Finnish Air Force unit history assistance

[LukeFF]

Hey guys, we need some more information about Finnish units.

 

To start, we are interested in the period from June 25, 1941 to May 1, 1942 and the history and basing of the following units:

 

- LeLv 6 and especially the 3/LeLv 6, which used I-153s.

 

- LeLv 30 and especially 1/LeLv 30, which used Hurricanes Mk.Is

 

And also the further history of the use of Hurricanes in the Finnish Air Force since they were transferred from 1/LeLv 30 to somewhere else. 

 

Thanks!

[migmadmarine]

According to Kari Stenman and Karolina Holda's Finnish Fighter colors Vol. 2, the Finnish Hurricanes started the continuation war with LLv 30  as first flight, based at pori. July 1st they were transfered to Utti and annexed to LLV 32 as Detachment Kalaja, to serve as interceptors. They served regularly into July, but as of mid July onwards they were largely grounded due to lack of spare parts, with one or two aircraft flying along side Curtiss Hawks now and again. As of January (last action listed is 8th January 42) they were almost entirely grounded, with two airworthy aircraft transfered to LeLv 26, flying mostly Fiat G50s, at Malmi. Three more were transferred "later" but saw little actions. Two were transferred to storage May 43, with the remaining two following later. A single captured Mk.II was given to HleLv 34 on 27th april 42, but seemingly was only flown for evaluation and target training. 

[migmadmarine]

 

From the same book, about the I-153. 5 started as 3rd flight of LLv6, subordinated to the naval forces for maritime recon. They started based at Turku, but the base became unusable on the first day of the continuation war so they flew to Nummela. From there they regularly flew armed reconnaissance type missions in pairs, primarily against the port and airbase at Hanko. 

 

13th January they flew to an ice base outside Hamina and flew for several months similar armed recon to Gogland and Tytärsaari Island, along with occasionally escorting LLv 6's Tupolev SBs. In support of the capture of Gogland, they flew four ship attack missions against Russian positions on the island, 27th march. Come 27th may, the unit transferred to Römpötti, an flew armed recon over the east end of the gulf of Finland in pairs on a daily basis. 

 

I also have Finnish Aces, their Fighters and Units, which I can see if I can provide a more detailed accounting from, but that won't be tonight. 

 

Later phase of the war, but as it seems your considering captured aircraft, might I suggest having Pe-2 series 35s as a possible spawn for Finnish reconnaissance flights? They had 8 with Lentolaivue 48 which flew recon starting 30th September 42, through the end of the continuation war. 

[Hanu]

Damn, you beat me to it within couple of minutes

Well, I'll paste my source also here. It is Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 7, Keskinen/Stenman/Niska
 

VH= Venäläinen Hävittäjä (Russian Fighter, registration at the time until it was changed it IT later on)
VP= Venäläinen Pommittaja (Russian Bomber)

---------

 

Edited March 11 by Hanu

[BlackSix]

@migmadmarine, @Hanu - Thank you very much for the information! It was very important for me to get data from independent sources because I seriously doubt the reliability of my old books about FAF.

 

1 hour ago, migmadmarine said:

Later phase of the war, but as it seems your considering captured aircraft, might I suggest having Pe-2 series 35s as a possible spawn for Finnish reconnaissance flights? They had 8 with Lentolaivue 48 which flew recon starting 30th September 42, through the end of the continuation war. 

Yes but I'll ask about it later)) Thanks!

Now we need to completely finish with the units for 1941-42.

[BlackSix]

So, most likely the career will start in early September 1941, when Luftwaffe units appear on the map and the Germans begin the final offensive on the city. It will end on April 30, 1942 simultaneously with the end of the Luban operation.

 

1) We can use the 3/LeLv 6 in the career by placing it at the Kymi airfield north of Kotka and giving it captured I-153s, no problem there. But we'll have to write the story for the entire squadron LeLv 6, not just for a single flight 3/LeLv 6.

 

2) 1/LeLv 30: in accordance with the above information, in September the Hurricanes were almost not flying/were transferred to other units and it is better for us not to mess with this unit at all. Especially since in our game we only have the Hurricane Mk.II instead Mk.I

 

What do you think?

