Background
Nils Katajainen was born to barber Oskar Katajainen and his wife, Jenny Katajainen in 1919.
Nils Katajainen was born to barber Oskar Katajainen and his wife, Jenny Katajainen in 1919.
He held the military rank of sergeant. He flew 196 sorties and shot down 35 enemy aircraft. He began his military career by entering the volunteer service of the air force in 1939.
He was promoted to Corporal on 5 August 1940 following a reserve NCO course.
During the Winter War he served in fighter squadrons 24 and 32 and was discharged on 1 March 1941. However, after just a few months time Finland began its pre-war mobilization, preparing for the Continuation War.
Katajainen returned to Fighter Squadron 24, where he belonged to the third flight. During a period of six months in 1942 Katajainen was transferred to LeLv 6 and began training on captured Soviet Bachelor of Science-2 bombers.
He flew anti-submarine missions, until his influential friends managed to arrange for him to return to LeLv 24.
Katajainen was badly wounded in an air battle on 5 July 1944. He was discharged from the air force on 10 November 1944 following his hospitalization and subsequent convalescence period. After the war, Katajainen worked as an entrepreneur and for the City of Helsinki.
Nils Katajainen was the inspiration for character Nikka Edvardine Katajainen in the anime Strike Witches.