Night Witches: Untold Story of Soviet Women in Combat

In 1941 as the Nazi hordes swept eastward into the Soviet Union, the desperate call went out for women to join the Russian air force. Women responded and flew incessant bombing runs; the Germans, who came to dread them, called them 'night witches'.

In Russia women were given their chance at the controls of fighters, bombers and dive bombers. What they acheived in the face of the Luftwaffe and the scepticism from their male colleagues led to the award of elite 'Guards' status to one Regiment while the Soviet equivalent of the Victoria Cross was awarded to 34 female aircrew.

Bruce Myles
Paperback 1990