The First Female Flying Ace: Lydia Litvyak.
The First Female Flying Ace: Lydia Litvyak.
Lydia Vladimirovna Litviak, nicknamed "Lily," was born on August 18, 1921, in Moscow, at that time part of Russia within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Lidia's father was arrested and shot as an "enemy of the people" in 1937. Little is known about her early life.
When Lidia Litviak was 14 years old, she received her first flight class at an air club, graduating the following year, after turning 15, as a pilot at the Kherson Military School.
When the invasion of Germany into the Soviet Union occurred in 1941, Lydia enlisted in the Red Air Fleet by joining the 122nd Female Air Group created by Commander Marina Raskova and joining the 586th Hunting Regiment. Onboard a Lavochkin La-5 fighter, Lily first flew on missions over Saratov escorting bombers and then was transferred to fight in the Battle of Stalingrad. It was precisely in this city were on November 13, 1942, he shot down the first two German planes, a Heinkel He 111 bomber and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, the latter of the German "ace" Erwin Maier, who after jumping and parachute and being captured met Lily herself. That same month, specifically on November 27 also about Stalingrad, he killed a Junkers Ju 88 bomber and another Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.
Since 1943 Lily exchanged her Lavochkin La-5 fighter for a faster Yakolev Yak-1 with which she fought over the Don River basin by shooting down a Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighter and a Stuka chopped bomber on February 1. That same month, on the 22nd day over the city of Rostov, Lily killed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and a Junkers Ju 88 bomber. Thus, between April and May 1943, the young woman would destroy an observation ball after overcoming a barrier of anti-aircraft artillery of several 88 mm guns, in addition to shooting down four other Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters; without forgetting July 31, it would eliminate two other Messerschmitt Bf 109 interceptors.
On August 1, 1943, Lydia again knocked down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter on Donetsk, although shortly thereafter, four German planes of the same model reached the Yak-1 of the young woman who rushed into the ground exploded in a thousand pieces. Lydia Litvak died instantly at the age of 21.
On September 13, 1943, Litvak became the first woman to shoot down a German fighter plane. In general, Lydia had shot down 15 enemy planes, thus becoming the largest female "ace" of World War II.
Lydia is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as a female pilot who won the highest number of winners in air battles.
Quotations: "My biggest fear is an abyss without a trace. Anything, but not this."
Lydia, as a pilot, was distinguished by decisiveness, composure, endurance, and dexterity. She was called "Diana - the goddess of free hunting", and her special style in piloting was compared with Chkalovsky. Her skill was admired, rejoiced at her victories, marveled at her desperate courage. For example, once Lydia returned to the airport on a plane riddled with German shells and with a wound in her leg, and having reported on the successful completion of the mission and two downed enemy aircraft, she lost consciousness. After this battle, male pilots recognized her as a real ace.
Physical Characteristics: Lydia was a silent, modest beauty with a blond shock of hair and blue eyes. She always looked neat, feminine, wore unusual things - a white comforter, a sleeveless jacket turned up in fluff, chrome boots, a flight collar made of fur, cut from fur boots (which she was later ordered to tear off and put back on to shoes) - and walked in a special gait, causing quiet delight among others.
Quotes from others about the person
"In October 1941, while we were still training at the training base near Engels, during the formation of Lilya, orders were made to break down. Overalls. Our commander Marina Raskova asked when she did this, and Lilya answered: "At night..." - Inna Passportnikova
"She was a born pilot. She had a special talent for a fighter, was daring and decisive, inventive and careful. She knew how to see the air." - Boris Eryomin
"... Lily was the first to notice the plane appearing over the airfield. She still could not distinguish anything, but intuitively felt that there was a disaster. The fighter did not burn, there were no traces of smoke in it, it just flew to the ground at a great angle, swiftly and beautifully. Only the soul-breaking sound of a falling car filled everything around. And then the girl understood - it was a farewell song of her friend who came to die at home. She did not close her eyes, did not shed tears, did not turn away. An explosion echoed through the airfield. Lesha died... "
Lydia Litvyak was married to Alexey Solomatin, a squadron commander and flying ace in the Soviet Air Forces. On May 21, 1943, in a plane crash that occurred right in front of the comrades and Lydia herself, her husband died.
Aleksey Frolovich Solomatin was a squadron commander and flying ace in the Soviet Air Forces during World War II who was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Marina Mikhaylovna Raskova was a famous Soviet pilot and navigator. She later became one of over 800,000 women in the military service, founding three female air regiments which would eventually fly over 30,000 sorties in World War II and produce at least 30 Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Yekaterina Vasylievna Budanova, nicknamed Katya, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II. With five air victories, along with Lydia Litvyak, she was one of the world's two female fighter aces.