[Hanu]

Kymi airfield was hastily built, construction started in 1942 and was completed in April 1943 (at least first plane landed there then), so its a bit problematic. AFAIK the most accurate base in Karelia map would be Römpötti during LeLv30 time before they were equipped with Bf-109's during '44.

FRw = Fokker D.XXI with Wasp engine:
IT = I-153



Hurricanes had quite little actual usage, that's true. They were suffering missing spare parts.

 

I guess you have to stretch the facts a bit to get the campaign working, I'm afraid.

 

 

23 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

So, most likely the career will start in early September 1941, when Luftwaffe units appear on the map and the Germans begin the final offensive on the city. It will end on April 30, 1942 simultaneously with the end of the Luban operation.

 

1) We can use the 3/LeLv 6 in the career by placing it at the Kymi airfield north of Kotka and giving it captured I-153s, no problem there. But we'll have to write the story for the entire squadron LeLv 6, not just for a single flight 3/LeLv 6.

Sadly those 2/LeLv 6 VP's (Bombers) were SB-2's (which I would reeeeeaally love to see in this game btw)

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, BlackSix said:

What do you think?

 

Here is my logic:

 

1) A lot of Finnish aircraft were used in small numbers and sporadically. This is characteristics of the Finnish air force during the war.

 

2) A lot of types of Finnish aircraft will be missing. In terms of historical accuracy, having an aircraft be missing is almost as bad as having an aircraft be present that shouldn't be there. The difference between the Hurricane Mk.I and Hurricane Mk.II isn't that great.

 

3) Overall it represents the historical situation better to have a very small chance of small flights of Hurricanes appear than to have none. The Hurricanes would help represent the fact that the Finnish airforce was very varied in the equipment they used. Furthermore, if the campaign engine can produce flights consisting of only two aircraft then it wouldn't have a big effect on gameplay other than to add much needed variety.

[Hanu]

I tend to agree with Aviminus here. Until Brewster and/or Fiat G.50 is in game, you'll have a hard time to have meaningful missions that have more than couple of Finnish planes in it. (until G-2's start to appear in spring 1943.)

[BlackSix]

3 hours ago, Hanu said:

Kymi airfield was hastily built, construction started in 1942 and was completed in April 1943 (at least first plane landed there then), so its a bit problematic. AFAIK the most accurate base in Karelia map would be Römpötti during LeLv30 time before they were equipped with Bf-109's during '44.

Hurricanes had quite little actual usage, that's true. They were suffering missing spare parts.

 

I guess you have to stretch the facts a bit to get the campaign working, I'm afraid.

Sadly those 2/LeLv 6 VP's (Bombers) were SB-2's (which I would reeeeeaally love to see in this game btw)

I think that using Kymi in 1941 is the least of our problems)) 

Thanks for the additional information! 

Even more SB is missing for the Soviet regiments, of which there were many in 1941.

 

By the way, I can't find any information yet about when HLeLv30 got the Bf 109 Gs and where they were based after that. If we can use this squadron in 1944, we'll probably get Hurricanes in 1941.

Except this from the "Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces 023 - Finnish Aces of World War II"

 

 

2 hours ago, Avimimus said:

 

Here is my logic:

 

1) A lot of Finnish aircraft were used in small numbers and sporadically. This is characteristics of the Finnish air force during the war.

 

2) A lot of types of Finnish aircraft will be missing. In terms of historical accuracy, having an aircraft be missing is almost as bad as having an aircraft be present that shouldn't be there. The difference between the Hurricane Mk.I and Hurricane Mk.II isn't that great.

 

3) Overall it represents the historical situation better to have a very small chance of small flights of Hurricanes appear than to have none. The Hurricanes would help represent the fact that the Finnish airforce was very varied in the equipment they used. Furthermore, if the campaign engine can produce flights consisting of only two aircraft then it wouldn't have a big effect on gameplay other than to add much needed variety.

