No. 46 Squadron (Finland) Explained

Unit Name:	No. 46 Squadron Finnish Air Force
Country:	Finland
Branch:	Finnish Air Force
Role:	bomber
Battles:	Winter War, Continuation War

No. 46 Squadron (Finnish: Lentolaivue 46 or LLv.46, from 3 May 1942 Le.Lv.46), renamed No. 46 Bomber Squadron (Finnish: Pommituslentolaivue 46 or PLe.Lv.46 on 14 February 1944) was a bomber squadron of the Finnish Air Force during World War II. The squadron was part of Flying Regiment 4.

Organization

Winter War

• 1st Flight (1. Lentue)
• 2nd Flight (2. Lentue)
• 3rd Flight (3. Lentue)

The Squadron was equipped with 9 Bristol Blenheim Mk.Is and 11 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVs.

Continuation War

• 1st Flight (1. Lentue)
• 2nd Flight (2. Lentue)
• 3rd Flight (3. Lentue)
  • 1st Flight of No. 48 Bomber Squadron (1./PLe.Lv.48)
• Separate Photography Flight (Erillinen valokuvauslentue)

The equipment consisted of 15 Dornier Do 17Zs, 3 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVs, 4 Ilyushin DB-3Ms, 3 Ilyushin Il-4s, 1 Douglas DC-2, and 1 Junkers aircraft.

The following 15 Do 17s were received:^{[1] [2] [3]}

• Dornier Do 17 Z-2, WkNr 3323, BC+NE. Redesignated DN-51. Flew 454 hours 25 minutes mission time. Destroyed/written off on 9 October 1944. + Ten were lost between January 1943 and January 1945, the remaining five were not scrapped until in 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2608, DM+DV. Redesignated DN-52. Scrapped 19 September 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 4242, DC+PZ. Redesignated DN-53. Flew 220 hours 5 minutes mission time. Destroyed 8 August 1943.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2856, PF+CW. Redesignated DN-54. Flew 358 hours 35 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 October 1944.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 3498, V5+MH. Redesignated DN-55. Logged 812 hours 5 minutes flying time. Scrapped 19 September 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-2, WkNr 3425, V5+BK. Redesignated DN-56. 639 hours 40 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 October 1944.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-1, WkNr 1155, C4+BZ. Redesignated DN-57. Logged 812 hours 5 minutes flying time. Scrapped 11 December 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2905, 5K+DV. Redesignated DN-58. Scrapped 19 September 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-1, WkNr 3228, V5+GL. Redesignated DN-59. Flew 884 hours 50 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 September 1944.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2818, 5K+CR. Redesignated DN-60. Flew 479 hours 5 minutes mission time. Destroyed 11 January 1945.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-2, WkNr 4187, CQ+HG. Redesignated DN-61. Flew 348 hours 15 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 October 1944.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 1218, V5+3L. Redesignated DN-62. Flew 704 hours 30 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 January 1943.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2873, PF+DN. Redesignated DN-63. Flew 505 hours 5 minutes mission time. Destroyed 9 September 1944.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-3, WkNr 2622, 5M+L. Redesignated DN-64. Scrapped 19 September 1952.
• Dornier Do 17 Z-1, WkNr 1175, PG+GA. Redesignated DN-65. Flew 95 hours 30 minutes mission time. Destroyed 16 July 1943.

References

Bibliography

• Goss, Chris. Dornier 17: In Focus. Surrey, UK: Red Kite Books, 2005. .
• Keskinen, Kalevi and Kari Stenman. Suomen Ilmavoimien historia 2: Dornier Do 17Z, Junkers Ju 88A-4. Hobby-Kustannus Oy, 1999. .
• Smith, J.R. The Do 17 and Do 215 (No. 164). London: Profile Publications, 1967.
• Book: Shores . Christopher F. . Finnish Air Force 1918–1968 . 1969 . Osprey Publications . Canterbury, UK . 0-85045-012-8. Aircam Aviation Series. S2.

Citations

External links

• Lentolaivue 46

Notes and References

1. Goss 2005, p. 100.
2. Green 1967, p. 158.
3. Kalevi and Stenman 1999, pp. 50–53.