Lydia Litvyak
Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak, also known as Lilya, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II. Historians estimate for her total victories range from thirteen to fourteen solo victories and four to five shared kills in her 66 combat sorties. In about two years of operations, she was the first female fighter pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft, the first of two female fighter pilots who have earned the title of fighter ace and the holder of the record for the greatest number of kills by a female fighter pilot. She was shot down near Orel during the Battle of Kursk as she attacked a formation of German aircraft.
18 August 1921
Born on the same birth date (18 August 1921): Zdzisław Żygulski (art historian)
Born on the same birth day (18 August): Anna Akana • Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia, Duchess of Leuchtenberg • Hifikepunye Pohamba • Just Fontaine • Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. • Libert H. Boeynaems • Morgan Sanson • Paraskevas Antzas • Zdzisław Żygulski (art historian)
Born in the same month (August 1921): Ben Bradlee • Brian Moore (novelist) • Dinos Dimopoulos • Iris Apfel • J. James Exon • Jimmy McCracklin • Karel Husa • Kenneth Arrow • Lidia Gueiler • Louis Frémaux • Manitas de Plata • Pat McDonald (actress) • Richard Adler • William Asher