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

WO Kelpo Virta (1916-1941)

Served in No. 24 Squadron (LeLv 24) of the Finnish Air Force in 1938-1941. He flew 110 sorties in the Winter War (Nov 30, 1939 - Mar 13, 1940) and scored six kills with his Fokker D.XXI, at Karelian Isthmus. He started the war as Staff Sergeant and was promoted to Sergeant First Class on 25.1.40, and to Warrant Officer on 22.4.40. He received Cross of Liberty 4th class during the war. Warrant Officer Virta was killed in flying accident during the Interim Peace, on January 28, 1941.

Fokker ace of the Winter War

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