Lauri Nissinen

Lauri Nissinen (31 July 1918 in Joensuu – 17 June 1944 in Kaukjärvi) was a World War II flying ace in the Finnish Air Force.

[1] Lauri Vilhelm Nissinen was born in Joensuu on 31 July 1918 and for his compulsory military service joined the Air Force, during which time he decided on flying as a career, applying for NCO pilot training in 1938.

Early in 1942 Nissinen attended Officer Cadet School, from where he then graduated in June 1943 as a lieutenant.

[2] Returning to HLeLv 24 Nissinen was made a flight commander and resumed flying missions.

In May 1944 HLeLv 32, flying the Curtiss P-36, was temporarily strengthened with a Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 flight commanded by Lt. Nissinen.

Heimo Lampi saw the crippled Messerschmitt of Lt. Sarjamo dive through the cloud and collide with Nissinen's plane.

Nissinen achieved 22 of his victories while piloting a Brewster B-239