Nickname(s) Joppe Allegiance Finland Service/branch Finnish Air Force | Name Jorma Karhunen Years of service 1938–1955 | |
 | ||
Battles/wars World War II
Winter War
Continuation War Died January 21, 2002, Tampere, Finland Battles and wars Winter War, Continuation War, World War II | ||
Jorma Karhunen (17 March 1913 – 21 January 2002) was a Finnish Air Force ace.
He scored 31.5 kills in World War II; 25.5 of his air victories were achieved while flying the Brewster F2A Buffalo, American fighter.
Soon after the outbreak of Operation Barbarossa, on 25 June 1941, when he was 1st Lt, Karhunen led the 3rd Flight (of eight Brewster Buffalo) of Lentolaivue (LLv) 24, based at Vesivehmaa.
On 9 July, he was one of the dozen Brewster pilots led by Major Gustaf Magnusson on a patrol over Lahdenpohja, that in a ten-minute air combat shot down eight out of 15 Soviet bombers and fighters
At the end of July, his 3/LLv24 was ordered to support the offensive against the Karelian Ishtmus, scheduled for 31 July. Karhunen unit's opponents were 5th SAD, 7th and 153rd IAP and 65th and 235th ShaPs. On 1 August Karhunen's unit of seven Brewsters shot down six I-16s near Rautjarvi, WO Ilmari Juutilainen, claiming two of them. Eleven days later, on 12 August, Capt Karhunen was involved in the heaviest air combat over the Karelian Isthmus, while leading six Brewsters from 3/LLv 24 on a patrol. On Antrea area they attacked a formation of about 20 aircraft from 65th ShAP. During the ensuing 30 minutes air combat, Karhunen and his pilots shot down nine Polikarpov I-153s "Chaikas".
On 26 September, Soviets suffered further losses. That day, Capt Karhunen's formation of seven Buffalos shot down six I-15s north of Petajaselka. The Finnish came back in the area a short while later and encountered eight I-15 bis from 65th ShAP. The Brewster pilots shot down three of the enemy aircraft. Capt. Karhunen later recalled:
After the end of hostilities, Karhunen, the captain and commander of the 3rd flight of LeLv 24, recalled:
"The Brewster model 239 was good against the older Russian fighters, Polikarpov I-153 Chaika (Gull) and I-16. Hence the period 1941–42 was the best time for us. In 1943 it was already significantly more difficult when the Russians began to use their newer fighters against us... Later, with the Yaks, Hurricanes, Tomahawks, LaGG-3 and MiGs, it became a fight to the death."
He retired from active duty on 13 December 1955.