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Risto Olli Pekka Puhakka (11 April 1916 – 28 January 1989) was one of the top scoring aces in the Finnish Air Force with 42 confirmed victories.[1][2]
Olli Puhakka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 11 April 1916 Sortavala |
| Died | 28 January 1989 (aged 72) |
| Allegiance |  Finland |
| Service | Finnish Air Force |
| Years of service | 1935–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | LeLv 24, LeLv 26, LeLv 28, LeLv 30, LeLv 32 |
| Other work | Commercial airline pilot |
Biography
editPuhakka served in Fighter Squadrons (LLv's) 26, 30, 28, 24, 32 during the Winter War and the Second World War. He became an ace during the Winter War, downing 5½ Soviet aircraft. Puhakka was actively flying at the front for almost the entire whole war.
During his 401 combat missions, Olli Puhakka scored 42 confirmed victories in Fokker D.XXIs, Fiat G.50s and Bf 109Gs. On 21 December 1944, he was awarded the Mannerheim Cross.
Puhakka resigned from the air force in 1946 and flew commercial airliners until his retirement in 1971.
Victories
edit| Aircraft | Victories |
|---|---|
| Fokker D.XXI | 4 |
| Fiat G.50 | 13 |
| Messerschmitt Bf 109G | 25 |
| Total | 42 |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ Keskinen 1978, p. 24-27.
- ^ "Risto Olli Puhakka". www.century-of-flight.net.
Bibliography
edit- Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari and Niska, Klaus. Hävittäjä-ässät (Finnish Fighter Aces) (in Finnish). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteas, 1978. ISBN 951-9035-37-0.
- Stenman, Kari and Keskinen, Kalevi. Finnish Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces 23). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-783-X.