Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak

Junior Lieutenant Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak, known as the "White Lily of Stalingrad," was the world's top-scoring female fighter ace, with 12 confirmed solo victories and 4 shared. She first saw combat during the Battle of Stalingrad at age 21, and on her second sortie shot down a German ace with 11 victories. She was known for painting a white lily on her aircraft fuselage and for her fearless, aggressive flying style. She was killed in action on 1 August 1943 during a mission over the Donbas region, at just 22 years old. Her remains were not found until 1979, and she was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1990. Nottingham's aviation community honours her as a symbol of courage and sacrifice.