1942 - 1944

Radio intelligence was used to capture important enemy messages, for example weather reports and messages between airbases and aircraft. In many cases the number of patrolling planes, flying height and the target of the attacking aircraft were known - sometimes even before their mission had started! By the end of 1943 Finnish fighters were directed and conducted according to directives of radio intelligence company.
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Air Force Radio (Intelligence) Company

Air Force Radio (Intelligence) Company (Ilmavoimien radio[tiedustelu]komppania, IV Rad.K) (Commander Capt. M. Hartikainen) was formed on 21.10.1942. Unit was specialized in listening spoken radio transmissions of the Soviet Air Force and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet Air Force, a job formerly done by Supreme HQ Radio Battalion (PM Rad.P) which mainly listened telegraph transmissions.

Company worked initially with PM Rad.P as its sixth company training personnel but since autumn 1943 the first independent Radio Platoon [Radiojoukkue] was subordinated to Le.R 3 (Flying Regiment 3) operating for Karelian Isthmus and Eastern Gulf of Finland. In this new role radio intelligence could inform Finnish fighters for example if enemy formation in battle was to be reinforced soon or was about to return to their home base.

Also friendly radio transmissions were listened to reveal irrelevant use of radios. At the end of 1943 company started listening telegraph transmissions as well.
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Air Force Radio Battalion

On 15.3.1944 company was enlarged to Air Force Radio Battalion (Ilmavoimien radiopataljoona, Ilmav.Rad.P) and it became independent unit under the command of Air Force Staff. In June 1944 it was organized as follows:
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Esikunta (E/Ilmav.Rad.P) (Staff) (Commander Maj. M. Hartikainen)
Suur-Merijoki

1. Komppania (1.K) (1st Company) (205 men and women)
Suulajärvi (partly at Juurikorpi) for Le.R 3 (in Karelian Isthmus)

2. Komppania (2.K) (2nd Company) (68 men and women)
Juurikorpi (supposed to be moved to Nurmoila) training, for Le.R 1 (in Olonets)

3. Komppania (3.K) (3rd Company) (99 men and women)
Hirvas and Tiiksjärvi for Le.R 2 and TLe.Lv.14 (in South Viena and Maaselkä)

Valvontaryhmä (Control Squad)
Immola (but moved occasionally)

Sääryhmä (Weather Squad)
Sortavala

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In the summer 1944 battalion was not yet fully equipped and manned. In September 1944 its actual strength was only 41 officers, 4 military officials, 70 NCOs, 257 men and 61 women (Lottas) = 433 men and women (full strength should have been 74 officers, 4 military officials, 228 NCOs, 125 men and 82 women (Lottas) = 513 men and women). As the table above shows the strength of the companies varied a lot because they were their planned tasks.
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Sources: PAJRI2, KARJO?, PALAH, JATHI
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