Brewster B-239 (BW-371) of LeLv 24, after landing on a wet and soft airfield. 1941-1944

Brewster Buffalo upside down

Valio Valfrid Porvari (1913-1993) started his service in Finnish Air Force in 1936 and when WWII begun he was Sergeant in 3rd Flight of No. 26 Squadron (3/LLv 26), which would be his unit throughout the war. He claimed his first aerial victory in Winter War, when he shot down Polikarpov I-16 with his Bristol Bulldog Mk.IV A (BU-68) on December 27, 1939. Later, in mid-February 1940, he downed DB-3 and another I-16 flying Gloster Gladiator Mk.II (GL-264). In Continuation War he achieved all his aerial victories in 1941, 3 kills + 1 shared (SB-2 bombers) on June 25, 1941 (first day of the war), flying Fiat G.50 (FA-20), and his last confirmed kill, Polikarpov I-153, was on August 23, 1941, flying Brewster B-239 (BW-359), setting his total number of kills to 7,5. Alltogether he flew 251 sorties during WWII, and finished the war as Warrant officer. He left the air force in 1947.

Valio "Valtsu" Porvari

Three Lottas posing next to a Brewster (BW-373), wearing air force hats. 1941-1944