Yekaterina Budanova

Yekaterina Vasilyevna Budanova (Екатерина Васильевна Буданова), nicknamed Katya (Катя) (6 December 1916 – 19 July 1943), was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II.

Usually credited with five or more aerial victories, along with Lydia Litvyak, she is often considered one of the world's two female fighter aces.

She was shot down by either Luftwaffe ace Georg Schwientek of JG 52 or ace Emil Bitsch, of JG 3.

Budanova was born into a peasant family in Konoplanka village in Smolensk Governorate.

After leaving elementary school with the highest grades, she had to abandon her studies due to her father's death, and began working as a nanny.

At the age of thirteen her mother sent her to join her sister in Moscow, where she began working as a carpenter in an aircraft factory.

It was there that she began an interest in aviation, and she joined an aeroclub's parachutist section, obtaining her flying license in 1934 and graduating to flight instructor in 1937.

She took part in several air parades, flying the single-seater Yakovlev UT-1.

After the German attack on the USSR in June 1941, she enlisted in military aviation and was assigned to the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, formed by Marina Raskova.

This unit consisted entirely of female pilots and was equipped with Yak-1.

The 586th (under Major Tamara Kazarinova) saw combat action in the spring of 1942 in the rear.

In May 1942 the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment redeployed to Anisovka where it was assigned to the 144th Fighter Aviation Division covering the railway installations near Saratov, and it was here Budanova flew her first combat missions.

But, as the Battle of Stalingrad raged, the supply of replacement male pilots was drying up and thus, seeing the skill of these women, the Soviet High Command began dispersing selected female pilots to existing male units.

According to some historians, she shot down her first opponent — a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter — on 14 September 1942, combining forces with Lydia Litvyak.

According to regiment archivist Yekaterina Polunina on 2 October 1942 Budanova achieved her two first solo air victories, shooting down a Junkers Ju 88 and a Bf 109.

However, Budanova's aircraft mechanic, Inna Pasportnikova, wrote that she shot down her first aircraft on 6 October when she attacked thirteen Ju 88 bombers, downing one.

The 437th was a LaGG-3 regiment, under Major Khvostikov, who was initially skeptical of the ability of women pilots.

But in a short time Budanova became known for her aggressive attacking and high piloting skill.

From October until January 1943 Budanova and Litvyak served in the Stalingrad area with the elite 9th Guards Fighter Regiment, commanded by Lev Shestakov, a Hero of Soviet Union.

This regiment consisted either of aces or people considered potential aces.

One of them was Vladimir Lavrinenkov, who ended the war with 36 solo plus eleven shared shootdowns.

He later recalled that Budanova "was tall, kept her hair cut short,... and in her flightsuit hardly stood out from the fellows."

He characterized Budanova as a "cheerful, lively character" while Litvyak looked "thoughtful and quiet".

Both he said were excellent pilots.

Initially the two women had flown together, but then more often flew separately as wingmen to other pilots.

In January 1943 the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was re-equipped with the US-built P-39 "Airacobra" and Budanova and Litvyak moved to the 296th Fighter Aviation Regiment (later the 73rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment) of Nikolai Baranov, and continued to fly the Yak.

On 10 February 1943, near Rostov on Don, she shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 along with Senior Lieutenant Nikolay Demkin and the wingman, Lieutenant Boris Gorkhiver.

On 23 February she was awarded with an Order of the Red Star.

Initially, the women pilots were placed into three all-women units: the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, the 587th Dive Bomber Regiment, and the 588th Night Bomber Regiment.

The 500 designations were originally meant to signify defense reserves.

These units were originally made up women who were flight instructors or members of pre-war flying clubs.

While in the Stalingrad area, an order was received citing the return of the women aircrew to the 586th.

Pasportnikova later recalled, "Budanova and Litvyak appealed to Lt.Col Shestakov, the commander of the 9th Guards Fighter Regiment, with a request to let them remain in the regiment."

They were allowed to stay, remaining with 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment for over three months.

On 10 December Budanova shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 110s.

In the following months she was credited with several more aircraft.

It was with 73rd Fighter Aviation Regiment that Budanova and Litvyak achieved the bulk of their combat claims.

Budanova was selected to fly with Baranov, while squadron commander Aleksey Solomatin took Litvyak as wingman.

Budanova was soon given permission for "solo hunting", an honor given to aggressive and successful pilots.

On 10 September, Budanova was assigned with Lydia Litvyak, Mariya Kuznetsova, and Raisa Belyaeva to the 437th Fighter Aviation Regiment, based in Verkhnania Akhtuba on the east bank of the Volga river engaged in the fighting over Stalingrad.