Call Sign White Lily Author:M.G. Crisci Call, Sign, White Lily is the never-before-told story of the world's first female fighter pilot, the beautiful Russian born, Lilia Litvyak, 1921-1943. As a child, she was mesmerized by fireflies, loved the scent of white lilies and skated like the wind on Moscow's ice ponds. By the tender age of 14, aviation became her passion; by 16 she had c... more »ompleted her first solo flight; and, by 18 she had trained some 40 male pilots. When Hitler invaded Russia, she became the first female fighter pilot to enter the Motherland's elite all-male 437th IAP. There she flew 168 missions, downed 15 Messersmitts, fell in love with and married her commanding officer, the handsome Captain Alexi Solomatin, who subsequently perished before her eyes. Lilia was shot down for a fourth and final time on August 12, 1943, 17 days shy of her 22nd birthday near the tiny village of Marinovka, in what we now know as the Eastern Ukraine. Due to the absence of her remains at the time, the severe restrictions of post-war communism and the eventual partioning of the Ukraine itself, Lilia's exploits and sacrifices went largely unrecognized until May 5, 1990, when then President Mikhail Gorbachev awarded Lilia the country's highest honor, Hero of the Soviet Union. Today a monument and museum reside in Lilia's name in the modest town of Krasny Luch, not far from the scene of her final battle. Call Sign, White Liliy is the end product of a respectful and professional three-year collaboration between a California Author, a Russian Museum Curator and a Ukranian English Teacher. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the world's first-ever such collaboration. This literate yet highly approachable 323 page volume also contains over 50 never-before-seen pictures and posters from her life and times. This book has been endorsed by the Radio Free Europe Foundation as "a great read of inspirational self-determination that commands the utmost respect." The book is currently being translated into Russian for worldwide release in the second half of 2010. A portion of the book sales will be donated to the Lily Litvyak Museum in Krasny Luch to keep the memory of this unique woman alive for the ages. (edited by author)« less