FINNISH AIR FORCE

CONTINUATION WAR 25.6.1941 - 3.5.1942

In spring 1941 Finland was already an unofficial ally of Germany. There were also both German and Soviet troops in Finland. In this situation Finland tried to keep its neutral status which was too much demanded because USSR didn't accept it. After German troops attacked USSR on 22.6.1941 Finland was also seen attacker; orders for this "official view" had although been given already before the hostilities had started. Thus Soviet aircraft started at once bombing Finnish civilian and military targets on 22.6. and 25.6.1941 after which Finland declared war on USSR. The so called Continuation War had started.

Initially in June 1941 Finnish Air Defence [Ilmapuolustus] was not well enough prepared for sudden attacks and there were still great lacks in air surveillance. Finnish fighters could although inflict some losses to Soviets. Gaining of air superiority did not succeed everywhere because air surveillance could not inform squadrons early enough due to weak telephone connections and lacking radios.

Since late June Finnish Army started preparing for an attack to re-take areas ceded to USSR in March 1940. In East Karelia north from Lake Ladoga Finnish troops advanced even further beyond the old borders to achieve shorter and more easily defensible positions in Olonets and Maaselkä Isthmus. During the attack phase north from Lake Ladoga and in Karelian Isthmus Finnish Air Force (FAF) supported and protected advancing land troops with their obsolescent planes as effectively as it was possible in these circumstances.

Airfields were soon left far behind the fast moving front. Co-operation between fighter and weak reconnaissance squadrons was all the time troublesome partly due to inexperience and personal differences in opinions between the leading officers. Soviet fighters could thus strike against Finnish air-bases numerous times damaging and destroying several aircraft.

Finns had "officially" gained air superiority and Soviet planes usually avoided better Finnish fighters which were very successful everywhere and suffered only minor losses. For example Flying Squadron 24 (LLv.24) didn't lose any of their BW fighters due to enemy inflict in 1941! Fighter flights of the reconnaissance squadrons which had obsolete fighter types were although attacked as well as the sole slowly and at low level flying reconnaissance planes. They would have needed fighter protection which was seldom available.
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Finnish Air Force Unit Organizations during the Continuation War

After the Winter War Finnish Air Force was not very intensively developed but lots of new personnel was trained for squadrons between March 1940 and June 1941. At the beginning of the Continuation War FAF had still three flying regiments: Flying Regiment 2 (LentoR 2) with three fighter squadrons (LLv.24, 26 and 28), Flying Regiment 3 (LentoR 3) with two fighter squadrons (LLv.30 and 32) and Flying Regiment 4 (LentoR 4) with three bomber squadrons (LLv.42, 44 and 46). The last one was initially specialized for long-range reconnaissance but after it was refitted in winter 1942 it became bomber squadron.

High bomber losses dropped the number of operational bomber squadrons to two already in July 1941. The situation began improving in the summer 1942 when all the four bomber squadrons (LLv.42, 44, 46 and 48) became operational again. The last one took the long-range reconnaissance duties from LLv.46. Special Photography Flight operated under bomber squadrons mainly between springs and autumns.

The three joint operation and short-range reconnaissance squadrons (LLv.12, 14 and 16) were weak independent units subordinated mainly to support Land Forces. The fourth reconnaissance squadron (LLv.10) was temporarily formed and operated only between August and November 1941 for 14th Division at Rukajärvi direction. It was replaced with Flying Squadron 14 (LLv.14) which was moved from Karelian Isthmus.

Flying Squadron 15 (LLv.15) was a special maritime reconnaissance, air transport and special duties squadron which operated initially in Gulf of Bothnia but most of the time on Lake Ladoga and inland lakes. Squadron was suspended in late winter 1942 and its mainly obsolescent planes were given to other squadrons or to special flights and detachments which operated mainly during summers when lakes were open. Naval Forces Staff (Meriv.E) had a separate Flying Squadron 6 (LLv.6) under its command for maritime reconnaissance and anti-vessel duties. Initially it had also fighter flight.

FAF unit organizations and tactical formations remained largely the same as they had been during the Winter War. The only major changes were in tactical use of various aircraft models. New methods were developed before the Continuation War and Finnish fighter units were in far better shape than they had been during the Winter War. Despite of that many units still had obsolescent aircraft and lacked necessary equipment. Most squadrons had also lots of new inexperienced personnel still partly under training when the war started. The situation was somewhat acceptable in 1941 and 1942 but after that Finnish units began suffering from the more increasing lack of modern combat planes.
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Flying Regiment

The organization of Flying Regiment (Lentorykmentti, LentoR, since 3.5.1942 Le.R) was developed taking the experiences of Winter War into account but the basic structure remained although the same. Highest regimental officer was called General Staff Officer [Yleisesikuntaupseeri] before the Chief of Staff [Esikuntapäällikkö] was added to Regimental HQ in late winter 1944. They acted also as Deputy Commander.

