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SA-kuva #61052 - Colorized

In the photo, Air Squadron 32 crew, dept. Kalaja.

Airplane on the back is Hurricane HC-456.

Heikki Väinö Elias Kalaja (1910-1941) in the picture with a stick in his hand.

Kalaja was later killed in action on September 16, 1941 in the direction of Rukajärvi at the controls of another Hurricane (HC-458).

According to the POW information received, Kalaja had crashed into trees and plunged into the forest while attacking the enemy's column. So Kalaja disappeared in the direction of Lake Rukajärvi: he was on a night flight and did not return. Officially declared dead by the Ministry of Defense on 24 February 1947, date of death 16 September 1941.

SA photo # 44402, photographer: Johnsson

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Uploaded on March 6, 2023
Taken sometime in 1941