Katya Budanova

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Yekaterina Vasylievna Budanova, also known as Katya Budanova (Екатерина Васильевна Буданова, December 7, 1916 - July 19, 1943), was a female fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during the Second World War. With 11 victories, she was one of the world's two female fighter aces along with Lydia Litvyak.

She was born into a peasant family in Konoplanka village in Smolensk Oblast. Working in an aircraft factory in Moscow, she became interested in aviation and entered an aeroclub where she received her pilot training. She served as a flight instructor since 1937. She also took part in several air parades, flying the single-seater UT-1.

After the German attack on the USSR in June 1941, she enlisted in military aviation. She was assigned to the 586th Fighter Regiment (586 IAP), formed by Marina Raskova. This unit consisted entirely of female pilots. She flew her first combat missions in April 1942 over Saratov. In September she was assigned, along with other women (among others, Lydia Litvyak), to the 437th IAP engaged in the fighting over Stalingrad. She soon became known for her aggressive attacking and high piloting skill. She flew Yak-1 fighters. On October 6 she attacked 13 Junkers Ju 88 bombers by herself, shooting down her first aircraft. In November she shot down two Bf 109 fighters and a Ju 88. In the following months she shot down several more aircraft. In January 1943 she, along with her friend Lydia Litvyak, was moved to the 73rd Guards Fighter Regiment of the 8th Air Army. She soon was given the right of "solo hunting". On February 23, she was awarded with an Order of the Red Star.

On July 19, 1943, during a solo combat with three Bf 109, she shot down one but was shot down herself and killed near Antracit town in Luhansk Oblast.

There are different data as for Katya Budanova's victory score in different publications, with no official data. The most common quote is 11 kills (6 individual and 5 team kills). She was awarded with the Order of the Red Star and Order of the Patriotic War (twice). Although it was proposed, she was not awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the war. On October 1, 1993, she was posthumously awarded with a Hero of the Russian Federation title.