Here is the Messerchmitt Bf 109 G-2 "MT-229", call code "9", the last machine flown by Nissinen. It was used in Squadron 34 (among others by Kossi Karhila) before handed over to Squadron 24.
In May 1944 the FAF Squadron 32 (equipped with Curtiss A75's), based in Nurmoila, Olonez, was temporarily strengthened with a Messerschmitt 109 G-2 flight commanded by Lt. Lauri "Lapra" Nissinen.
The enemy pilots were used to fight against the obsolete Curtiss fighters with their superior La-5's and had grown self-confident and aggressive. The "worst" one was known as Bogatchev, who was reputed to have the rank of Col.Lt. and to be a Hero of the Soviet Union. He flew a La-5 with red cowling reputeldy adorned with a mirror image of R, witnessed by many Finnish airmen and AA gunners. (it is the Cyrillic letter "ya", also meaning = I). Some historians consider this a legend, such individualism being unacceptable in the Soviet Air Force, and think it more likely to be the text Za Stalina. Za in Cyrillic lettes would resemble 3A. Very few Finns knew then or know now Russian. Also there are doubts about the correct spelling of his name.
Here are two examples of what Col.Lt. Bogatchev accomplished:
On 26th March 1944 FAF Bomber Squadron 42 Blenheim Mk.IV coded BL-177 was on a photo reconnaisance mission at 6000 m over the front line west of Lotinanpelto (Lodeinoye Polye) on the river Svir. Four Curtisses of LeLv 32 were escorting, although the fighters could with trouble only follow the Blenheim at that altitude.
BL-177 flew steady on the photo run and her gunner watched the airspace until the observer told him to check the camera, necessitating him to leave the turret for a few seconds. The gunner was just getting back to the turret as he heard in the headphones the warning of an escort fighter pilot of two LA-5 diving at them from behind and above.
The Blenheim pilot, pilot officer Simo Suojanen, for some reason did not get the warning until the gunner repeated it to him. The two enemy fighters were almost in range as Suojanen quarter rolled to the left and nosedived. The escort pilots could not react soon enough, one La opened fire but could not keep the ever deeper diving Blenheim in his gunsight. For a moment three aircraft dived in line, the BL-177 first, followed by a La-5 and a Curtiss as the third, everyone shooting but missing. After a couple of seconds the La-5 pulled up and banked to South-East, followed by CU-583 piloted by Erkki Harikko.
The La-5 flew with reduced power since the Cu was able to keep pace, but then the Finnish pilot realised he was being lured in a trap on the enemy side. He turned back.
A second later Harikko heard a noise like his own guns firing, and before he realised what was going on a La-5 was flying on his right wing. Its pilot saluted him! The Finnish pilot could clearly see the green camouflage paint of the La-5 fuselage, the red cowling and a red stripe along the fuselage with white text on it. Bogatchev!
Bogatchev applied more power and flew in front of the Curtiss. Harikko tried to aim and shoot but the controls did not respond and the trigger was dead! His fighter was totally shot up, hot oil spurted on his legs and he could keep course only by pushing the stick front and to the left. Harikko decided to bail out, although the canopy would not slide back completely. He opened his belts and half-rolled but his parachute pack got stuck in the canopy, it was not until he managed to kick the stick that he was freed from the doomed Curtiss.
A few days later, 29th March, the interrupted photo reconnaisance mission was to be continued by the crew of BL-168. The Blenheim landed at Nurmoila for refuelling before the mission and was parked in front of the flight control. A fighter pilot warned the bomber crew against leaving their aircraft on such a prominent place because "a tough one is doing daily shooting practice here." The bomber men did not heed to his words and went for their lunch.