 

2 hours ago, Hanu said:

I tend to agree with Aviminus here. Until Brewster and/or Fiat G.50 is in game, you'll have a hard time to have meaningful missions that have more than couple of Finnish planes in it. (until G-2's start to appear in spring 1943.)

Thanks!

[Hanu]

1 hour ago, BlackSix said:

I think that using Kymi in 1941 is the least of our problems)) 

Thanks for the additional information! 

Even more SB is missing for the Soviet regiments, of which there were many in 1941.

 

By the way, I can't find any information yet about when HLeLv30 got the Bf 109 Gs and where they were based after that. If we can use this squadron in 1944, we'll probably get Hurricanes in 1941.

Except this from the "Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces 023 - Finnish Aces of World War II"

 

 

 

Thanks!

From my previous quotation there is a mention about that also; 2/HLeLv34 (names are LLv -> LeLv -> HLeLv, same meaning, more defining name) was handed over to HLeLv 30 as 2nd flight on March 6 1944. That was the moment when HLeLv became a squadron that used Messerschmitt's also. 

on 10th of March HLeLv 30 consisted of:

1.Flight Cpt K. Lahtela, @ Utti (10x Fiat G.50)

2.Flight Cpt. V. Karu, @ Malmi (5x Bf-109 G-2)

3.Flight Ltn, T. Puolakka @ Römpötti (8x I-153)

26.3.1944 2/LeLv 30 received 5 Bf-109-G6's

4.4.1944 2/LeLv 30 received 5 Bf-109-G6's more and handed G-2's over to HLeLv 24

LeLv 30 was since then mainly tasked for Helsinki defence and operated from Malmi.

------ Global rule-of-thumb about Finnish fighter squadrons -----

 

HLeLv 34 operated with Messerschmitts since spring '43 (it was an Ace squadron, hand-picked pilots from other squadrons)

HLeLv 24 operated with Brewsters untill spring 1944, when they also switched to Messerschmitts. (Most succesfull squadron in the long run)
HLeLv 26 mainly operated with G.50 most of the war, Kilpasilta could be referred as the main base

HLeLv 28 operated with Morane Saulniers most of the war, based mainly in several bases in Aunus Karelia
HLeLv 32 operated with Curtiss Hawks most of the war, based mainly in Nurmoila

HLeLv 30 operated with several planes during the war, located many bases and responsible for defence on the Capital during spring and summer '44

HLeLv 34 was spread thin during summer '43 - Spring '44. 1st flight was in Suulajärvi giving top cover for HLeLv 24's Brewsters (who started to struggle against La-5's and Yaks), 2nd and 3rd flight altered between covering Helsinki from Malmi and in turn Kotka from Utti/Kymi. I guess this was the reason why 2/HLeLv 34 eventually became as 2/HLeLv 30 before they received their own Messerscmitts.

Edited March 11 by Hanu

[Missionbug]

1 hour ago, BlackSix said:

 

By the way, I can't find any information yet about when HLeLv30 got the Bf 109 Gs and where they were based after that. If we can use this squadron in 1944, we'll probably get Hurricanes in 1941.

Except this from the "Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces 023 - Finnish Aces of World War II"

 

 

 

According to "Finnish Air Force 1939-1945 by Kalevi Keskinen & Kari Stenman" , "During March of 1943 a new fighter squadron, LeLv34, was added to LeR 3 equipped with 30 new Messerschmitt Bf109G-2 fighters". Nothing yet on where they were based although I think LeR 3 was in the Karelian Istmus.

 

In the same book the order of Battle for 9th June 1941 shows HLeLv34 as based  at Kymi.

 

I will do a little more of a search in my book shelf and see what else there might be, the Finnish community will I am sure have better more up to date information that might supersede the above. 

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

Edited March 11 by Missionbug

[BlackSix]

Ok, thanks! Lets back to the 1941-42 career:

- we can write LeLv 6 story and make it as playable unit which used I-153s

- we can write LeLv 30/HLeLv 30 story and make it as playable unit which used Hurricanes II until Jan 1942 but it will be a bit unrealistic unit. Also we'll be able to use it in the 1944 career.

