Air Master Sergeant Eino Ilmari Juutilainen (deceased) *Signature Value : £60
| One of only two Finnish fighter pilots to receive their nation's highest decoration, the Double Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, Eino Ilmari 'lllu' Jutitilainen, Finland's top ace, attained an amazing 94 aerial victories during the fighting between Finland and the Soviet Union. He attained about a third of his victories while flying the American-made Brewster Buffalo, becoming the highest scoring Buffalo ace. Born in 1914, just four years before the birth of the Finnish Air Force in 1918, Jutitilainen joined the Air Force in 1935, and he was well trained in combat tactics and gunnery when the Finnish Air Force's first real combat test came about during the Winter War with the Soviet Union in 1939. Faced with very harsh conditions, it is a testimony to the skill and dedication of the ground crews, that an effective air combat campaign could be launched against the invading Red Air Force. Juutilainen's first victory was achieved in a Fokker D.XXI monoplane fighter on December 19, 1939. Spotting three Soviet DB-3 bombers, juutilainen made an approach from the rear directing short bursts at the tail gunner positions on each of the three aircraft. With no more return fire he was able to approach within 20 yards of each bomber. Utilizing all 2200 rounds of ammo, Juutilainen poured fire into the wings of each of the three bombers, one of which finally succumbed to his fire, the first of his 94 victories. Following the truce with the Soviets in March of 1940. Finland began to acquire more modern aircraft, including the Brewster Buffalo. Finland found Germany to be the only country interested in protecting it from the Soviets. In what the Finns call the 'Continuation War,' the Finnish Air Force faced a Soviet Air Force which outnumbered them two-to-one. However, the Finnish pilots excelled, and obtained an incredible 32:1 victory ratio with their Brewster Buffaloes. Later in the War, Jutitilainen flew Bf-109s against the Red Air Force which failed in its efforts to control the airspace over Finland. A peace treaty was signed between the two countries in September of 1944. The Finnish Air Forces, and its brave and talented fighter aces like Juutilainen, had succeeded in preserving their country's independence. Juutilianen flew a total of 437 combat sorties. Never was his aircraft hit by fire from an opposing enemy aircraft. This unprecedented combat record no doubt reflects Juutilainen's great eyesight and tremendous natural flying ability, but also is testimony to his coolness under fire, and his fantastic situational awareness. Jutitilainen had an uncanny ability to execute deflection shots when firing his weapons. He also understood that the likelihood of a successful burst rose dramatically as range closed between the pursuer and the pursued. Very often the ace would fire when he was within 20-50 yards of his opponent. Jutitilainen survived the War and today lives in Finland. His autobiography, entitled Double Fighter Knight, was published in English in 1996 and can be obtained from Zenith/Classic Motorbooks. As an interesting historical note, the blue swastika on juutilainen's aircraft had nothing to do with the Nazis. The first aircraft flown by the Finnish Air Force in 1918 was donated by count Erik von Rosen, a Swede, who had his personal lucky insignia, the blue swastika, painted on the aircraft. This was adopted on all Finnish Air Force aircraft thereafter. Eino Juutilainen passed away on 21st February 1999. |