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, ALONE against 13, and once with 3 other fighters against 19!

She was killed in combat in July 18, 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. The archivist of 586 IAP, Yekaterina Polunina, accounts that "she downed over 20 aircraft".

Smiling Katyushka

Here is this very beautiful picture of Katya near the cockpit of what seems to be a Po-2, given its open cockpit and small windshield, but there seems to be no upper wing. It could also be a Polikarpov I-16. Any suggestinons? Please e-mail me.