World War II Yekaterina Budanova

restored messerschmitt bf 109g: first plane shot down katya budanova was, reportedly, aircraft of type



lydia litvyak, close friend of budanova, , fellow ace pilot

according historians, shot down first opponent — messerschmitt bf 109 fighter — on 14 september 1942, combining forces lydia litvyak. according regiment archivist ekaterina k. polunina on 2 october 1942 budanova achieved 2 first solo air victories, shooting down junkers ju 88 , bf 109. however, budanova s aircraft mechanic, inna pasportnikova wrote shot down first aircraft on 6 october when attacked 13 ju 88 bombers, downing one.

from october until january 1943 budanova (and litvyak) served in stalingrad area elite 9th guards fighter regiment, commanded lev shestakov, hero of soviet union. regiment consisted either of aces or potential aces. 1 of them vladimir dmitrievich lavrinenkov, ended war 46 victories (11 shared). later recalled budanova tall, kept hair cut short,... , in flightsuit hardly stood out fellows. characterized budanova cheerful, lively character while litvyak looked thoughtful , quiet . both said excellent pilots. 2 females had flown more flew separately wingmen other pilots. while in stalingrad area, order received citing return of women aircrew 586th. pasportnikova later recalled budanova , litvyak appealed lt.col shestakov, commander of 9th fighter regiment, request let them remain in regiment. allowed stay, remaining 9th iap on 3 months.

on 10 december budanova shot down 2 messerschmitt bf 110s. in following months credited several more aircraft.

bf 110; budanova shot down 2 aircraft of type on 10 december 1942, first double kill

in january 1943 9th re-equipped us-built p-39 airacobra , budanova , litvyak moved 296th fighter aviation regiment (later 73rd guards fighter aviation regiment) of nikolai baranov, , continued fly yak. 73 iap budanova , litvyak achieved bulk of combat claims. budanova selected fly baranov, while squadron commander alexei solomatin took litvyak wingman.

budanova given permission solo hunting , honor given aggressive , successful pilots.

on 10 february 1943, near rostov on don, shot down focke-wulf fw 190 along starshiy leytenant nikolay demkin , wingman, leytenant boris gorkhiver.

on 23 february awarded order of red star. on 9 march 1943 between 17.30 , 18.30 claimed bf 109 along leytenant oleg filipchenko.

on 20 april 1943 ogonek, political-literary weekly publication intended young adults, featured cover photo of budanova , litvyak. article detailed accomplishments, honouring - in true soviet style - collective, rather individual, achievements. magazine gave combined number of combat missions , kills date 2 pilots. on 30 may under command of soshnikov, budanova shared in destruction of bf 109.

by june 1943 budanova had 6 victories credit, , operating near rostov on don during liberation of donbas, heavy air combat saw claims raised 11.