Katya Budanova

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Katya Budanova flew with Lilya Litvyak in the 296 IAP, later renamed 73 Gv. IAP (Guards IAP). In the skies over Stalingrad, she once fought with a wingman against 12 enemy aircraft,  against 13, and once with 3 other fighters against 19! She was killed in combat on the 18th of July, 1943, when 2 Messerschmitt Me-109s attacked her. Budanova dispensed with one, but the second managed to shoot her down and escape the battle with a damaged plane. She had a final score of 11 confirmed kills. But her final score may have been as high as 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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