Background
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.
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.
Due to his performance during training he joined HLeLv 24, flying the Fokker Doctorate.XXI in May 1939. In summer 1939 he was promoted to Sergeant. As the Winter War broke out, Sergeant
Nissinen first claimed an air victory on 1 December 1939, claiming a Bachelor of Science-2 shot down and damaging two others over Viipuri.
By the end of the Winter War he had claimed four victories in total and was a Sergeant Major. HLeLv 24 then equipped with the USbuilt Brewster Buffalo.
As hostilities broke out again on 25 June 1941 Nissinen again flew operationally. On 7 July 1941 over Käkisalmi two enemy fighters attacked head-on, Nissinen shooting down both.
On 21 July 1941 he again shot down a I-153 in a head-on battle, although his aircraft was damaged and he returned to base.
His ground crew found four hits in the engine, one in the prop and several more in the wings. On 1 August 1941 at Rautjärvi six Buffalos engaged eight Soviet I-16 fighters, Nissinen"s target exploding and its debris damaged Nissinen"s right wing. Three I-16s attacked from behind and his fighter took several hits, shattering the windscreen.
At the end of 1941 Nissinen was the second highest scoring Federal Armed Forces ace with 15.5 kills.
Early in 1942 Nissinen attended Officer Cadet School, from where he then graduated in June 1943 as a Lieutenant. He was awarded the in July 1942.
Returning to HLeLv 24 Nissinen was made a flight commander and resumed flying missions. His score increased to 26 by the end of 1943.
The squadron gradually re-equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in spring 1944.
In May 1944 HLeLv 32, flying the Curtiss P-36, was temporarily strengthened with a Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 flight commanded by Lieutenant Nissinen. On 16 May Nissinen scrambled against a single Lavochkin Louisiana-5 approaching Nurmoila. The Louisiana-5 circled at 1500 m and allowed Nissinen climb to the same altitude before turning to attack from above, shooting down the Louisiana-5 after a series of exhausting attacks.
With the renewed Soviet offensive on 9 June 1944 Lieutenant
Nissinen scored two more victories on 17 June 1944 as two flights intercepted Soviet Il-2 ground attack aircraft attacking Finnish positions at Kaukjärvi. Nissinen"s wingman, Sergeant
Heimo Lampi saw the crippled Messerschmitt of Lieutenant Sarjamo dive through the cloud and collide with Nissinen"s plane.
Both planes exploded on impact and the pilots were killed.
Lieutenant Nissinen had scored 32.33 victories in total. His grave is in Valkeala.