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ashling

(25,771 posts) Tue Mar 4, 2014, 10:52 PM Mar 2014

A mighty girl -

"The Nazis called them 'Night Witches' because the whooshing noise their plywood and canvas airplanes made reminded the Germans of the sound of a witch’s broomstick. The Russian women who piloted those planes, onetime crop dusters, took it as a compliment. In 30,000 missions over four years, they dumped 23,000 tons of bombs on the German invaders, ultimately helping to chase them back to Berlin. Any German pilot who downed a 'witch' was awarded an Iron Cross.

These young heroines, all volunteers and most in their teens and early 20s, became legends of World War II but are now largely forgotten. Flying only in the dark, they had no parachutes, guns, radios or radar, only maps and compasses. If hit by tracer bullets, their planes would burn like sheets of paper."

So begins a NY Times tribute to one of the most famous "Night Witches," Nadezhda Popova, pictured here. Popova, who flew 852 missions during the war, passed away this past year at the age of 91. To read more about her incredible story, visit http://nyti.ms/JbnOMC

13 replies

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A mighty girl - (Original Post) ashling Mar 2014 OP

I've never even heard if these pilots. cyberswede Mar 2014 #1

whenever I used to hear the old sexist arguments about why women could not be combat pilots, niyad Mar 2014 #12

Oh please cross post this in GD. Autumn Mar 2014 #2

Seconded! cyberswede Mar 2014 #4

This is so fascinating. I'm going to have to find more on these Night Witches Autumn Mar 2014 #5

kandr Kali Mar 2014 #3

WOW! Bookmarking. n/t Triana Mar 2014 #6

The number of missions is astounding! By contrast: Lars39 Mar 2014 #7

On Amazon ashling Mar 2014 #8

Amazing!!! This story needs to be told. 852 missions??!! Lucky Luciano Mar 2014 #9

Plywood and canvas airplanes? Iwillnevergiveup Mar 2014 #10

Thank you n/t jtuck004 Mar 2014 #11

I read a novel about WW2, and one of these pilots was a major character. BobTheSubgenius Mar 2014 #13

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)

1. I've never even heard if these pilots.

Reply to ashling (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2014, 11:02 PM

Mar 2014

Can't wait to read more! Thanks for posting!

niyad

(112,948 posts)

12. whenever I used to hear the old sexist arguments about why women could not be combat pilots,

Reply to cyberswede (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 5, 2014, 12:58 AM

Mar 2014

I reminded them about the nachthexen and our own WASPS (although technically not combat, more sexist bs). most of them had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.