Lentolaivue 32

1941 - 1944

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Curtiss Hawk 75A-1 at Nurmoila Curtiss Hawk 75A-1 fighter is being prepared for a flight probably at Nurmoila in 1942. Former Norwegian export version A-6 is almost identical with this ex-French one with only one MG in each wing but had different kind of exhaust pipe covers.

At first Flying Squadron 32 operated with Fokker D.XXI fighters. In July 1941 squadron was equipped with 15 CU fighters bought from Germany. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
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Continuation War
25.6.1941 - 4.9.1944:
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Number of Planes:

25.6.41

1.7.41

17.7.41

1.1.42

 1.7.42 29.1.43 1.7.43 1.1.44
Fokker D.XXI (FR) 12 15 - - - - - -

Fokker D.XXI (FRw)

 (20) 20 6 - - - - -
Hawker Hurricane I (HC) - 4 (3) 1 - - - -
Curtiss Hawk 75A (CU) - - 15 11 14 6 6 18
Lavochin LaGG-3 (LG) - - - - - - 1 1

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Flying Unit:
Finnish Name (and Abbreviation), Airbases, Notes
(Name in English)		 Squadron Commander / Flight Leader
Flights and Planes
.		 Rank: Name:
Lentolaivue 32 (LLv.32, since 3.5.1942 Le.Lv.32)
(Flying Squadron 32)
Hyvinkää, 3.7.41- Vesivehmaa, 7.7.41- Utti,
30.7.41- Lappeenranta, (23.9.41- Suulajärvi), by 30.5.42- Nurmoila

Fighter squadron. Former LLv. 22 renamed on 27.3.1940.
Flights had no named planes. Under the command of
Commander of Air Defence between 31.7. - 14.9.1941. On
3.5.1942 attached to Le.R 1. Relieved last FRs to LLv.30 by
10.8.1941. Received more CUs since 10.8.1943.

1. Lentue (1st Flight) (FR -> 14.7.41- CU)
Osasto [Detachment] H [8 CU] (29.10. - 7.12.1941)
Hyvinkää, 2.7.41- Utti, 30.7.41- Lappeenranta, 23.9.-20.10.41,
by 7.12.41- Suulajärvi, 20.10.-7.12.41 Nummela,
(19.5.42- Immola), by 30.5.42- Nurmoila
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2. Lentue (2nd Flight) (FR -> 14.7.41- CU)
Hyvinkää, 3.7.41 Vesivehmaa, 4.7.41- Utti,
30.7.41- Lappeenranta, 23.9.41- Suulajärvi, (19.5.42- Immola),
by 30.5.42- Nurmoila
Composed of peace-time 2nd and 3rd Flights.

3. Lentue (3rd Flight) (-7.10.41 FRw -> 8.41- CU, LG)
28.6.41- Hyvinkää, 3.7.41- Vesivehmaa, 10.7.41- Utti,
30.7.41- Lappeenranta, 23.9.41- Suulajärvi, (19.5.42- Immola),
by 30.5.42- Nurmoila, [3 CU] 6.6.-20.6.42 Salmi,
New 3rd Flight was formed on 28.6.1941.
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Osasto [Detachment] Kalaja (former 1./LLv.30) (HC)
1.7.41- Utti, 30.7.-19.8.41 Lappeenranta, 23.9.-?.41 Suulajärvi
Flight was subordinated to LLv.32 between 1.7. - 19.8.1941 and
had four HCs. On 16.7.1941 engines were removed for overhaul
and flight was without working fighters until the end of July when
it received two overhauled HCs. Between 19.8. - 23.9.1941 flight
was subordinated to LLv.10. On 23.9.1941 the remaining HCs
were returned back to LLv.32 but the lack of spare parts and
engines kept them mainly on the ground.
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 Capt.
Maj.
Maj.
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Capt.
Lt.
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Capt.
Lt.
Capt.

Capt.
Capt.
Capt.
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Lt./Capt.
(4.8.41)
Lt./Capt.
(22.5.42)
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Capt.
Lt.
Lt.

Lt./Capt.
(41)
2nd Lt.

