Gustaf Magnusson
Encyclopedia
Gustaf Erik Magnusson was a Finnish Major General
and Mannerheim Cross Knight
. He was the commander of No. 24 Squadron and Flying Regiment 3
during World War 2. he also flew 158 sorties as a fighter pilot and shot down 5 1/2 enemy aircraft.
on 14 May 1927. Magnusson served in sevaeral military assignments in the 1930s, including the Air Force Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of Captain
on 30 November 1932. Between 1936and 1937 Magnusson was twice ordered to the Netherlands where he tested aircraft that were offered to the Finnish Air Force
and evaluated their air combat qualifications and flight characteristics. In 1938, Magnusson spent three months in Germany
and learned German fighter tactics.
Magnusson was appointed squadron commander for No. 24 Squadron on 21 November 1938. During the Winter War
, Magnusson, with the newly promoted rank of Major flew several combat flights with the squadron, achieving four victories. In the beginning of the Continuation War
, on 10 November 1941, Magnusson was promoted to Colonel, and at the same time he was denied flying combat missions. He worked as the commander of No. 24 Squadron until May 1943, when he was appointed command of Flight Regiment 3, a position he held until the end of the Continuation War. Magnusson was proposed the Mannerheim Cross for the first time in August 1941, but the proposal did not go through. By recommendation of the Air Force Commander, JF Lundqvist, he was given the Mannerheim Cross on 23 June 1944 (Number 129). Magnusson resigned from the Air Force on 17 March 1946. After his military career he served as the director of a bank in Helsinki. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 4 June 1993. Gustaf Magnusson died on 27 December 1993. He is buried at the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and Mannerheim Cross Knight
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross of Liberty is the highest Finnish military decoration. The medal was introduced after the Winter War and named after Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim...
. He was the commander of No. 24 Squadron and Flying Regiment 3
Flying Regiment 3, Finnish Air Force
Flying Regiment 3 was a fighter aircraft regiment of the Finnish Air Force. The regiment took part in the Continuation War and the Lapland War.-Continuation War:*No. 24 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 26 Squadron: fighter squadron...
during World War 2. he also flew 158 sorties as a fighter pilot and shot down 5 1/2 enemy aircraft.
Life and career
Magnusson was born in Ylitornio, Lapland Province to superintendent Leopold and Maria Magnusson (née Hälli). He matriculated in 1923 in Kuopio. After completing his compulsory military service in the Northern Savo regiment Magnusson tried to get into the Military Academy. he was admitted to course number 6 on 1 December 1923. After completing the course Magnusson was assigned to Naval Flight Squadron 30 on 30 September 1925. Magnusson was promoted to lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 14 May 1927. Magnusson served in sevaeral military assignments in the 1930s, including the Air Force Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
on 30 November 1932. Between 1936and 1937 Magnusson was twice ordered to the Netherlands where he tested aircraft that were offered to the Finnish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
and evaluated their air combat qualifications and flight characteristics. In 1938, Magnusson spent three months in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and learned German fighter tactics.
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
, Magnusson, with the newly promoted rank of Major flew several combat flights with the squadron, achieving four victories. In the beginning of the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
, on 10 November 1941, Magnusson was promoted to Colonel, and at the same time he was denied flying combat missions. He worked as the commander of No. 24 Squadron until May 1943, when he was appointed command of Flight Regiment 3, a position he held until the end of the Continuation War. Magnusson was proposed the Mannerheim Cross for the first time in August 1941, but the proposal did not go through. By recommendation of the Air Force Commander, JF Lundqvist, he was given the Mannerheim Cross on 23 June 1944 (Number 129). Magnusson resigned from the Air Force on 17 March 1946. After his military career he served as the director of a bank in Helsinki. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 4 June 1993. Gustaf Magnusson died on 27 December 1993. He is buried at the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.