[migmadmarine]

I agree with having LeLv 30, even if they are over strength. I hope the Brewster and Fiat will be popular enough to justify making the Curtiss Hawk, which could then make for a solid mixed unit. 

[Hanu]

 Yes, thats about it. November '42 LeLv 6's Chaikas was merged into LeLv30 and Chaikas were used untill 20.3.1944.

But Hurricanes were not in use anymore during '43-'44 like migmadmarine already said. Practically their time ended during 1943 when they were stored

My collected notes about Hurricanes: HC-465 was Mk. II, others Mk.I's

Edited March 11 by Hanu

[Missionbug]

A quick note for the Messerschmitt, there are various artworks and photographs in the book I already quoted from that can place certain coded aircraft on some airfields at certain dates and years but essentially it seems that HLeLv24 and HLeLv34 were the main units for the G-2 and G-6 with HLeLv30 only using small contingents of various types to defend the capital so the bases shown by Hanu essentially give all the necessary information I guess that the G-2 and G-6 operated from. What the photographs do allow to some degree is to plot movement from one base to another if that information is really necessary, for instance you can see in some artwork both G-2 and G-6 that are described at three different airfields in May, June and July 44 and even the G-6 operating with both HLeLv24 and 34 so I guess you would have to search through various publications to try and sort out exactly what information is accurate, or as accurate as it can be, such as how the front was moving and if it had been necessary to evacuate due to how those fronts were moving at any particular time.

 

For anyone interested much of the information I have used in skins and models over the years comes from these publications, book nine is one of a number that deal with captured soviet types so covers the SB and DBs that you can merely wish for:

Spoiler

 

Book seven here is better in that it covers all the captured I-16, I-15, I-153 and Lagg-3 we have or will get for the new module with a brief history and

plenty of photographs for those in Finnish service.

 

Spoiler

 

Camouflage and markings and history.

 

Spoiler

 

Aces.

 

Spoiler

 

If you need certain information I can check through these to see if the information you already have is the same or different and hopefully it will make the career dates and places as close as we are likely to get all these years later.

 

All the books contain both Finnish and English text but in most cases the English is more to give a quick insight to the Finnish text so you would need one of the Finnish community to get you the best and most concise information from the books.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

 

 

Edited March 11 by Missionbug

[easterling77]

To the already mentioned publications, I can ad this one

 

Spoiler

it provides chapters about LeLv 6 and LeLv 30.

 

I'll check them tomorrow for additional information if needed.

 

Best greetings

 

DP

[BlackSix]

I was sent 11 volumes of Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia yesterday, so the problem with unit basing has been partially resolved))

Thank you very much everyone for your help, because I just didn't know what books to look for.

 

We'll start writing unit stories soon and more questions will come up.

 

The preliminary decision is as follows:

 

1941-42 career:

LeLv 6 (PLeLv 6) (I-153) - playable unit

LeLv 30 (HLeLv 30) (Hurricane Mk.II) - playable unit

 

1944 career:

LeLv 24 (HLeLv 24) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late*) - playable unit

LeLv 30 (HLeLv 30) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 34 (HLeLv 34) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 44 (PLeLv 44) (Ju 88 A-4) - playable unit

LeLv 48 (PLeLv 48) (Pe-2) - AI unit

 

* - our rule regarding 1944 is to provide the opportunity to play in the career for owners of both collector aircraft and G-6 and G-6 Late

[Hanu]

LeLv 34 (HLeLv 34) (Bf 109 G-2) 1943 career stationed at Kymi would also be interesting.

They were fighting to protect Kotka and German minelayers around Tytärsaari etc (Большой Тютерс, Bolšoi Tjuters) against I-153's LaGG-3's and IL's. But since August VVS KBF received La-5's and Yak's and started pounding Kotka with Pe-2's the fighting became quite intensive. Especially as only one flight was stationed in Kymi and they usually had only 2-6 planes operational.

[BlackSix]

8 minutes ago, Hanu said:

LeLv 34 (HLeLv 34) (Bf 109 G-2) 1943 career stationed at Kymi would also be interesting.

