Imagine flying bombing runs over Germany in World War 2. You are in an incredibly obsolete plane made of plywood and canvas. You have no radio, no navigation instruments, no parachute, and it’s night time. To increase your chances of success you cut your engines off as you approach your target so you can quietly glide in and drop your bombs. The canvas ripples on the airframe creating a whooshing sound that the Germans hear and liken to the sound of a witches broom thus giving you their nickname: The Night Witches. Now imagine doing this 852 times and you approach the experience of Nadia Popova.
I’d never heard of her before I saw her obituary this past week and that’s a real shame. When Germany attacked her homeland she dropped the dress she was ironing and ran to the airfield near her house to volunteer. Where other countries relegated women to supporting roles, the Soviet Union allowed them to fight on the front line. And fight they did! Nadia flew 18 missions in one night alone! At the end of the war she received the Soviet Unions highest awards for heroism.
It makes me wonder how we can know what type of people we are without having the stress to put everything on the line. I love her quote where she asks “Nadia, how could you do it?” And she answers herself “you had to so you did”. What a remarkable person1
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-07-13/world/40551136_1_three-women-pilots-aviator
Thanks for sharing
It is a shame to see that generation just disappearing. Amazing person.
Capt
The World War 2 generation is my Grandparents so I always have trouble picturing them as being young and vibrant. That’s why I especially like “The Economist” article I posted in my OP. Nadia was just a young girl with a wild spirit. I love that she rebelled by signing up to learn how to fly. But back then flying was truly death defying - I can imagine just how terrified her parents were when they found out she was flying. I can imagine how proud they were and worried at the same time as she avenged her brothers death. And I can picture her with her fist in the air cheering along with her comrades as she dropped the supplies on the trapped marines. And despite being a war toughened pilot, she never forgot that she was a young girl.
I admit that I have trouble putting my finger on heroism. The experiences they had are ones I would never want to share. And yet, reading about them I admit that I feel like there’s something they’ve experienced that refines them and strengthens their character and makes me feel like I should take more risks and stop leading such a safe life.
As long as you remember that for every war hero there are piles and piles of corpses. Quite a few medals are given posthumously.
True, and PTSD. I think the days of thinking of war as a glorious adventure are passed. Still, comfort I think is a warm blanket that suffocates our spirits. I know I’m waxing philosophical, but everything I have that I’m proud of came from some degree of hardship and that’s no where near what these girls experienced. I fear I wouldn’t fare as well.
I strongly recommend Bruce Myles’ Night Witches, a very well written history of the USSR’s female combat regiments. Much of the story is Popova’s, who provided extensive interviews - Myles didn’t have to do much writing to make her reminiscences fascinating.
The book ends with Popova saying “Sometimes I step outside at night, look up into the sky, and ask myself ‘Nadia, how did you *do *it?’”