Regiment was composed of the following elements:

Rykmentinkomentaja (Regiment Commander)

Esikunta (E/LentoR) (Regimental HQ)
Yleisesikuntaupseeri (General Staff Officer)

Esikuntakomppania (EK/LentoR) (HQ Company)

Lentolaivue (LLv.) (Flying Squadron)
Laivueenkomentaja (Squadron Commander)

... Esikunta (E/LLv.) (HQ)
... Tiedustelu-upseeri (Intelligence Officer)

... Esikuntakomppania (EK/LLv.) (HQ Company)
... Adjutantti (Squadron Adjutant)

... (two or more flying squadrons)

Kenttälentovarikko (KLe.V) (Field Flight Depot) *
(- summer 1941, Field Flight Depot 4 (KLe.V 4) -31.12.1941)

Kentänhuoltojoukkue (Khj.) (Airfield Maintenance Platoon)
... (various number, one or two subordinated to flying squadrons)

Kevyt ilmatorjuntajaos (Kev.It.Jaos) (Light Anti-Aircraft Section) /
Kevyt ilmatorjuntapatteri (Kev.It.Ptri) (Light Anti-Aircraft Battery)
(2x/4x 40 mm Bofors)
... (various number, subordinated also to flying squadrons)

Ilmatorjuntakonekiväärijoukkue (It.KKJ) (4x 20 mm heavy AAMG)
(Anti-Aircraft MG Platoon)
... (various number, subordinated also to flying squadrons)

Kuljetusjoukkue (Kulj.J/LentoR) (Transport Platoon)
... (Flying Regiments 2, 3 and 4)

muita yksiköitä / other units
- radioasemia / radio stations
- huolto- ja kuljetusyksiköitä / subordinated supply and transport units

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The most significant improvements were the much increased number of Airfield Maintenance Platoons (10. - 33., 35. - 39., 41. - 48., 50. - 54.Khj.) and assigned anti-aircraft units. In June 1941 also Transport Platoon was added to regiments to improve their formerly weak transport ability. See the compositions of Flying Regiment 2 and Flying Regiment 3 in June 1941.

* In the summer 1941 all field flight depots except KLe.V 4 were taken away from flying regiments and subordinated to General Staff Department of Air Defence Staff. Since 1.1.1942 all field flight depots were subordinated to the Chief of War Equipment Department of Air Defence Staff (since summer 1942 Air Force Staff). Depots are handled on the Finnish Air Force Depots 1939 - 1945 page.
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Flying Squadron

Finnish Flying Squadron (Lentolaivue, LLv., since 3.5.1942 Le.Lv.) consisted of Squadron Commander, Squadron HQ (E/LLv.) with Intelligence Officer, Supply Chief and Squadron Adjutant, Headquarters Company with squadron services led by Squadron Adjutant, usually three Flights with Flight Chief, Deputy Flight Chief, flying personnel (pilots, observers, MG gunners) and technical personnel (mechanics and auxiliary mechanics). Commanders could be both pilots or observers. The last ones were always reserve of Cadet officers. MG gunners were Airmen, Lance Corporals or most likely junior NCOs.
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Technical Personnel

Mechanics in regular service were not ordinary NCOs but officially "Military Sub Officials" [sotilasalivirkamies] and used silver coloured rank chevrons of Sergeant or Staff Sergeant. Technical personnel was although better paid to other military personnel and they were actually about equal to the ranks of Staff Sergeant and Master Sergeant although their official title was either Aircraft, Ordnance or Radio Mechanics [lentokonemekaanikko, asemekaanikko, radiomekaanikko]. Auxiliary Mechanics [apumekaanikko] were reservists and their typical ranks varied from Airman to Sergeant. Most officers of the technical branch had also civilian training of mechanical technician or engineer and most of them were reservists.

Every squadron had its own Aircraft Inspector [Konetarkastaja] who after repairs accepted engines and planes back to service and supervised that overhauls and repairs were done according to directives and orders. They were either experienced senior NCOs, military sub officials, officers or military officials.
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Fighter, Reconnaissance and Bomber Squadron

Since 1941 the theoretical full strengths of the flying squadrons were to be as follows:

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In practise squadrons seldom had these numbers of planes in working order. Typical fighter squadron had about 15 or more planes but occasionally certain unit could have only a handful of planes in working order. Especially reconnaissance squadrons were far from their theoretical strengths and had to use over aged aircraft types.