 E. Heinilä
O. Ehrnrooth (12.7.41-)
L. Bremer (21.1.43-)
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P. Berg (-1.11.41 KIA)
P. Nurminen
(acting 13.8.-3.9.41)
K. Lahtela (1.11.41-)
J. Arnkil (23.1.43-)
J. Visapää (6.10.43-)

K. Lahtela
A. Bremer (1.11.41-)
A. Virkkunen (22.8.43-)
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A. Bremer (28.6.41-)
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P. Nurminen
(30.9.41-22.5.42,
28.6.42-19.3.43 POW)
P. Ervi (22.5.-28.6.42)
V. Taina (19.3.43-)
R. Hakulinen (10.1.44-)

H. Kalaja (1.7.- 19.8.41)
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E. Ruotsila (acting 23.9.-?.41)

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Curtiss Hawk 75A-4 (CUc) fighter is being overhauled. Massive 9-cylinder Wright Cyclone radial engine is clearly visible like the four 7.5 mm FN-Browning MGs in the wings. Due to technical problems since autumn 1941 all Cyclones were replaced by14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp twin radial engines which were inferior in performance but more reliable. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
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Pilots of Flying Squadron 32 before Curtiss Hawk 75A fighter at Suulajärvi in spring 1942 (from left):
Flight Leader Capt. A. Bremer, 2nd Lt M. Aalto (?),
2nd Lt. R. Pennola (?), Sgt A. Gerdt (?),
2nd Lt. S. Alapuro, WO E. Koskinen and unknown.
(Photo: Harri Anttonen)
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Curtiss Hawk 75A fighter of Flying Squadron 32 at Nurmoila later in 1942 or 1943. By summer 1944 CU was totally obsolete compared to newer Soviet fighters La-5, La-5FN and Yak-9 especially in speed and fire power although it was a reliable aircraft. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
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Fokker D.XXI (FR) was powered by Bristol Mercury VII radial engine.This plane could be the one coded FR-108 used by Flying Squadron 32, 12 and 14. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
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Number of Planes:

1.4.44

9.6.44

 20.6.44 1.7.44

5.9.44
Curtiss Hawk 75A (CU) 16 13 16 13 14
Lavochin LaGG-3 (LG) 2 2 2 1 0

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Flying Unit:
Finnish Name (and Abbreviation), Airbases, Notes
(Name in English)		 Squadron Commander / Flight Leader
Flights and Planes
.		 Rank: Name:
Hävittäjälentolaivue 32 (HLe.Lv.32) (12.2.1944-)
(Fighter Squadron 32)
Nurmoila, 23.6.44- Uomaa, 4.7.44- Mensuvaara
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1. Lentue (1st Flight) (CU)
-15.4.44, 7.5.44- Nurmoila, 15.4.-7.5.44 Joensuu, 23.6.44- Uomaa,
4.7.44- Mensuvaara

2. Lentue (2nd Flight) (CU)
-1.4.44, ?.5.-22.6.44 Nurmoila, 1.4.-?.5.44, 22.6.-23.6.44 Koveri,
23.6.44- Uomaa, 4.7.44- Mensuvaara
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3. Lentue (3rd Flight) (CU, LG)
Nurmoila, 22.6.44- Vitele, 23.6.44- Uomaa, 4.7.44- Mensuvaara
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1. Lentue/HLe.Lv.24 (MT)
(1st Flight/Fighter Squadron 24)
11.5.-3.6.44 Nurmoila
Subordinated to HLe.Lv.32 between 12.5. - 3.6.1944.
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 Maj.
Capt.
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Capt./Maj.
(18.7.44)

Capt.
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Capt.
Lt.
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Lt.

Lt.
Capt.
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Lt.

Lt.

 L. Bremer
A. Virkkunen (acting
17.6.44-)
K. Lahtela (23.6.44-)
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J. Visapää
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A. Virkkunen
O. Marttila (acting
10.7.44-)
R. Hakulinen (26.7.44-)

R. Hakulinen (wounded)
V. Evinen (26.3.44-
wounded deadly)
S. Alapuro (25.6.44-)

L. Nissinen (12.5.-3.6.44)

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Sources: KESTE3, KESTE5, KESTE6, KESTE7, KESTE12, KESTE18, KESTE20, PAJRI2, SIL 1/2003 -
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© 2002 - 27.2.2003 Harri Anttonen

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