Night Witches

"Night Witches", also known as Nachthexen, were female military aviators for the 588th Night Bomber Regiment of the Soviet Air Force. They flew harassment bombing and precision bombing missions against the German military from 1942 to the end of the war. The regiment flew over 23,000 sorties and is said to have dropped 3,000 tons in bombs. The most highly decorated unit of the Soviet Air-Force, each pilot flew over 1,000 missions by the end of the war and 23 individuals on the crew were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union. 

Commanders: 

Yevdokiya Bershanskaya—Regimental Commander

Yevgeniya Zhigulenko, Hero of the Soviet Union—Flight Commander

Tat'yana Makarova, Hero of the Soviet Union—Flight Commander

Nina Ul'yanenko, Hero of the Soviet Union—Flight Navigator

Notable Members:

• Vera Bjelik
• Rufina Gasheva
• Polina Gelman
• Natalya Meklin
• Nadezhda Popova
• Yevgeniya Rudneva
• Irena Sebrova

                                                   Senior Lieutenant Yevgeniya Redneva.