1. Jorma Kalevi Sarvanto was a Finnish Air Force pilot and the foremost Finnish fighter ace of the Winter War.
14 Facts About Jorma Sarvanto
1. 2.
Jorma Sarvanto attended high school in Turku and graduated in 1933.
3.
Jorma Sarvanto was first admitted to the Pori Infantry Regiment, but decided to apply when the Finnish Air Force sent out a notice that they would select officer trainees.
4.
Jorma Sarvanto was admitted and sent to the Reserve Officer Pilot Course number 4 at the Kauhava Air Base.
5.
Jorma Sarvanto knew he had come to the right place.
6.
Jorma Sarvanto completed his reserve officer training in 1934 and applied to the Military Academy in order to have the military as his profession.
7.
Jorma Sarvanto had wished to fly fighters and requested a transfer to Fighter Squadron 24, which was granted.
8.
Jorma Sarvanto saw his first battle on 19 December and his first two victories came on 23 December 1939.
9.
On 6 January 1940 Jorma Sarvanto engaged alone in an air fight with a group of seven Soviet Ilyushin DB-3s.
10.
Jorma Sarvanto was to become the top scoring Finnish ace of the Winter War with 13 victories.
11.
Jorma Sarvanto flew a total of 255 combat missions during World War II.
12.
Jorma Sarvanto would continue his military career, which led him to become the commander of the Flying School in Kauhava.
13.
Jorma Sarvanto resigned from the air force in 1960, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
14.
Jorma Sarvanto's grandsons include American champion bagpipe player Jori Chisholm and American political consultant Kari Chisholm.