They Defended Our Sky

The Second World War The Second World War was the largest military conflict in history. Nazi Germany brought unimaginable suffering to millions of people. The Second World War was the largest military conflict in history. Nazi Germany brought unimaginable suffering to millions of people.

The Highest Price And without doubt the Soviet Union paid the highest price for the victory. And without doubt the Soviet Union paid the highest price for the victory.

Soviet Peoples Courage Without the extraordinary courage, determination and endurance of Soviet people the victory would hardly have been possible. Without the extraordinary courage, determination and endurance of Soviet people the victory would hardly have been possible.

Women at War The Soviet Union was the only country in the world where women not only took care of fields and factories but also fought shoulder to shoulder with men as front line soldiers. The Soviet Union was the only country in the world where women not only took care of fields and factories but also fought shoulder to shoulder with men as front line soldiers.

Important Proposal In 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Major Marina Raskova, a famous Soviet pilot, went to Stalin to convince him to set up three womens fighter and bomber regiments. In 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Major Marina Raskova, a famous Soviet pilot, went to Stalin to convince him to set up three womens fighter and bomber regiments.

Training Centre for Women Stalin agreed and a special training center for women was set up in Engels, a small town not far from Stalingrad. Stalin agreed and a special training center for women was set up in Engels, a small town not far from Stalingrad.

THEY TELL US… The history of one of those regiments, the 46th Guard Bomber Regiment, was described by its former fighters: a pilot Marina Chechneva

THEY TELL US… and a navigator Larisa Litvinova (Rozanova). and a navigator Larisa Litvinova (Rozanova).

They did it in the Books My Fighter girlfriends and Flying Through the Years. They did it in the Books My Fighter girlfriends and Flying Through the Years.

REGIMENTS WAY In this map you can see the way of the regiment which began in Engels and finished on the territory of Germany. In this map you can see the way of the regiment which began in Engels and finished on the territory of Germany.

REGIMENTS WAY It was the way of remarkable victories, a great amount of bitter losses, unprecedented courage and everyday feat. It was the way of remarkable victories, a great amount of bitter losses, unprecedented courage and everyday feat.

REGIMENTS COMMANDER The commander of the regiment was Yevdokiya Bershanskaya. The commander of the regiment was Yevdokiya Bershanskaya.

PILOTS All the girls were volunteers and most of them were about 20 years old. All the girls were volunteers and most of them were about 20 years old.

PILOTS in a FEW MONTHS Some of them had been pilots before the war but many had to learn from the scratch. However, in a few months, the women were taught what it takes most men four years to learn. Some of them had been pilots before the war but many had to learn from the scratch. However, in a few months, the women were taught what it takes most men four years to learn.

FAMOUS Po-2 Many girls flew old PO-2 planes known as kukuruzniks and men pilots often laughed at them. Many girls flew old PO-2 planes known as kukuruzniks and men pilots often laughed at them.

THE SLOWEST but not THE WORST Our planes were the slowest in the air force. They often came back riddled with bullets, but they kept flying, recalled one of the girls. Our planes were the slowest in the air force. They often came back riddled with bullets, but they kept flying, recalled one of the girls.

TOUGH JOB Being a fighter pilot was a tough job. Ground temperatures ranged from 40 degrees above zero in summer and 50 degrees below zero in winter. Some parts of the aircraft were so cold that they ripped the skin off if you touched them. Being a fighter pilot was a tough job. Ground temperatures ranged from 40 degrees above zero in summer and 50 degrees below zero in winter. Some parts of the aircraft were so cold that they ripped the skin off if you touched them.

MINUTES of the REST There were very few minutes of rest, but there were some… There were very few minutes of rest, but there were some…

As the women pilots became more experienced their missions became more complicated. It was the womens regiments that learnt to fly at night with their engines switched off and attack the enemy unexpectedly. As the women pilots became more experienced their missions became more complicated. It was the womens regiments that learnt to fly at night with their engines switched off and attack the enemy unexpectedly.

