Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak (Лидия Владимировна Литвяк, (Moscow, August 18, 1921 – Krasnyi Luch August 1, 1943), also known as Lydia Litviak or Lilya Litviak, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II. With 12 solo victories (but some authors say 11 or even 13 ) and either two, or four, shared gained in 66 combat missions, she is one of the world's only two female fighter aces, along with Katya Budanova. She was shot down by Luftwaffe's Experten Hans-Jörg Merkle of JG 52 or Hans Schleef, of JG 3.