Nils Katajainen
Encyclopedia
Nils Edward Katajainen was a Finnish
fighter pilot and a Mannerheim Cross
Knight. He held the military rank of sergeant
. He flew 196 sorties and shot down 35 enemy aircraft.
Nils Katajainen was born to barber Oskar Katajainen and his wife, Jenny Katajainen in 1919. He began his military career by entering the volunteer service of the air force in 1939. He was promoted to Corporal on 5 August 1940 following a reserve NCO course. During the Winter War he served in fighter squadrons 24 and 32 and was discharged on 1 March 1941.
However, after just a few months time Finland began its pre-war mobilization, preparing for the Continuation War
. Katajainen returned to Fighter Squadron 24, where he belonged to the third flight. During his wartime career he won 17 victories flying Brewster Buffalo
es and a further 18 victories flying Messerschmitt Bf 109
s.
During a period of six months in 1942 Katajainen was transferred to LeLv 6 and began training on captured Soviet SB-2 bombers. He flew anti-submarine missions, until his influental friends managed to arrange for him to return to LeLv 24.
Katajainen was badly wounded in an air battle on 5 July 1944. He was discharged from the air force on 10 November 1944 following his hospitalization and subsequent convalescence period. He was appointed Knight of the Mannerheim Cross on 21 December 1944 (number 170). Katajainen was the only pilot from the reserve pool that received the Mannerheim Cross.
After the war, Katajainen worked as an entrepreneur and for the City of Helsinki.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
fighter pilot and a Mannerheim Cross
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...
Knight. He held the military rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He flew 196 sorties and shot down 35 enemy aircraft.
Nils Katajainen was born to barber Oskar Katajainen and his wife, Jenny Katajainen in 1919. He began his military career by entering the volunteer service of the air force in 1939. He was promoted to Corporal on 5 August 1940 following a reserve NCO course. During the Winter War he served in fighter squadrons 24 and 32 and was discharged on 1 March 1941.
However, after just a few months time Finland began its pre-war mobilization, preparing for 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...
. Katajainen returned to Fighter Squadron 24, where he belonged to the third flight. During his wartime career he won 17 victories flying Brewster Buffalo
Brewster Buffalo
The Brewster F2A Buffalo was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service early in World War II. Though the Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the US Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft, it turned out to be a big disappointment...
es and a further 18 victories flying Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s.
During a period of six months in 1942 Katajainen was transferred to LeLv 6 and began training on captured Soviet SB-2 bombers. He flew anti-submarine missions, until his influental friends managed to arrange for him to return to LeLv 24.
Katajainen was badly wounded in an air battle on 5 July 1944. He was discharged from the air force on 10 November 1944 following his hospitalization and subsequent convalescence period. He was appointed Knight of the Mannerheim Cross on 21 December 1944 (number 170). Katajainen was the only pilot from the reserve pool that received the Mannerheim Cross.
After the war, Katajainen worked as an entrepreneur and for the City of Helsinki.