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Nadezhda Popova flew in the Soviet Union's all-women night-bomber regiment during the Second World War. Its crews approached targets in slow biplanes, cutting engine power to glide in quietly. German troops called them the Night Witches.

Historical account — National WWII Museum; Nadezhda Popova interview (2012)

History

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Popova's unit, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, later the 46th Guards, flew Polikarpov Po-2s: plywood-and-canvas biplanes built for training and crop-dusting, not combat. Each could carry only a small bomb load, so crews landed, rearmed and took off again through the night, under darkness and enemy fire; Popova once flew 18 sorties in a single night. She completed 852 in all, was shot down several times and was made a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1945. She died in 2013, aged 91.

Türkçe oku
Nadejda Popova, İkinci Dünya Savaşı'nda Sovyetler Birliği'nin tamamı kadınlardan oluşan gece bombardıman alayında pilot olarak uçtu. Alayın mürettebatı yavaş çift kanatlı uçaklarla hedefe yaklaşırken motoru rölantiye alıp sessizce süzülürdü. Alman askerleri onlara “Gece Cadıları” adını taktı.

Popova'nın birliği 588. Gece Bombardıman Alayı (sonradan 46. Muhafız Alayı), Polikarpov Po-2'lerle uçuyordu: Savaş için değil, eğitim ve tarım ilaçlaması için yapılmış, kontrplak ve bez kaplı çift kanatlı uçaklar. Her biri az bomba taşıyabildiği için mürettebat gece boyunca üsse inip yeniden yükleniyor ve karanlıkta, düşman ateşi altında tekrar havalanıyordu; Popova bir gecede 18 sefer yaptığı olmuştu. Savaş boyunca toplam 852 göreve uçtu, birkaç kez vuruldu ve 1945'te Sovyetler Birliği Kahramanı unvanını aldı. 2013'te, 91 yaşında öldü.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Nadezhda Popova
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