Night Witch. - Soviet Forces | Gallery

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#1

Night Witch.

Captain Maria Smirnova of the famous "Night Witch" harassment bomber squadrons, composed of female fliers. As with several of the "Night Witch" pilots, she is credited with a very large number of missions in her old Polikarpov PO-2 "crop duster" biplane bomber - as many as 950. She is recorded as remarking that the propandistic assertion that the "Night Witches" felt no fear in their missions was untrue. Fear was always there, along with the danger. However, as she said, she and her colleagues faced to possibility of death with courage. In this photo she is wearing two medals of the Order of the Red Banner, and one star of the Order of Alexander Nevsky (Soviet variant). Best regards, JR.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ww2incolor.com/gallery/soviet-forces/55114/night-witch.
#2

Maria Smirnova, Guards major, Hero of the Soviet Union (1944).

She was born on March 31, 1920 in the village of Vorobyovo, Likhoslavl District of Tver Oblast; graduated from the Likhoslavl Pedagogical College and Kalinin Aeronautics Club; worked as a junior school teacher and an aeronautics instructor; joined the Air Force in 1941; completed advanced pilot training at Engels Pilot School.

Maria went into action in May 1942 as pilot, later – air squadron commander. During the war she accomplished 950 combat missions, shelling enemy personnel and combat vehicles. By the order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union as of October 26, 1944 Maria Smirnova, Guards captain was conferred the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union for courage and flawless service.

She lived in Tver until July 10, 2002; buried at the Dmitrov-Cherkassk Cemetery. She was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of Aleksandr Nevsky, three Orders of the Red Banner, and countless medals.

#3