Always outnumbered by their Soviet counterparts, the small band of
Finnish fighter pilots who defended their Scandinavian homeland from the
'communist hordes' in three separate wars between 1939 and 1945 amassed scores
only bettered by the Luftwaffe's Jagdflieger. Initially equipped with a motley
collection of biplane and monoplane fighters garnered from sources across the
globe, the Finnish Air Force was thrust into combat in November 1939. Given
little chance against the massive Soviet force, the Finnish fighter pilots
confounded the sceptics and decimated the attacking fighter and bomber
formations, prompting the Russians to call a halt in March 1940. This scenario
was repeated in 1941, and by 1943 the Finns had become uneasy allies with the
Germans. Complete with first-hand accounts and detailed colour illustrations,
this book profiles aces like Juutilainen and Wind, who proved unbeatable in the
final months of conflict.
Contents
Winter War *
Finnish Offensive of 1941 * Fighting Lend-Lease * Gulf of
Finland * Soviet Offensive of 1944 * Top Aces *
Appendices
