Nadezhda Fedutenko

Nadezhda Nikiforovna Fedutenko (, 30 September 1915 – 28 January 1978) was a Soviet Air Force officer and combat pilot. She fought in the Second World War as squadron commander in the 125th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment, and was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for her leadership.

Early life Fedutenko was born in Rakitnoye village (now in Belgorod Oblast). Both her parents worked at a sugar factory. She participated in skiing, skating and horse riding. Fedutenko later worked at the same factory, and continued her education at the factory's apprenticeship school after receiving seven years of incomplete secondary education. In that period, she participated in an aircraft modelling hobby group. She enrolled in the Tambov Civil Aviation Flying School at the age of 18.

On 26 May 1943, during the Kuban air battles, Fedutenko received a head wound from an anti-aircraft gun shell fragment just before dropping bombs on heavily defended German artillery positions near the village of Kiyevskoye, Krasnodar Krai. Despite her severe wound, she retained full control of her aircraft and command of her flight, and was able to stay in formation, ensuing the eventual destruction of the target. Fedutenko then conducted a flak evasion maneuver, preventing the loss of aircraft and aircrew in her command.

Later life Fedutenko transferred to the reserve in 1946. Involved in party work in Khabarovsk and Irkutsk until 1954, she moved to Kiev, where she died on 30 January 1978. Fedutenko was buried in the city's Baikove Cemetery.

Awards and honors Hero of the Soviet Union (18 August 1945) Order of Lenin (18 August 1945) Two Orders of the Red Banner (5 September 1943 and 10 July 1944) Two Orders of the Patriotic War (4 June 1943 and ?) Medal "For Battle Merit" (30 April 1945)