The 588 bomber group of the Red Air Force in WWII consisted of women â commander, pilots, navigators, mechanics â all women. They flew Po 2 biplanes, called âmulesâ and âcrop dustersâ by other pilots. These planes flew slower than the stall speed of the Bf108 and the FW190 fighters, which made them devilishly difficult to shoot down. They flew at night. They would cut engines and glide to their target, drop bombs, then speed off. Since there was silence before the bomb blast, the Germans called them âNight Witchesâ and claimed they flew on broomsticks. 24 of the Night Witches were named Heroes of the Soviet Union.
This book is of the genre of Young Adult Fiction. Its intended audience is teen-age girls. It is about the coming of age of a young Russian woman who becomes a Night Witch. There is little drama or suspense and no sex. The book is ably written and is an enjoyable read. It tells a little about the Night Witches, hardly more than is in the Wikipedia article.
This book is of the genre of Young Adult Fiction. Its intended audience is teen-age girls. It is about the coming of age of a young Russian woman who becomes a Night Witch. There is little drama or suspense and no sex. The book is ably written and is an enjoyable read. It tells a little about the Night Witches, hardly more than is in the Wikipedia article.
