The Night Witches: Women Bomber Pilots of the 588th Regiment

Among the most remarkable stories of the Second World War is that of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment — an all-female Soviet aviation unit that flew more than 23,000 combat sorties between 1942 and 1945.

Known as the Nachthexen (Night Witches) by the Germans who feared their silent approaches, these young women flew Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes — training aircraft made of plywood and canvas. The planes had no radar, no parachutes, and no guns. The pilots navigated by starlight and idled their engines on approach to drop their bombs in silence.

The regiment was formed in October 1941 by Marina Raskova. By the war's end, 23 members had been awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Thirty-two women were killed in action.