The Night Witches where a group of all female bomber pilots. They ranged in age from late teens to early twenties. This group made the Soviet Union the first nation to allow women to fly combat missions for the war efforts. The name “Night Witches” is a nickname that was given to them by the Nazi soldiers. This nickname was due to the fact that when they went near their target they would cut off their plane engines, the only sound heard was the “swooshing” of the planes; similar to that of a witches broom.
Many techniques where used by the “witches” in order to give them an advantage in combat. Do to the fact that these soldiers where only given planes normally used for training or even crop dusting, they could not reach a very quick speed. The Night Witches however, managed to use this to their advantage. The Nazis had planes that where much more advanced. So advanced in fact, that they where to quick to keep up with the Night Witches, making them very difficult to shoot down. One of their most popular techniques was for the soldiers to fly as close to their target as possible before cutting off their engines and gliding in before dropping their bombs.
Aside from the fact that these women where in combat, there where many other dangers that plagued the “Witches”. One …show more content…
At the time, women where expected to support their husbands and sons, but few actually participated in combat. In 1941 a man by the name of Joseph Stalin backed Raskova and ordered her to form three all female fighter pilot groups. The only group that stayed all female as the war went on was the 588th Night bombers, more commonly known as the Night Witches. Each person involved in that group was female. Weather that be the pilots, or even the mechanics. Many women where more than willing to join their ranks hoping to help serve an contribute to their country in any way
Many techniques where used by the “witches” in order to give them an advantage in combat. Do to the fact that these soldiers where only given planes normally used for training or even crop dusting, they could not reach a very quick speed. The Night Witches however, managed to use this to their advantage. The Nazis had planes that where much more advanced. So advanced in fact, that they where to quick to keep up with the Night Witches, making them very difficult to shoot down. One of their most popular techniques was for the soldiers to fly as close to their target as possible before cutting off their engines and gliding in before dropping their bombs.
Aside from the fact that these women where in combat, there where many other dangers that plagued the “Witches”. One …show more content…
At the time, women where expected to support their husbands and sons, but few actually participated in combat. In 1941 a man by the name of Joseph Stalin backed Raskova and ordered her to form three all female fighter pilot groups. The only group that stayed all female as the war went on was the 588th Night bombers, more commonly known as the Night Witches. Each person involved in that group was female. Weather that be the pilots, or even the mechanics. Many women where more than willing to join their ranks hoping to help serve an contribute to their country in any way