They were fighting to protect Kotka and German minelayers around Tytärsaari etc (Большой Тютерс, Bolšoi Tjuters) against I-153's LaGG-3's and IL's. But since August VVS KBF received La-5's and Yak's and started pounding Kotka with Pe-2's the fighting became quite intensive. Especially as only one flight was stationed in Kymi and they usually had only 2-6 planes operational.

Unfortunately, there is no possibility to extend the early career to 1943 or to start the late career from 1943.

[BlackSix]

I suppose we can use LeLv 30 armed with I-153s from the very beginning of 1944 and then re-equip it with Bf 109 Gs but it will be a dubious pleasure to fly I-153s in 1944))

 

And it seems I still have problems with airfields for the LeLv 48 (PLeLv 48) (Pe-2), was it still in Onttola all of 1944?

[Hanu]

23 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

And it seems I still have problems with airfields for the LeLv 48 (PLeLv 48) (Pe-2), was it still in Onttola all of 1944?

Both PLeLv 44 Ju-88's and PLeLv 48 Pe-2's were stationed in Onttola, that's true. I guess the best option would be using Utti as it is the furthest away from front that is bigger airfield. At least in some special missions they actually operated from Utti.

[BlackSix]

21 hours ago, Hanu said:

Both PLeLv 44 Ju-88's and PLeLv 48 Pe-2's were stationed in Onttola, that's true. I guess the best option would be using Utti as it is the furthest away from front that is bigger airfield. At least in some special missions they actually operated from Utti.

Thank you! 

I was just about to discuss this issue with the airfield change. The northernmost airfields on the map are Immola and Taipalsaari and they are the closest to Onttola. Utti is too far, on the westernmost edge of the map. Taipalsaar is too small and I still lean towards Immola. I know that when the Germans arrived at Immola in June, the Finns flew to other sites but still Immola is the most optimal for the requirements of the career.

[Hanu]

2 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

Thank you! 

I was just about to discuss this issue with the airfield change. The northernmost airfields on the map are Immola and Taipalsaari and they are the closest to Onttola. Utti is too far, on the westernmost edge of the map. Taipalsaar is too small and I still lean towards Immola. I know that when the Germans arrived at Immola in June, the Finns flew to other sites but still Immola is the most optimal for the requirements of the career.

Well if using Utti you might have enough range to climb to bombing altitude before reaching frontline with Ju-88's, so I see no problem here. I'd think its more problematic from Immola? I'm thinking June-August time here of course when the frontline was much closer to Finnish airfields.

And Immola is not too long airfield for loaded Ju-88... Well 01 might be enough. But that's just a thought... I'm sure you'll test it before extensively so my speculations  about that are quite pointless.

[BlackSix]

5 minutes ago, Hanu said:

Well if using Utti you might have enough range to climb to bombing altitude before reaching frontline with Ju-88's, so I see no problem here. I'd think its more problematic from Immola? I'm thinking June-August time here of course when the frontline was much closer to Finnish airfields.

And Immola is not too long airfield for loaded Ju-88... Well 01 might be enough. But that's just a thought... I'm sure you'll test it before extensively so my speculations  about that are quite pointless.

Unfortunately, there is no possibility to test, I need to choose right now and I'll not be able to return to this question anymore (we're working on 4 careers at the same time and there is also the Korea career, there is very little time). Yes, you're right, the front line after June 20 will be too close to Immola for bombers, then we choose Utti. Thanks!

[BlackSix]

An additional Finnish AI unit will be the LeLv 28 (HLeLv 28) that began receiving 109 G-2s on July 1, 1944 at Utti.

[LukeFF]

Guys, did LeLv 6 see any action in the Lapland War? The few pages I can find say that its wartime action ended on September 5, 1944. 

[migmadmarine]

On 3/12/2025 at 3:21 AM, BlackSix said:

1944 career:

LeLv 24 (HLeLv 24) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late*) - playable unit

LeLv 30 (HLeLv 30) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 34 (HLeLv 34) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 44 (PLeLv 44) (Ju 88 A-4) - playable unit

LeLv 48 (PLeLv 48) (Pe-2) - AI unit

 

* - our rule regarding 1944 is to provide the opportunity to play in the career for owners of both collector aircraft and G-6 and G-6 Late

HLeLv 24 recieved two G6AS, any chance of these also being added for variety? 

