Finnish Forces

Hans Wind

Hans "Hasse" Wind (1919-1995), Knight of the Mannerheim Cross No. 116. Served in No. 24 Squadron of Finnish Air Force in 1941-1944, scoring 72 victories and 6 shared victories, in 302 sorties. In ground attack sorties he destroyd atleast 2 trains. Wind flew Brewster B-239 from 1941 to April 1944, after which he flew Messerschmitt Bf 109G's until he was badly wounded to his left arm on June 28, 1944. Gun shell that wounded him was most likely 37 mm from P-39 Airacobra. Wind recovered from the wound but didn't fly before the war was over. He downed 30 aircraft within 12 days in June 1944. Hans Wind is one of the four people awarded with Mannerheim Cross 2nd class twice. First was awarded on July 31, 1943, and second on June 28, 1944 (the day he was wounded). He resigned from the Air Force on May 10, 1945 and started studies in Helsinki School of Business, and got married on August 26, 1945. Wind died on July 24, 1995 and was survived by his wife and five children. Promotions: Vänrikki (Second Lieutenant / Pilot officer) - May 7, 1940. Luutnantti (First Lieutenant / Flying officer) - June 17, 1941. Kapteeni (Captain / Flight lieutenant) - October 19, 1943.