Lydia Litvyak: The White Lily of Stalingrad

Lydia Litvyak, born August 18, 1921, in Moscow, was a Soviet fighter pilot whose courage and skill made her one of World War II’s most celebrated aces. Known as the “White Lily of Stalingrad” for the flowers painted on her Yak-1 fighter, she became a legend before her 22nd birthday.

At 14, Litvyak joined a flying club, quickly mastering solo flights. By 1940, she graduated from the Kherson Military Flying School and trained 45 pilots as an instructor. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, she joined the all-female 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, piloting the agile but lightly armed Yakovlev Yak-1.

On September 13, 1942, just two days after reaching the front, Litvyak downed a Ju-88 bomber and an Me-109 fighter, becoming one of the first women to achieve aerial victories. Her aggressive tactics and natural talent led to at least 12 solo kills and 2–4 shared kills, with some records suggesting up to 16. She defeated seasoned German aces, including one with 11 kills, earning her the status of a Soviet ace.

Despite being wounded twice and surviving multiple crash landings, Litvyak’s resolve never wavered. On August 1, 1943, during her fourth sortie of the day near Orel, she was last seen trailing smoke, pursued by eight Bf-109s. At 21, she vanished in battle, leaving a legacy of fearless determination.

Litvyak’s valor—marked by her relentless spirit and iconic white lilies—continues to inspire. As she once embodied, “Valor is in you. Set it free.”