[migmadmarine]

HLeLv 34 also operated captured 3 LaGG3s, not with too much success, from March 42 into 1944. While they would be over represented as the game can't handle less than equal mixes in squadron strength, they still might be cool to have. 

[BlackSix]

2 hours ago, migmadmarine said:

HLeLv 24 recieved two G6AS, any chance of these also being added for variety? 

Of course I can add but I need to know when it happened more or less exactly.
 

1 hour ago, migmadmarine said:

HLeLv 34 also operated captured 3 LaGG3s, not with too much success, from March 42 into 1944. While they would be over represented as the game can't handle less than equal mixes in squadron strength, they still might be cool to have. 

Same thing, we need to know when they got the LaGG-3s and where they were based at that time (Mar - May 1942).

[Hanu]

2 hours ago, migmadmarine said:

HLeLv 34 also operated captured 3 LaGG3s, not with too much success, from March 42 into 1944. While they would be over represented as the game can't handle less than equal mixes in squadron strength, they still might be cool to have. 

That's incorrect. HLeLv 32 had these. They operated from Nurmoila. HLeLv got first one on 1.3.1943, and second one 23.9.1943. Before that they were still in the factory. They flew some solo missions, mostly trying to catch Scouting Pe-2's, couple of engagements, one air victory (against other LaGG-3) on LG-1  on 16.2.1944. Only one sortie where both of them were operational at the same time. Third one was received 30.6.1944, but lost already 19.7.1944.

45 wartime flights all combined.

Very little impact, I'd say.

Edited March 14 by Hanu
typo

[migmadmarine]

My mistake, brought them up since I'd misread the list of units above. Certianly little impact was made by them, but might be worth including (if/when we have call for that unit, they mainly flew Curtiss Hawks as I recall) for the novelty of another captured aircraft type, operated into the end of the war. 

 

[Hanu]

4 hours ago, LukeFF said:

Guys, did LeLv 6 see any action in the Lapland War? The few pages I can find say that its wartime action ended on September 5, 1944. 

No, they were not deployed in Lapland war. They were practically a maritime squadron at the time.

LeLv 6 is known for flying SB-2's against submarines in Finnish Gulf and Turku archipelago. That is where they are known for. Sure there was a I-153 flight attached in the early years, but still it is not their bread-and-butter.

In start of the Lapland War following units and flights were deployed:



MS = Morane-Saulnier
MSv = Mörkö-Morane (morane with LaGG-3 engine)
BL = Blenheim
BW= Brewster
FK = Fokker C.X
JK = Ju-88
DN = Do-17
DB = DB-3
DF = IL-4

 

Edited March 14 by Hanu

[Hanu]

5 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Of course I can add but I need to know when it happened more or less exactly.

G-6/AS-0's (Bigger supercharger, but no AS engine IIRC). They were following ones (I've done skins for them in HSD)

Reg.    Wrk.nr.        Tranf. reg    Flight time    Victories        
MT-463    163979    NS+XQ        189.10        5
MT-471    165117    NR+EY        136.10        0

I don't have exact dates and histories at hand, but I can check when I'm at home.

 

 

------ Edited ------------

 

MT-463, 28.6.1944 delivered to 2/HLeLv 24, victories: 2x Yak-9, LaGG-3, Il-2  and Pe-2

MT-471, 30.6.1944 delivered to 3/HLeLv 24, 18.7.1944 damaged in combat, forced landing at Sairala. 24.7.1944 delivered to factory for repairs.

 

 

Edited March 14 by Hanu
Additional info

[Hanu]

1 hour ago, migmadmarine said:

My mistake, brought them up since I'd misread the list of units above. Certianly little impact was made by them, but might be worth including (if/when we have call for that unit, they mainly flew Curtiss Hawks as I recall) for the novelty of another captured aircraft type, operated into the end of the war. 