After the lunch they were just discussing with Major Bremer (Commander of LeLv32) the mission and fighter escort as they heard how 20mm AA guns and AA machine guns opened fire. They just saw how a La-5 flew over the base in a tremendous speed and then pulled up. The right engine of the parked BL-168 was in fire! While the bomber crew struggled to put out the fire, five Curtisses were scrambled, the last one to take off was attacked by the La-5, but missed. A resultless dogfight ensued. Judging from the painting of the La-5 it had been Bogatchev again. He had approached from lake Ladoga in a dive and the base had not been alerted until he had completed his raid.
On the 16th May 1944 Nissinen was on duty, sitting in the cockpit of the MT-235, ready for immediate takeoff. His mechanic was dozing off on the wing of the fighter, the starter crank was inserted. Both men were waiting.
Suddenly there was an alert: enemy aircraft approaching Nurmoila base. Some sources tell it was three La-5.
The mechanic grabbed the starter crank and Nissinen closed the cockpit canopy. The fighter was rolling to takeoff less than three minutes later. As Nissinen took off, the word was passed around in the base: Lapra is going to take on the enemy ! A dogfight above the base was to be expected: a most rare treat for everyone to watch.
As the lone Me took off, two of the enemies turned away and one La-5 kept circling at 1500 m and allowed Nissinen climb to the same altitude before turning to attack. The Finnish pilot saw that the cowling of the La-5 was painted red with what looked like a white mirror image of R - it was Bogatchev!
The personnel of the base gaped at the sky and watched how two experienced pilots fought. The two fighters circled each other, fired briefly when having a chance, but neither of the pilots made any error.
The dogfight had been going on for 15 minutes as the La-5 pilot changed tactics and resorted to heads-on attack. This manouver was much disliked by Finnish pilots because the combatants not only risk being hit by the projectiles of the opponent but also there is a fair chance of mid-air collision. Nissinen, however, had scored several victories in this style while flying Brewsters. So he did not hesitate to approach the La-5 heads-on.
The two fighters approached each other at a speed of 300 meters per second. The pilots aimed at each other, then they came within shooting range, having a fraction of second to fire before they had to evade each other to avoid collision. The opponents swept past each other, fortunately having dodged to opposite directions. The La-5 banked for another firing pass, and the Messerschmitt did the same.
Another approach, firing and evasion - situation remained 0 - 0. The Soviet pilot banked his La-5 for the third pass, Nissinen also, however much he disliked the situation, but he could not retreat. Again the two opponents approached, fired and missed.
As the fighters passed each other, sunlight from a gap between the clouds fell on Nissinen's face. Instinctively he pulled the stick and steered his Me toward the sun until the plane's stick began to feel light - a symptom of impending stall. Then he kicked the left rudder and a couple of seconds later his Me was diving from the sun toward the La-5.
The enemy pilot tilted his fighter left and right as if looking down to find his opponent. Nissinen approached from the above rear and took aim. The wings of the La-5 stuck out of the outer ring of the Revi sight as the Finnish pilot saw his opponent turn his head to look behind. At the same moment Nissinen pushed the trigger and saw the tracers sink in the front fuselage of the La-5.
The enemy nosedived, Nissinen turned to be able to see when the pilot would bail out. But there was just an explosion in the forest and a black smoke column began to rise in the Carelian sky.
Nissinen landed and the spectators ran to him, cheering and congratulating. But the victorious, weary pilot, drenched in sweat, did not feel any joy. He felt the enemy pilot would have deserved to survive. Nissinen was sure that the La-5 had been hit in the engine and front fuselage: why did the pilot not save his life even though he had a chance to do it?
(Postscript: Soviet law 8th June 1934 stated that any Soviet soldier allowing himself taken prisoner would be considered a traitor according to the Penal Code §193 and the members of his family would also be punished. It would be most interesting to learn more about this remarkable Soviet pilot, maybe some Russian reader has access to local sources ?)
(Indebted to bublications by Jorma Karhunen , Matti Hamalainen for this story)
Note: The biography details and cereer description please check here: Lauri "Lapra" Nissinen - Knight of the Mannerheim Cross no.69.
2000.01.13, © WW II Ace Stories.