Lydia Vladimirovna ... applauded Lilya Litvyak as the White Rose of Stalingrad, not so much for her blond, blue-eyed beauty as for the 12 victories as a member of a crack fighter unit.” ...

The first unit to take part in combat—on April 16, 1942, less than six months after its formation—was the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment.It was equipped with a variety of aircraft in the ...

who made history as the only women in history to become fighter pilot aces. Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak was born on August 18, ...