Quote from Alex bobby on June 7, 2025, 6:49 AM

‘They Were Adrenaline Junkies’: The Remarkable All-Female Flying Team That Helped Defeat the Nazis – With Wooden Planes

World War II produced countless stories of bravery, sacrifice, and resistance — but few are as thrilling and under-appreciated as that of the Night Witches, a fearless squadron of Soviet female pilots who waged a shadow war against Nazi Germany. Flying outdated wooden planes under the cover of night, they carried out bombing missions that were as ingenious as they were terrifying to their enemies. Their story is now being spotlighted in a new episode of the BBC Radio 4 podcast History’s Secret Heroes, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.

The Birth of a Legend

In October 1941, as Nazi forces advanced deeper into Soviet territory, famed Soviet aviator Marina Raskova received permission to form all-female aviation regiments — an unprecedented move at the time. Among the recruits were two young women, Polina Gelman and Galya Dokutovich, best friends and budding aviators who had long been “crazy about flying,” according to historian Lyuba Vinogradova.

“They definitely were adrenaline junkies,” Vinogradova says. “And they were extremely patriotic.”

These recruits were chosen not only for their flying abilities but also for their dedication to the Soviet cause. Under Raskova’s command, they became part of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment — later renamed the 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment — known to the Germans as die Nacht Hexen, or the Night Witches.

Training Under Pressure

Training was brutal and fast. The women were stationed near Engels, along the Volga River, and had to complete what was usually three years of aviation training in just three months. While many aspired to be pilots, most were assigned as navigators due to the limited number of aircraft. Dokutovich initially felt disappointed, but soon came to relish her role: “Now I see how exciting being a navigator is,” she wrote. “When you have done a little flying you walk around in a dream, and just want to get back up in the sky.”

Wooden Planes and Tactical Ingenuity

Perhaps the most extraordinary part of the Night Witches’ story is the aircraft they flew: flimsy, wooden Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. Designed for crop-dusting, these planes were completely unequipped for warfare — lacking guns, radios, and even parachutes. The women carried only the essentials: maps, compasses, and bombs.

Yet, these seemingly primitive planes became their secret weapon. Their quiet engines and low-altitude capability allowed the women to cut their engines before reaching targets, gliding silently through the night to drop their bombs with uncanny precision. The effect was so unnerving to the German troops that they believed they were being haunted — hence the nickname Night Witches.

“They would fly in, drop their bombs, and disappear before anyone even heard them coming,” Vinogradova explains.

Relentless Missions and Grim Losses

The pace was relentless. Aircraft would take off every four minutes, attacking German positions before looping back to refuel and reload. Each crew often flew multiple missions per night — in freezing temperatures, without proper gear, and constantly under fire.

Their courage did not go unnoticed. In 1943, the Night Witches were officially recognised as the Forty-Sixth Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, a title reserved for elite units. However, their success came at a high cost. In July 1943, German forces, having learned from their previous failures, launched a night-time counterattack using fighter planes. Dokutovich and seven others were killed in a single night — the deadliest in the regiment’s history.

Despite the losses, the squadron fought on. When victory in Europe was finally declared in May 1945, the Night Witches were on standby for yet another mission — a testament to their unwavering commitment.

Legacy of the Night Witches

The regiment was disbanded in October 1945, having completed over 30,000 sorties and dropped more than 20,000 tons of bombs. It remained the only all-female combat unit in the Soviet military throughout the war. Many of its members, including Polina Gelman, went on to distinguished careers. Gelman would later teach at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages and named her daughter Galya, in honour of her fallen friend.

Reflecting on their service late in life, Gelman attributed the Night Witches’ success to their passion. “It was their free will,” she told historian Reina Pennington. “And that which is done at the call of the heart is always done better than that which is done out of obligation.”

Conclusion

The Night Witches shattered stereotypes, rewrote the rules of aerial warfare, and proved that courage knows no gender. Flying in wooden planes, under the cloak of darkness, these women defied expectations — not just off their enemies, but of the world. Thanks to renewed attention through media like History’s Secret Heroes, their legacy is finally receiving the recognition it deserves: not just as a footnote in military history, but as a testament to ingenuity, bravery, and the unstoppable force of women who refused to be grounded.