MARIYA SMIRNOVA In her book My Fighter Girlfriends Marina Chechneva wrote about a legendary pilot Mariya Smirnova. The story is called The Death Retreated 964 Times. In her book My Fighter Girlfriends Marina Chechneva wrote about a legendary pilot Mariya Smirnova. The story is called The Death Retreated 964 Times.

18 MISSIONS DURING A DAY! Mariya Smirnova flew 3,260 missions – that is about two missions for every day of the war! One day in 1944 her squadron, led by 19-year-old Nadya Popova flew 18 missions! Mariya Smirnova flew 3,260 missions – that is about two missions for every day of the war! One day in 1944 her squadron, led by 19-year-old Nadya Popova flew 18 missions!

HIGH AWARDS On August 26, 1944 Mariya Smirnova was awarded the Gold Star Medal and she was given the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union. At the same time such an award was given to her navigator Yevdokiya Pas'ko.

TO BRING VICTORY CLOSER But the girls didnt think of themselves as heroes or as something special. They were just doing what they felt was needed to bring victory closer. But the girls didnt think of themselves as heroes or as something special. They were just doing what they felt was needed to bring victory closer.

YEARS AFTER THE WAR Years after the war, Nadezhda Popova said, At night sometimes I look up into the dark sky, close my eyes and picture myself as a girl at the controls of my bomber and I think, Nadya, how on earth did you do it? Years after the war, Nadezhda Popova said, At night sometimes I look up into the dark sky, close my eyes and picture myself as a girl at the controls of my bomber and I think, Nadya, how on earth did you do it?

REAL COMRADES The women pilots were real comrades. Marina Chechneva recalls, One night we had to fly to one of the stations of the railway Grodno – Belostok. The first was the plane led by Tanya Makarova and Vera Belik. The second was the crew of Lusya Klopkova and Tonya Pavlova. The women pilots were real comrades. Marina Chechneva recalls, One night we had to fly to one of the stations of the railway Grodno – Belostok. The first was the plane led by Tanya Makarova and Vera Belik. The second was the crew of Lusya Klopkova and Tonya Pavlova.

REAL COMRADES The wall of enemy fire met the crew of Makarova – Belik. Without any doubting Klopkova and Pavlova rushed to rescue their commander. One of the wings and a hull had been broken. But the crew kept flying to their target. The mission was carried out.

PAVLIK Pavlova Antonina Vasilyevna (nicknamed in the regimen Pavlik) left the third year of the Saratov electro – mechanical secondary technical school and went to the front as a mechanic of electrical equipment in the 46th Bomber Regiment. Pavlova Antonina Vasilyevna (nicknamed in the regimen Pavlik) left the third year of the Saratov electro – mechanical secondary technical school and went to the front as a mechanic of electrical equipment in the 46th Bomber Regiment.

500 COMBAT MISSIONS Here she became a navigator. She made 500 combat missions. Pavlova took part in fights liberating Novorossiysk, Kerch, Sevastopol, Byelorussia and Poland. Here she became a navigator. She made 500 combat missions. Pavlova took part in fights liberating Novorossiysk, Kerch, Sevastopol, Byelorussia and Poland.

ANTONINA PAVLOVA She was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Patriotic War Order of the second class, the Order of the Red Star and many medals. She was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Patriotic War Order of the second class, the Order of the Red Star and many medals. After the war Antonina Vasilivna Pavlova lived in Tambov and taught technology in School 33. After the war Antonina Vasilivna Pavlova lived in Tambov and taught technology in School 33.

INSTRUCTOR FROM INZHAVINO Antonina Fyedorovna Khudyakova comes from the Orel Region, but when the Great Patriotic War started she lived in Inzhavino and worked as an instructor in the local air club of OSOAVIAKHIM. In autumn 1941 she went to the front. Antonina Fyedorovna Khudyakova comes from the Orel Region, but when the Great Patriotic War started she lived in Inzhavino and worked as an instructor in the local air club of OSOAVIAKHIM. In autumn 1941 she went to the front.