 

Yes, the idea to include those LaGG's into HLeLv 32 was because their Curtiss Hawks were not able to intercept those recon Pe-2's unless in a dive. But they were not too successful if calculated by victories at least.

[Juri_JS]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:16 AM, Hanu said:

Well if using Utti you might have enough range to climb to bombing altitude before reaching frontline with Ju-88's, so I see no problem here. I'd think its more problematic from Immola? I'm thinking June-August time here of course when the frontline was much closer to Finnish airfields.

And Immola is not too long airfield for loaded Ju-88... Well 01 might be enough. But that's just a thought... I'm sure you'll test it before extensively so my speculations  about that are quite pointless.

 

On 3/13/2025 at 11:23 AM, BlackSix said:

Unfortunately, there is no possibility to test, I need to choose right now and I'll not be able to return to this question anymore (we're working on 4 careers at the same time and there is also the Korea career, there is very little time). Yes, you're right, the front line after June 20 will be too close to Immola for bombers, then we choose Utti. Thanks!

 

I also think Utti is a better choice as base for the Ju-88. The proximity of Immola to the front in summer 1944 is a problem for bombers. In the Stuka missions I've build, I had to extend the routes to give the Stukas enough time to reach between 3000-4000 m. This will be difficult to do in the mission generator. 

Moreover Utti has a longer runway. Take-off and landing at Immola can be a little tricky for multi-engined AI aircraft, because the trees are so close to the runway. Fakefield take-off and landing points need to be placed very cautiously to avoid collisions with trees.

[LukeFF]

8 hours ago, Hanu said:

No, they were not deployed in Lapland war. They were practically a maritime squadron at the time.

LeLv 6 is known for flying SB-2's against submarines in Finnish Gulf and Turku archipelago. That is where they are known for. Sure there was a I-153 flight attached in the early years, but still it is not their bread-and-butter.

In start of the Lapland War following units and flights were deployed:



MS = Morane-Saulnier
MSv = Mörkö-Morane (morane with LaGG-3 engine)
BL = Blenheim
BW= Brewster
FK = Fokker C.X
JK = Ju-88
DN = Do-17
DB = DB-3
DF = IL-4

 

Got it, thanks! Yes, I found entries from their wartime diary that go past September 1944, but from what I could decipher it was just administrative movements. Good to confirm I got it right. 😄

[BlackSix]

2 hours ago, Juri_JS said:

I also think Utti is a better choice as base for the Ju-88.

Ok, thanks!

 

10 hours ago, Hanu said:

MT-463, 28.6.1944 delivered to 2/HLeLv 24, victories: 2x Yak-9, LaGG-3, Il-2  and Pe-2

MT-471, 30.6.1944 delivered to 3/HLeLv 24, 18.7.1944 damaged in combat, forced landing at Sairala. 24.7.1944 delivered to factory for repairs.

Thanks!

 

1941-42 career:

 

LeLv 6 (PLeLv 6) (I-153) - playable unit

LeLv 30 (HLeLv 30) (Hurricane Mk.II) - playable unit

 

1944 career:

 

LeLv 24 (HLeLv 24) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late, G-6/AS) - playable unit

LeLv 30 (HLeLv 30) (I-153, Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 34 (HLeLv 34) (Bf 109 G-2, G-6, G-6 Late) - playable unit

LeLv 44 (PLeLv 44) (Ju 88 A-4) - playable unit

 

LeLv 28 (HLeLv 28) (Bf 109 G-2) - AI unit

LeLv 48 (PLeLv 48) (Pe-2) - AI unit

[BlackSix]

Please help us determine the exact date. 

When did the LLv get renamed into a LeLv?

Sometime in May 1941 or May 1942, and is there an exact date? Several sources contradict each other((

[LW_Pilot777]

6 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Please help us determine the exact date. 

When did the LLv get renamed into a LeLv?

Sometime in May 1941 or May 1942, and is there an exact date? Several sources contradict each other((

Kari Stenman write on Stratus Finnish Aces book that ,, were reorganized on 3 may 1942 ,,