Strengths of the flying squadrons varied depending on their tasks and planes. Bomber squadrons were the largest because of their larger number of flying and technical personnel and the biggest supply needs. Fighter squadrons were usually also rather big and equipped with the sufficient amount of personnel and equipment. Flying Squadrons 24 and 34 were although above the others and had the best planes.

Reconnaissance squadrons were the smallest and suffered from the constant lack of personnel and equipment although they operated in a wide area and the results of their missions were very important to land forces. Later during the war they although had very experienced crews which could fulfill their tasks despite of the crushing superiority of the Soviet planes.
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Flight and Detachment

There were still two to five (typically three) Flights (Lentue, Ltue) in combat squadrons. Flights were theoretically slightly larger than they had been earlier having now about five to nine fighters, three to six reconnaissance planes and three to five bombers.

Temporary combat Detachments (Osasto, Os.) were either reinforced flights, whole flights or parts of one or two flights with specified tasks. They were used basically like during the Winter War.

Every reconnaissance (joint operation) squadron had now one or two own "fighter flights" equipped initially with obsolescent fighter types Fokker D.XXI (FR/FRw) or Gloster Gladiator I (GL). These planes were classed as "reconnaissance fighter" and they were mainly used in reconnaissance duties although they also escorted two seated reconnaissance planes occasionally. Later fighter flights received also Morane-Saulnier M.S. 406 (MS) fighters but older fighter types still remained in reconnaissance role. Separately operated Reconnaissance Squadron 14 had later two flights equipped with them.
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Supplement Flying Regiment and Training Squadrons

Between 1941 and May 1942 there was one independent Supplement Flying Regiment (Täydennyslentorykmentti, T-LentoR) which had initially three (T-LLv.25, LLv.34, T-LLv.35) and since late 1941 one training squadron (T-LLv.35). Independent Flying Squadron 17 (LLv.17) trained personnel for twin-engined bomber squadrons. Squadron was suspended in November 1941 but was re-formed in late November 1942 when all bomber squadrons became active combat units again.

In May 1942 Supplement Flying Regiment was suspended and became new Flying Regiment 1. At the same time Suppelement Flying Squadron 35 (T-LLv.35) became independent fighter training unit until September 1942 when it was subordinated to Air Combat School (Lentosotakoulu, Le.SK). Le.SK had now more important role also in advanced pilot training than it had had during the Winter War.

Supplement Flying Regiment, training squadrons and pilot training in Finland before and during the Continuation War are handled on page FAF Training Units 1941 - 1944. Also a few combat squadrons acted temporarily in training duties during the war. They are mentioned in the tables below.

Pieksämäki, 30.6.41- Joensuu, 9.8.41- Värtsilä, 1.9.41- Salmi,
1.12.42- Äänislinna (Petrozavodsk)

Komentaja / Commander
Lt.Col./Col.(16.9.41) R. Lorentz
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Fighter squadron.
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Fighter squadron. Attached to LentoR 3 on 16.9.1941.
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Fighter squadron.
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Pori, 27.6.41- Hämeenlinna, 9.7.41- Utti, 3.9.41- Immola

Komentaja / Commander
Lt.Col. E. Nuotio
 
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Fighter squadron. Moved from LentoR 2 on 16.9.1941.
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Fighter squadron.
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Fighter squadron.
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Luonetjärvi, by 4.3.42- Joensuu

Komentaja / Commander
Lt.Col. T. Somerto
Lt.Col. O. Sarko (2.4.42-)
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Bomber squadron. Since 14.7.1941 under the direct command of
the Commander of Air Defence.
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Bomber squadron. Since 8.7.1941 under the direct command of
the Commander of Air Defence.
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Bomber squadron. Since 15.7.1941 bomber training squadron.
Operational again on 5.4.1942 after re-equipping.
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Formed on 23.11.1941. Initially bomber training squadron.
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Helsinki

Separate Flying Squadron 6 (LLv.6) was operationally subordinated to Naval Forces Staff
for maritime reconnaissance, anti-ship and anti-submarine missions.
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Maritime reconnaissance squadron.
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Subordinated to support Land Forces.
See subordination from the page of each squadron.
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Temporary reconnaissance squadron formed on 12.8.1941
and suspended on 30.10.1941.
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Reconnaissance squadron.
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Reconnaissance squadron.
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Maritime reconnaissance, liaison and transport squadron.
Formed on 30.6.1941 from Erillinen lentue X (Separate Flight X).
Unit was also called as Separate Flying Squadron 15 (Er.LLv.15).
Suspended on 8.3.1942 -> Osasto [Detachment] Malinen in 1943.
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Reconnaissance squadron.
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