No. 34 Squadron (Finland)

No. 34 Squadron Finnish Air Force
"Eagle Fledgling"
Active	23 January 1943 - 5 September 1944
Country	Finland
Branch	Finnish Air Force
Role	fighter
Engagements	Continuation War

No. 34 Squadron (Finnish: Lentolaivue 34 or Le.Lv.34), renamed No. 34 Fighter Squadron (Finnish: Hävittäjälentolaivue 34 or HLe.Lv.34 on 14 February 1944) was a fighter squadron of the Finnish Air Force during World War II. The squadron was part of Flying Regiment 3.

The pilots of the No. 34 Squadron achieved 345 confirmed kills, all with Bf 109Gs. The unit lost 30 aircraft (13 in air combat, 5 to anti-aircraft fire, 7 in accidents and 5 due to technical faults). 12 pilots were listed as dead or missing, one was captured. Three pilots of the No. 34 Squadron was awarded the Mannerheim Cross.

On 4 December 1944 No. 34 Squadron was redesignated No. 33 Squadron when the Finnish Air Force demobilized after the end of the Continuation War.

Organization

The unit had an operational strength of 16 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2s. It was later re-equipped with Bf 109G-6s. The unit had also one captured Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA in its possession, but it never flew any operational sorties.

Bibliography

• Keskinen, Kalevi & Stenman, Kari (2001). "English translation". LeR 3: Lentolaivue 30, Lentolaivue 32, Lentolaivue 26, Lentolaivue 24, Lentolaivue 34 [Flying Regiment 3: Squadrons, 30, 32, 26, 24, 34] (in Finnish). Espoo, Finland: Kari Stenman. ISBN 951-98751-1-5.

External links

• Lentolaivue 34