This is the picture of Lily I taped to the wall above my laptop while I was writing. What does it make you think or feel?
I chose it because of her eyes. Later I learned that having a watch was a big deal and I wondered if she was showing it off.
Earliest newspaper article about Lily–it misspells her name and only uses her first initial, implying that she is a male pilot who shot down enemy aircraft in the early days of the Battle of Stalingrad
Lily & best friend Katie while being interviewed in Moscow, Spring 1943Kate and Lily Budanov Litvyak children of neighbors in the communal apartment. Moscow, March – April 1943(From the collection of the Museum of Tumanovska secondary schools, the Smolensk region).https://document.wikireading.ru/44925Alexander Martynov (who was also briefly in 9th), Nikolai Baranov (foreground) and Lilia Litvyak Alexey Solomatin (in the background).Donbass, the beginning of May 1943 (From the collection of the Museum of military glory in the gymnasium № 1, Krasny Luch, Ukraine) In this pic, Baranov is showing off his nice yellow leather boots, brand new, not good for rain thoughGerman soldier on camel they found south of StalingradAt StalingradAn ARA transport column on the frozen Volga, Tsaritsyn. American relief of famine 1921-23In Russia Volga Region around 1900 ethnic Germans probably Engels where Lily training
Saratov Factory manufacturing Lily’s aircraft, scroll to 18 minutes. What do you see?
Recreation, the popularity of American music and movies:
Tommy Dorsey “Marie”
Three Musketeers 1939 with Russian subtitles:
Photos of the Elite 9th Unit pilots: What strikes you about them?
Commander Lev Shestakov
Ahmet-Khan Sultan (sometimes Sultan Ahmet-Khan)Eugene DranischevMichael Baranov9th Vladimir Lavrinenkov, Katie was his wingman & he reported seeing Lily in POW campKatie in Field Kitchen spring 1943, note hair
