Lentorykmentti 4
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Lentorykmentti 4 (LeR 4; Flying Regiment 2) was a Finnish bomber aircraft regiment which had been formed on January 1, 1938. The regiment was active during the Winter War, the Continuation War, and the Lapland War. It was equipped with British Bristol Blenheims, of whome 16 were in flying condition during the War. The unit flew 423 war missions, of whome 22 were strategic and photo reconnaissance flights. 18 aircraft were lost and 21 crew members.
During the Continuation War the regiment was re-equipped with new Bristol Blenheims, German Dornier Do 17Zs, Junkers Ju 88s, and Russian Ilyushin DB-3s, and Tupolev SB-2s. The unit could now field some 50 aircraft in their largest raids. More than 4,000 missions were flown during the Continuation War. 65 aircraft and 165 crew were lost.
During the Lapland War LeR 4 flew 462 missions against the Germans, losing 7 aircraft and 16 crew members.
[edit] Aircraft
- Junkers Ju 88 A-4
- Dornier Do 17
- Bristol Blenheim I
- Bristol Blenheim IV
- Petlyakov Pe-2
- Ilyushin DB-3M
- Ilyushin Il-4
- Avro Anson
[edit] Units
| Flying Squadron | Winter War | Continuation War 1941 |
Continuation War 1944 |
Post war |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pommituslentolaivue 41 (PLeLv 41) |
|
?x D.XXI ?x Bf 109 ?x Blenheim |
||
| Lentolaivue 42 (LeLv 42/PLeLv 42) |
|
10x Blenheim | 17x Blenheim |
|
| Pommituslentolaivue 43 (PLeLv 43) |
|
|||
| Lentolaivue 44 (LeLv 44/PLeLv 44) |
8x Blenheim | 8x Blenheim | 13x Ju 88 |
|
| Pommituslentolaivue 45 (PLeLv 45) |
|
|||
| Lentolaivue 46 (LeLv 46/PLeLv 46) |
9x Blenheim | 2x Blenheim 2x DB-3 2x Do 17 |
8x Do 17 4x DB-3 2x DB-3f |
|
| Lentolaivue 48 (LeLv 48/PLeLv 48) |
|
9x Blenheim 4x Pe-2 2x DB-3 1x Do 17 |
|
|
[edit] Sources
- Keskinen, Kalevi and Stenman, Kari: Finnish Air Force 1939-1945, Squadron/Signal publications, Carrolton, Texas, 1998, ISBN 0-89747-387-6
