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): Agneta Horn • Dimitris Salpingidis • Gulzar • Ikue Ōtani • John Anthony Sydney Ritson • Justin Wilson (baseball) • Malcolm-Jamal Warner • Max Factor Jr. • Nathan Clifford • Sonny Til • Virginia Dare • Walther Funk

Born in the same month (August 1921): Ben Bradlee • Brian Moore (novelist) • Geoffrey Elton • Iris Apfel • Keith Froome • Lidia Gueiler • Manitas de Plata • Marilyn Maxwell • Mary Lee (singer) • Maurice Richard • Reuven Feuerstein • Sam Cook (cricketer, born 1921) • Terry Becker • Tony Pawson (cricketer)