A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in World War II

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The world’s first women combat pilots were members of the Soviet Army Air Force, flying fighters and bomber aircraft opposite the Luftwaffe. 30 women flyers received Hero of the Soviet Union awards, one of that nation’s highest honours. During three visits to Moscow during and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Noggle interviewed more than 70 of these veteran pilots. Freed by
glasnost
to speak openly of their experiences, they told of flying flimsy aircraft and watching many of their friends - as well as foes - fall to earth in flames. But equally courageous were the women’s efforts to show the Red Army that they were adequate to the great role they sought. The women had to grapple with distrust from male pilots and officers, against whom they eventually prevailed. War, Stalin-era politics and human emotion mix in these first-person accounts.