Soviet pilot Ekaterina Budanova was the second most successful female fighter ace of World War II. She fought alongside Lydia Litvyak, who was also her closest friend. During her combat career, she completed 266 combat sorties, personally destroying 6 enemy aircraft and 5 in group engagements.
On July 19, 1943, an unequal air battle took place over the front-line village of Novo-Krasnovka, near the city of Antratsit in the Luhansk region. A red-starred “Yak” engaged three Bf-109s, drawing them away from a group of “Ils”. Villagers watching the dogfight saw pieces fly off one of the Messerschmitts as it spiraled to the ground, while a second German aircraft turned back, apparently damaged.
Suddenly, the Soviet fighter was hit by a burst of fire. It initially fell erratically but then leveled out and glided to a field. Villagers who rushed to the scene struggled to pull the burnt pilot from the cockpit. The pilot was severely wounded and unconscious. To their surprise, documents found in the flight suit identified the pilot as “Ekaterina Vasilievna Budanova.” The young woman, only 26 years old, died from her injuries without regaining consciousness.
Ekaterina Budanova was born in 1916 in the village of Konoplyanka, Smolensk region, into a peasant family. Difficult circumstances helped her find her way into aviation. After finishing school, Katya moved to Moscow to earn a living and support her younger sister, working at a factory in Fili. She then successfully completed a local aeroclub course and became an instructor. Her success is highlighted by her participation in an aerial display over Tushino as part of an aerobatic five-plane team.
A Career Forged in Battle
At the beginning of the war, news of the formation of women’s aviation regiments led Budanova to Marina Raskova. As a highly experienced instructor with considerable flight time on the single-seater UT-1 aircraft, Katya was assigned to a fighter unit. After retraining in Saratov on the combat Yak-1, she received an appointment to the 586th Women’s Fighter Aviation Regiment.
From April 15, 1942, Budanova defended the skies over Saratov. Her flying skills grew with each combat sortie, and she developed her own distinct style. On September 10, 1942, Katya was transferred to the 437th Aviation Regiment. This was one of the most intense periods of air combat on the Stalingrad Front. Shortly before this, she had received news of her mother’s and sister’s deaths during the occupation.
Her desire to avenge the fascists propelled the young woman in her formidable “Yak” into the thick of battle, filling her soul with courage. Even more experienced airmen were surprised by her daring when encountering the enemy. On October 2, while patrolling over the Zhitomir-Elton area, a pair of fighters, consisting of Belyaeva and Budanova, attacked a group of 12 Ju.88s heading towards Elton station. The female pilots disrupted the bombers’ formation, forcing them to drop their bombs away from the target and retreat.
On October 6, Katya had to engage 13 Ju.88s alone! She broke into their formation, scattering them, and then, on a second pass, shot down the closest “Junkers.” This marked her first aerial victory. By mid-November 1942, the intensity of air battles increased, often requiring combat against superior enemy forces. In these engagements, as part of a group, she destroyed two more Bf.109s, and then achieved a personal victory over a Ju.88.
In one battle, Katya was Vladimir Lavrinenkov’s wingman. He scored a hit on a Heinkel-111 with his first burst, but the German gunner also hit his aircraft. Katya, protecting her leader, followed him until his almost uncontrollable aircraft touched the ground. Lavrinenkov later recalled, “Tall, slender Budanova wore a masculine haircut and in her flight uniform, she differed little from the guys. Katya was cheerful, spirited. Her friend, Lily Litvyak, on the contrary, was thoughtful and quiet. The girls were very close friends, but Katya was in charge of everything.”
Lone Hunter and War Heroine
At the end of November, Junior Lieutenant Budanova, as one of the best and most experienced pilots, was assigned to a group of “free hunters.” On December 10, returning from a combat mission, Katya engaged a pair of attacking Bf.109s. She had only about half an hour of fuel left and just a third of her ammunition, but the pilot did not flinch and accepted the challenge. At the end of the 25-minute battle, she set the lead German aircraft on fire in a head-on attack.
In January 1943, Junior Lieutenant Budanova was transferred to the 73rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The regimental commander placed great trust in the pilot, appointing her as his wingman. During one sortie, their group spotted 19 “Junkers” flying in tight formation, escorted by FW-190 fighters. Baranov’s pair first attacked the escort fighters, while the rest engaged the bombers. The battle became protracted. It was not easy to fight against four “Fokkers,” but the regimental commander managed to damage one of them. Katya finished it off, closing to just 30 meters. The explosion of the FW-190 threw her aircraft several meters upwards.
On February 23, 1943, Budanova was awarded her first combat decoration, the Order of the Red Star. In early March, returning from a “free hunt,” she discovered an enemy FW-189 reconnaissance aircraft heading towards the front line. However, she could not shoot down the nimble “frame” with her first attack; the German pilot spotted her fighter and, maneuvering intensely and descending, evaded the fire. The “frame” evaded attacks by flying as low as 20 meters. Katya, slowing down, literally pursued and destroyed the enemy just above the ground.
From March to June 1943, Budanova, as part of a group, shot down two more enemy fighters, and on July 17, she achieved another personal victory, destroying a Ju-88 bomber. Soon after, she was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.
Her Final Flight and Enduring Legacy
On the last day of her life, Katya, as part of a fighter group, covered Soviet Il-2s. After successfully completing their attack, the “hunchbacks” headed home. Our “Yaks” covered their retreat from behind. Budanova was the last in the covering group and suddenly saw three Bf.109s very close by. It was too late to warn her comrades, so the pilot engaged in an unequal battle alone. In this engagement, she achieved her last, 11th victory.
The brave heroine was modestly buried on the outskirts of the village of Novo-Krasnovka. The command nominated her for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but this nomination was not realized at the time.
On May 9, 1988, the pilot’s remains were solemnly reburied in the village of Bobrikovo, Antratsit district, Luhansk region, where her ashes now rest under a strict obelisk. On October 1, 1993, half a century after her last feat, Ekaterina Vasilievna Budanova was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. A street in Moscow is named in her honor.