Lars Hattinen
Finnish flying ace
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Lars Paul-Erich "Lasse" Hattinen (16 May 1923 – 3 January 1961) was a Finnish World War II flying ace and a commercial airliner pilot. At the time, he was the youngest flying ace and he achieved 6 air victories with the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 between 25 June and 30 July 1944. Hattinen is recognized as the only pilot who flew the Mörkö Morane, the plane's version developed in Finland.[1] His three victories flying this plane were the only kills scored by the fighter.[2] He had four regular victories flying Morane planes when he achieved his first Yak-1 victory in 1944.[1] On his last flight, his plane caught fire, and he only barely survived with burns.
Lars Hattinen | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 16 May 1923 Kuorevesi, Finland |
| Died | 3 January 1961 (aged 37) Kvevlax, Finland |
| Cause of death | Plane crash |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Years active | 1944–1961 |
| Employer | Aero O/Y |
| Known for | Youngest Finnish WWII flying ace, Aero Flight 311 |
After the war, he worked as an airliner pilot for the Finnish flag carrier Aero O/Y. He was the pilot of the ill-fated Aero Flight 311 which crashed in Kvevlax in January 1961. The investigation revealed that Hattinen and his co-pilot, neither of whom survived the crash, had been drinking heavily the night before the flight.[3]
Legacy
The author Seppo Porvali wrote a biography about Hattinen titled Last Ace.
