Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna: biography and photos

Ekaterina Budanov, whose biography is described in this article, is a pilot-fighter of the 73rd Guards Air Regiment, Hero of the USSR. Girlfriend Lydia Litvyak. They fought together.

Difficult childhood

Budanova Ekaterina was born on December 7, 1916 in the Smolensk region, in the Tumanovsky (now Vyazemsky) district, in the village Konoplyanka. Her father was killed in 1924, and his mother, Alexandra Yakovlevna, was left alone with five children. Catherine was then only six years old. Her mother could not support all the children, and food was always scarce. Katya had to work with 7 years. In the winter, she studied, and spent the rest of the time nursing other people's toddlers.

Education

Despite a difficult childhood, Catherine graduated from the local village school with a commendable letter. She would like to study at once, but there was no money for it. And up to the next seven-year school there were 14 kilometers. Katya graduated her a little later, when the opportunity appeared.

After that, it was decided at the family council that she needed to study further. But Katya's mother did not even want to hear about the career of the pilot. And she sent her daughter to her relatives in Moscow. But there Ekaterina Vasilievna Budanova still made a choice in favor of her dream and went to study in an aero club. She graduated from it in 1934. Then she continued her studies at the air school. She graduated from it in 1936. Then she entered the Kherson Aviation School. She graduated in 1939.

Youth

Katya from childhood was mobile, active, cheerful and smart. She danced and sang well. Everyone loved her, both at home and in the whole village. She always helped the old people and was a good counselor among the youth. Her dream was to become an airman. She read a lot about the people of this profession.

Work experience

When Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna came to Moscow to continue her studies, she got a job at the Aviation Plant named after I. Gorbunov is a mechanic. She became a Pioneer leader of the 63rd school. After the end of the flying club, she remained in it to work as an instructor. Before the war I had time to work as a pilot. Participated in the Tushino air parades.

The Beginning of the Great Patriotic War

In the autumn of 1941 Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna Volunteered for the point where women's aviation regiments were formed. Was sent to part of the fighters. She had to retrain to the pilot of YAK-1 combat aircraft. After she was sent to the 586th female air regiment commanded by Marina Raskova.

Sharpening skills in combat and the first personal victory

In the spring of 1942, Catherine first took part in the battles over Saratov. It was then that she began to perfect the skill of the pilot, having developed her unique and unique style. In the fall of 1942 was sent to the 437th Air Regiment, to the Stalingrad Front. Sometimes it was necessary to fight in pairs against 12-13 enemies at the same time. Or four together against 19.

October 6 Ekaterina V. Budanova, a professional pilot, fought alone against 13 JU-88. She crashed into the formation, than dispersed the enemy, and during the second call the nearest Junkers was knocked out. This was the first personal victory of Ekaterina Budanova.

In November 1942, the air battles became more and more fierce. Soviet pilots often fought with a superior number of the enemy. At this time, Catherine was destroyed three more German aircraft.

Among the best pilots. First awards

In November, already in the rank of junior lieutenant, Ekaterina Budanova, photo of which is in this article, was credited to "free hunters". On December 10, even though there was almost no fuel and ammunition, she entered into a battle with two German ME-109s. The battle lasted 25 minutes, but Catherine was able to shoot down the leading plane.

In the winter of 1943, she was sent to the 73rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. I was at war with L. Litvyak. The pilots became best friends. Budanov was given high confidence when the commander appointed her to be guided. And she coped with this brilliantly.

In February 1942, Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna received her first award - the Order of the Red Star. In March, the pilot returned from "free hunting" and saw a German spotter flying to the front line. Catherine began the persecution. From the first time to overtake a spirited plane did not work. The German withdrew from the fire, intensively maneuvering. "Rama" escaped from persecution with a decline. But Budanov also extinguished the speed and almost over the very ground yet caught the German plane, destroying it.

In the spring and summer of 1943, Catherine, together with the group, shot down a couple of enemy fighters and one bomber. Subsequently, she received the award in the form of the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree.

Heroic death of the pilot

Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna, test pilot, was killed by a heroic death. This happened on July 19, 1943. Catherine, along with a group of other fighters, covered the Soviet "IL-2." They left for the base after the successful storming of the enemy. The fighters followed them. Catherine closed the cover group. Suddenly she saw three German ME-109s nearby.

There was no time left for her warning, and she alone entered into an unequal battle. She was able to win his eleventh victory in it. But, unfortunately, the last one. Residents of Novo-Krasnovka watched the battle from the ground. They saw one of the German aircraft begin to lose pieces of plating and went to the ground along a steep spiral. The second turned back. Apparently, also suffered serious damage and fled the battlefield, trying to escape. But the third was able to score a Soviet fighter. At first he just fell down, but suddenly lined up and even landed on the field. Villagers immediately ran to the plane and pulled out of it the body of the charred pilot. This was Catherine. She was unconscious. But the wounds were so serious that the pilot died, never recovering. She was only 26 years old.

Last honors

Budanov's funeral was modest. She was resting on the edge of the village of Novo-Krasnivka. Was represented by the command of the Hero of the USSR, but received it posthumously. During the war, Catherine made 266 combat flights and destroyed 11 enemy aircraft.

Budanova Ekaterina Vasilievna was solemnly reburied on May 9, 1988 in the Lugansk region, the Anthracite district, in the village of Bobrikovo. For her grave courts pupils of Novokrasnovsky school. In the village of Bobrikovo, where Ekaterina Budanova died, her monument was erected. In the Tretyakov Gallery there is a bust of a pilot who was created by V. Mukhin, a sculptor. The name of Catherine Budanova is written on Mamayev Hill.

In Moscow, the name of this pilot is the street on which she lived before the war. And on the facade of school No. 63 there is a memorial plaque. In the Smolensk region, in the village of Tumanovo, there is a street. Kati Budanova. At the request of the schoolchildren of the village, a song was written about the pilot. In Smolensk itself there is a museum of the Great Patriotic War. In it, employees carefully store things that belonged to Ekaterina Budanova.