 submarines. During the war he also served as liaison officer in German Luftflotte 1 in 1942–43 and as staff officer in Finnish Airforce Headquarters in 1943-1944. He flew 142 sorties in Continuation War. The Mannerheim Cross (2nd class) was awarded to him on March 8, 1943.