Victory
26
Biography
Klaus Alakoski occupies with 26 confirmed victories the 14th place in the individual prize list of the Finnish pilots. Born on August 17, 1921, he was passionate about aviation from a very early age and joined the Finnish Air Force during the Winter War. This ended in March 1940, too early for him to participate. His first affection brought him, at the beginning of 1941, to the LLv 32 group, equipped with Fokker D.XXI and in charge of the air defense of the Finnish capital. He only stayed there for a month and was transferred to 3./LeLv 26, in Joroinen, equipped with a Fiat G.50.
The Ilmavoimat received 33 Fiat G.50s between December 1939 and June 1940. These are not marvelous planes. They lacked power and their armament, limited to two "pokemons", was very light. But, at that time, the Finns were very happy to take what they found... These devices would nevertheless prove to be astonishingly robust, despite climatic conditions probably unforeseen by their manufacturer. Faced with 1-153 and other 1-16 that the Soviets oppose to them, they will do more than defend themselves.
On June 22, 1941, the day Operation Barbarossa was launched, Finland again mobilized against the Soviet Union. On August 3, Klaus Alakoski was part of a formation of 6 Fiats who had trouble with 9 1-153. Six biplanes are shot down, without loss on the Finnish side. Alakoski won his first victory on this occasion.
In 1942, he spent a few months in another unit and then returned to his original group. On December 10, 1942, he celebrated his 100th war mission. At the end of April 1943, he was transferred to 3. / HLeLv 34, without having added a victory to his record. But with his new squadron, he is offered a much better chance of improving his score. Indeed, since the end of March, it has received a first delivery from Messerschmitt Bf. 109G-2. It operates from Utti, under the command of Captain Puhakka.
From his first outing, on May 16, Alakoski offered himself a second 1-153. In May 1943, he claimed 6 aircraft in all, including 2 LaGG-3s, on the 21st.
During this last fight, 11 Messerschmitts, commanded by the famous Major Luukkanen, rubbed shoulders with four II-2s, escorted by 17 LaGG-3s and LaG-5s. Sixteen Brewster B.239s and 12 Luftwaffe FW-190s had come to join the fight. In all, 2 II-2s, 2 LaGG-3s and 2 LaG-5s were shot down.
On June 16, 1944, Alakoski accomplished his 200th mission. On June 28, under the orders of Captain Puhakka, a formation of 9 Messerschmitts clashed with 17 II-2s escorted by 6 Yak 9s. Alakoski successively shot down 2 bombers and a fighter.
On September 4, 1944, Finland laid down its arms. She was forced, according to the clauses of the armistice with the U.S.S.R., to take them back a few days later to turn them against her ally of the day before:Germany