Finnish troops took Riekkala island from Soviet troops in August 1941 (during the Continuation War betwen Finland and Soviet Union 1941-1944).

Finnish officer in Riekkala island

Lars Hattinen (1923-1961) served in No. 28 Squadron (LeLv 28) of the Finnish Air Force in 1943-44. He flew 70 sorties and scored six confirmed kills with his Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, all of them in June-July 1944. The aircrafts he shot down were A-20 Havoc, P-40 Warhawk, La-5, Yak-1 and two P-39 Airacobras. SSgt. Hattinen was wounded and badly burned when his plane was shot down in flames during the same fight that he downed the P-39's, on July 30, 1944. Lars Erich Paul Hattinen survived the war but died later in civilian plane crash on January 3, 1961. He received Medal of Liberty 1st class during the war.

Promotions:
Alikersantti (Corporal) - 5.5.1942
Kersantti (Sergeant) - 20.8.1943
Ylikersantti (Staff Sergeant) - 13.7.1944

The youngest ace

Unknown Swedish volunteer in Finnish Hangö on December 4, 1941. 