130,000 BOMBS ON ENEMY POSITIONS She was sent to the 46th Bomber Regiment as a pilot. Then she became a vice-commander of the squadron. She was sent to the 46th Bomber Regiment as a pilot. Then she became a vice-commander of the squadron. She made 926 combat missions; her crew dropped 130 thousand bombs on enemy positions. She made 926 combat missions; her crew dropped 130 thousand bombs on enemy positions.

HIGH AWARD Antonina Fyedorovna Khudyakova was awarded the Gold Star Medal and she was given the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union. She met Victory Day in hospital. After the war she lived in the Ukraine. Antonina Fyedorovna Khudyakova was awarded the Gold Star Medal and she was given the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union. She met Victory Day in hospital. After the war she lived in the Ukraine.

A DANCE WITH DEATH However, the death rate for pilots was very high. To fly a combat mission was not a trip under the moon. Every attack, every bombing was a dance with death. However, the death rate for pilots was very high. To fly a combat mission was not a trip under the moon. Every attack, every bombing was a dance with death.

ONLY ONE NIGHT… One of the best pilots and a regiments poetess Natasha Meklin once wrote her verses devoting them to memory of eight girls who perished during the night on August 1, One of the best pilots and a regiments poetess Natasha Meklin once wrote her verses devoting them to memory of eight girls who perished during the night on August 1, 1943.

OLGA SANFIROVA Olga Alexandrovna Sanfirova graduated from the Secondary School of Civil Air Fleet in Tambov. She fought in the 46th Bomber Regiment from its very beginning – from May, 1942.

DECEMBER 15, 1944 She made 630 combat missions and the night on the 15th of December 1944 was the last. When the mission had been already done her plane dot under strong enemy fire and in a few seconds it caught fire. She made 630 combat missions and the night on the 15th of December 1944 was the last. When the mission had been already done her plane dot under strong enemy fire and in a few seconds it caught fire.

A MINE FIELD Sanfirova ordered her navigator to parachute and so did she. But, unfortunately, there was a mine field below. The navigator survived but Olga perished. Sanfirova ordered her navigator to parachute and so did she. But, unfortunately, there was a mine field below. The navigator survived but Olga perished.

A HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION Olga Alexandrovna Sanfirova was buried in the City Garden in Grodno. She was given the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously).

WHITE ROSE OF STALINGRAD The regiments highest scoring ace, Lilya Litvyak, was awarded a Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union and nicknamed the White Rose of Stalingrad for her courage and skills as a fighter pilot. The regiments highest scoring ace, Lilya Litvyak, was awarded a Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union and nicknamed the White Rose of Stalingrad for her courage and skills as a fighter pilot.

She once shot down an experienced Knights Cross German ace (20 kills). She once shot down an experienced Knights Cross German ace (20 kills). When the German pilot realized that he had been hit by what he thought was a schoolgirl, he tore off his decorations and threw them out of the cockpit. When the German pilot realized that he had been hit by what he thought was a schoolgirl, he tore off his decorations and threw them out of the cockpit. LILYA AND THE GERMAN ACE

Lilya was only 21 but he had already shot down 10 enemy planes. She was so short that she couldnt reach the pedals in her plane when she first started flying. Her mechanic, also a woman, had to adjust them to her.

8 ENEMY PLANES AGAINST LILYAS YAK Nobody knows exactly how she died but, according to witnesses, Nobody knows exactly how she died but, according to witnesses, Lilya was last seen being chased by eight (!) enemy aircraft.

AFTER THE WAR After the war the three womens regiments were broken up. Some of the former night witches carried on flying civilian aircraft, while others went back to more ordinary professions. After the war the three womens regiments were broken up. Some of the former night witches carried on flying civilian aircraft, while others went back to more ordinary professions.

Every year there are fewer and fewer of them left to tell their story. Every year there are fewer and fewer of them left to tell their story. People say that without the past, there cant be any future, so it is important to remember and appreciate what those amazing women did for us. People say that without the past, there cant be any future, so it is important to remember and appreciate what those amazing women did for us.