Olli Puhakka

Risto Olli Pekka Puhakka was born on 11 April 1916 in Sortavala and died on January 28, 1989. He was one of the top scoring aces in the Finnish Air Force with 42 confirmed victories.

Biography
Puhakka served in Fighter Squadrons (LLv's): 26, 30, 28, 24, 32 during the second World War. He became an ace during the Winter War, having downed 5½ Soviet aircraft. Puhakka was actively flying at the front almost during the whole war.

During his 401 combat missions, Olli Puhakka scored 42 confirmed victories in Fokker D.XXIs, Fiat G.50s and Bf 109 Gs. On 21 December 1944 he was awarded the Mannerheim Cross. Puhakka resigned from the air force in 1946 and flew commercial airliners until his retirement in 1971.