Sitting on the horizontal stabilizer of his Brewster B-239E (serial BW-366) is Kapteeni (Captain) Jorma Karhunen of the Ilmavoimat (FAF; Finnish Air Force). Upon the vertical stabilizer are the markings for his 31 confirmed kills against the Soviet Air Force (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily; VVS). The photograph was taken in June 1943 when Karhunen was made the commander of Lentolaivue 24 (Fighter Squadron 24; LLv 24) under Lentorykmentti 2 (Flight Regiment 2). The location of the photograph was Suulajärvi on the Karelian Isthmus.
Karhunen was born in Pyhäjärvi, Finland on March 17, 1913 and after he graduated from secondary school (equivalent to high school in the United States) in 1933, he turned around and enlisted into military service, seeking to be an aviator. He was sent to the Ilmasotakoulu (Air Force Academy) and in 1936, he successfully completed the training and graduated as a Vänrikki which was the most junior rank of flying officer. Flight training had been done at the Lentosotakoulu (Training Air Wing) which was located in Kauhava, Finland. His first posting was to Lentoasema 1 (Air Station 1) but by January 1, 1938, the unit designation changed to Lentorykmentti 2.
On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland in what became the Winter War. Karhunen, at this time, had the rank of Yliluutnantti (equivalent to a 1st. Lieutenant) and was the deputy commander of 1. Lentue (1st. Flight) of LLv 24. The flight was equipped with six Fokker D.XXI, a Dutch built monoplane fighter which first flew in March 1936. Karhunen’s personal Fokker carried the serial FR-112 and in this plane, he scored 4 confirmed kills through January 30, 1940. On this date, he assumed command of 2. Lentue (2nd. Flight) of LLv 24 but he would not fly in combat for the remainder of the Winter War, which ended on March 13, 1940. Although the Soviets gained some territory from Finland after the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty, Finland was able to give the Soviets a very bloody nose which went far to stinging the pride of the Soviet Union in the eyes of the world.
Returning to Karhunen, he had been sent to Trollhättan, Sweden where representatives from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation had arrived with the first six of 44 Brewster B-239E fighters. These were de-navalized U.S. Navy Brewster F2A-1 fighters which had the tail hooks, life raft containers, and other navy specific equipment taken out. The B-239E also did not have cockpit armor nor self-sealing fuel tanks. The aircraft did, however, have a more powerful motor, the 950hp Wright R-1820-G5 radial engine, and had the ability to carry up to four machine-guns rather than the F2A-1’s two machine-guns. Karhunen flight tested the first example completed in February 1940 but unfortunately, being unfamiliar with the aircraft, managed to burn out the engine during a low altitude, high speed run. He belly landed the Brewster into a snow covered field, damaging the propeller and crumpling numerous belly panels. Despite this inauspicious start, as the Finnish pilots became more aware of the capabilities of the Brewster, they grew to appreciate the aircraft and used it to great effect against the VVS. The Finnish gave the portly plane nicknames such as the ”Lentävä Kaljapullo” (”Flying Beer Bottle”) and ”Taivaan Helmi” (“Sky Pearl”) among others.
When Germany invaded Russia on June 24, 1941, Finland joined in on the invasion the following day. Called the Continuation War, many justifications have been given for Finland’s actions which included seeking to take back the territory it lost to the Soviet Union following the Winter War and even to take Karelia. While Finland was on the Axis side, it did not sign the Tripartite Pact and thus was not officially a part of the Axis which included Germany, Italy, and Japan. It did, however, sign the Antikominternpakt (Anti-Comintern Pact) in 1941. Karhunen returned to LLv 24 and was put in command of 3. Lentue (3rd. Flight). He was now flying his Brewster (BW-366) and on July 4, 1941, he earned his fifth kill by downing a Soviet SB bomber. This made Karhunen an ace and saw him promoted to Kapteeni (Captain). Karhunen continued to lead his flight through the remainder of 1941 and 1942. On September 8, 1942, Karhunen was awarded the 92nd. presentation of the prestigious Mannerheim-Risti (Mannerheim Cross) to recognize both his leadership and his tally of 25 confirmed kills. As the Continuation War moved into 1943, the pilots flying the Brewster were encountering improved Soviet aircraft such as the Yakovlev Yak-1, Lavochkin La-5, and even Lend-Lease Supermarine Spitfires. In addition, Soviet pilots had gained in experience and ability. In many cases, the obsolete Brewsters came out on top due to the superior skill of the Finnish pilots who understood both their own aircraft and that of their enemy in order to maintain superiority. For Karhunen, he achieved his 31st. kill by downing a Polikarpov I-153 on May 4, 1943. On June 1, 1943, Karhunen was made the commander of LLv 24 and in September 1943, he was promoted to Majuri (Major) and in so doing, his frontline flying career was over after having flown 350 combat sorties. In addition to the Mannerheim Cross, Karhunen also received the Vapaudenristin Ritarikunta (Order of the Cross of Liberty) 2nd. Class with Swords and the German Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd. Class). On September 19, 1944, the Continuation War came to a close. LLv 24, in total, had 763 confirmed kills for the loss of only 30 aircraft (of which 26 was due to enemy action) which meant an astounding kill ratio of 29 enemy kills for every one loss.
Karhunen remained commander of LLv 24 until December 4, 1944 when, following a reorganization, LLv 24 became Lentolaivue 31 (LLv 31). After World War Two ended, Karhunen became the deputy commander of the Ilmavarasto (Air Depot) from 1946 to 1949. During that time, Karhunen returned to the Ilmasotakoulu from 1948 to 1949 and was soon promoted to Everstiluutnantti (Lieutenant-Colonel) and given command of a flight regiment. In 1952, Karhunen became the commander of 2. Lennosto (2nd. Air Force) until his retirement in 1955.
During his retirement, Karhunen became a prolific author, writing on the topics of the air war during the Winter War and Continuation War. In 1967, he was made a Eversti (Colonel) and in 1994, his writings earned him the Harmon-Patsas (Harmon Statue) which was presented to him by the Suomen Ilmailuliiton (Finnish Civil Aviation Association). Karhunen would pass away on January 18, 2002 at the age of 88 in Tampere, Finland.
As for LLv 31, it remains in operation to this day, currently flying McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighters. It is commanded by Everstiluutnantti Inka Johanna Niskanen who was the first Finnish female fighter pilot and the first woman to achieve the rank of Everstiluutnantti. The unit flies out of Siilinjärvi Rissala.
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