Kyösti Karhila
Nickname(s)Kössi
Born(1921-05-02)May 2, 1921
Rauma, Finland
DiedSeptember 16, 2009(2009-09-16) (aged 88)
Helsinki
AllegianceFinland Finland
Service/branchFinnish Air Force
RankCaptain
Battles/warsContinuation War

Kyösti Karhila (May 2, 1921 – September 16, 2009) was a Finnish World War II fighter ace with 32¼ victories. He was born in Rauma, Finland. He began flying in Lentolaivue 32 and flew later in LeLv 30, LeLv 32, LeLv 34 and LeLv 24. He scored 13¼ of his victories with P-36 Hawks and 19 with Bf 109s.

Biography

After the war broke out on the 30 November 1939, Karhila was drafted and posted to Kauhava Air Base for training.[1] On completion of training he was then posted to LeLv 24 at Siikakangas, equipped with the Fokker D.XXI. He was then posted to LeLv 30 on 20 June 1941. In mid-July the unit was re-equipped with the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Karhila's first air combat was on 31 July 1941, against two Soviet Air Force I-153's.

Karhila transferred to LeLv 34 based at Utti in March 1943, flying the Bf 109G-2.[2] In March 1944 his flight was posted piecemeal into LeLv 30 at Malmi to defend Helsinki, although after the Soviet ground offensive commenced in June 1944 the flight returned to LeLv 34.

After his air force career he flew airliners for Finnair, Aero O/Y and Spearair. He gathered 556 flying hours during the war (in 304 combat sorties) and 24,000 after the war. He died in Helsinki at the age of 88 as the last of the Finnish fighter aces. F18 Hornet of the Finnish Air Force performed a flypast over the city during the ceremony.

Aerial victories

DateOwn aircraftPlaceEnemy aircraft
August 1, 1941CU-502Jääski⅓ balloon
August 10, 1941CU-567Kirvu½ Polikarpov I-16
August 13, 1941CU-561Kirvu½ Polikarpov I-153
August 18, 1941CU-570Sintola1 Polikarpov I-153
September 3, 1941CU-566Kuokkala1 Polikarpov I-153
September 17, 1941CU-552Siestarjoki1 MiG-3
September 19, 1941CU-560Ohalatva1 MiG-1
June 15, 1942CU-560Mergino1 Yak-1
June 28, 1942CU-560Vitele½ Pe-2
July 5, 1942CU-560Sampotuksa1 Polikarpov I-16
August 21, 1942CU-560Lyugovitcha1 Polikarpov I-16bis
September 29, 1942CU-571Saarimäki½ Pe-2
November 9, 1942CU-571Mulberskoye½ MiG-1
November 9, 1942CU-571Ylä-Sotkusha¼ Pe-2
February 9, 1943CU-560Saarentaka1 Pe-2
February 11, 1943CU-560Savijärvi½ LaGG-3
February 11, 1943CU-560Novinka1 LaGG-3
February 11, 1943CU-560Malkjärvi1 U-2
May 4, 1943MT-214Ino2 LaGG-3
May 21, 1943MT-224Lavansaari1 La-5
July 19, 1943MT-224Pöytsaari1 Pe-2
August 20, 1943MT-229Seiskari1 La-5
May 28, 1944MT-403Kuusalu, Estonia1 Pe-2
June 21, 1944MT-405Tienhaara1 Il-2
June 30, 1944MT-436Perojoki1 Yak-9
July 1, 1944MT-461Teikarsaari1 Il-2
July 3, 1944MT-461Portinhoikka1 Il-2
July 4, 1944MT-460Vatnouri1 P-51
July 5, 1944MT-461Tuppuransaari1 Yak-9
July 7, 1944MT-461Vatnouri1 P-51
July 9, 1944MT-461Kylä-Paakkola1 Il-2
July 10, 1944MT-461Terhonjärvi1 La-5
July 10, 1944MT-461Uusikylä1 Yak-9
July 11, 1944MT-461Hirvisaari1 La-5
July 16, 1944MT-460Ritasaari1 Yak-9
July 18, 1944MT-460Malkola1 La-5
July 18, 1944MT-460Kylä-Paakkola1 La-5
CU = P-36 Hawk, MT = Bf 109

References

  1. ↑ "virtualpilots.fi: WW2History-KyostiKarhilaJuntunen.html". www.virtualpilots.fi. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  2. ↑ Kosonen, Tiina; Mälkiä, Esko; Keskinen, Kari L.; Keskinen, Ossi P. (January 2006). "Cardiorespiratory responses to basic aquatic exercise – A pilot study". Advances in Physiotherapy. 8 (2): 75–81. doi:10.1080/14038190600700237. ISSN 1403-8196.
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