Ilmari Juutilainen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ilmari Juutilainen
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| Birth name | Eino Ilmari Juutilainen |
| Nickname(s) | Illu |
| Born | 21 February 1914 Lieksa, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 21 February 1999 (aged 85) Tuusula, Finland |
| Allegiance | Finland |
| Service/ |
Finnish Air Force |
| Years of service | 1932–1947 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major |
| Unit | LeLv 24 LeLv 34 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
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| Relations | Aarne Juutilainen (brother) |
| Other work | Professional pilot |
Eino Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen (born February 21, 1914 – died February 21, 1999) was an amazing fighter pilot from Finland. He flew for the Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) during World War II. Many people consider him one of the best fighter pilots ever.
He was the top flying ace in the Finnish Air Force. A flying ace is a pilot who shoots down five or more enemy planes. Ilmari Juutilainen shot down 94 enemy planes! He did this in 437 flights. He was especially good with the Brewster Buffalo fighter plane, getting 34 victories with it.
Ilmari Juutilainen was born in Lieksa and passed away in Tuusula. He was one of only four people to receive the Mannerheim Cross (2nd Class) twice. This is a very important military award in Finland. His brother, Aarne Juutilainen, was also a famous soldier.
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Amazing Flying Skills
Ilmari Juutilainen flew several types of fighter planes. These included the Fokker D.XXI, Brewster Buffalo, and Messerschmitt Bf 109. What's incredible is that his plane was never hit by enemy fighters during the war! Once, a friendly anti-aircraft gun accidentally hit his plane, forcing him to land.
He was also known for always protecting his teammates. He never lost a "wingman" in combat. A wingman is another pilot who flies alongside you to help in a fight.
Ilmari Juutilainen also made history on March 24, 1943. He achieved the first victory for the Finnish Air Force using radar. A German radar operator helped guide him to a Soviet Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber. This was a new technology at the time.
Military Career
Ilmari Juutilainen joined the Finnish military on September 9, 1932. He began his pilot training in the Finnish Air Force in 1935. By May 1, 1935, he was promoted to sergeant.
In March 1939, he joined a squadron called LeLv 24. They were based in Utti. As the situation became more serious in October 1939, his squadron moved closer to the border with the Soviet Union.
Winter War Experiences
The Winter War began on November 30, 1939. During this war, Juutilainen flew the Fokker D.XXI plane. He got his first victory on December 19, 1939. He shot down an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber and damaged two others. By the end of the Winter War, he had two individual victories and one shared victory.
Continuation War Battles
During the Continuation War, Juutilainen flew the Brewster B-239 "Buffalo" plane. He was part of the 3/LeLv 24 squadron.
On July 21, 1941, Juutilainen and five other Buffalo pilots took off. They were sent to stop Soviet fighters that were attacking Finnish troops. During this flight, he shot down a Polikarpov I-153 'Chaika'. This made him an "ace" while flying the Brewster Buffalo.
A few days later, on August 1, Juutilainen was promoted to Warrant Officer. He and other pilots destroyed six enemy planes. Juutilainen himself claimed two of these victories.
On February 6, 1942, Juutilainen was flying with other pilots. They spotted seven Tupolev SB bombers with 12 MiG-3 fighters. Juutilainen managed to shoot down two of the bombers.
He later described one of his fights:
I saw the bombers at 3,000 meters and told the others. As we attacked, I saw three bombers heading for a railway. I went after them. I hit the plane on the left, and its wing caught fire. It crashed near the railway. Then I went after the lead bomber. A MiG fighter was coming at me, but I still hit the bomber's engine. Smoke and oil poured out, and it crashed into the forest.
Then I focused on the MiG above me. I shot at it as we flew towards each other. My shots hit, and the fighter started smoking from its engine. It turned away and lost height as it flew east.
In March 1942, Juutilainen's squadron moved to Immola. They were preparing for a Finnish Army attack. Even though they were outnumbered, the Finnish pilots were more skilled. They often won battles against Soviet pilots.
On March 28, Juutilainen and another pilot attacked some "Chaikas" over Gogland. He shot down two of them. These victories brought his total to 22. A month later, on April 26, he received the Mannerheim Cross.
On September 20, he was on patrol with other pilots. They were near the Estonian coast when ten Soviet fighters attacked them. The Finnish pilots reacted quickly and shot down three enemy planes. Juutilainen was credited with two of these kills.
In total, Juutilainen achieved 34 victories while flying the Brewster B-239. Many of these, 28 to be exact, happened between July 1941 and November 1942. He flew a specific plane, the BW-364, nicknamed "Orange 4."
In 1943, Juutilainen moved to a new squadron, LeLv 34. This squadron used new Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 planes. With this new plane, he shot down 58 more enemy aircraft. On June 30, 1944, he shot down six Soviet planes in one day! This is called becoming an "ace in a day."
Juutilainen was offered a chance to become an officer. However, he turned it down. He was worried that being an officer would mean he couldn't fly as much.
His 94th and last victory happened on September 3, 1944. He shot down a Li-2 plane over the Karelian Isthmus. The Li-2 was the Russian version of the American Douglas C-47 transport plane.
After the War
After the wars ended, Juutilainen continued to serve in the air force until 1947. He then worked as a professional pilot until 1956. He would fly people around in his De Havilland Moth plane.
His very last flight was in 1997, when he was 83 years old. He flew in a two-seat F/A-18 Hornet of the Finnish Air Force.
Ilmari Juutilainen passed away at his home in Tuusula on his 85th birthday, February 21, 1999.
Victories by Aircraft Type
| Aircraft | Victories |
|---|---|
| Fokker D.XXI | 2 1/6 |
| Brewster B-239 | 34 |
| Messerschmitt Bf 109G | 58 |
| Total | 94 1/6 |
