A Thousand Sisters

by Elizabeth Wein

  When the nighttime bombing missions: Klavdiya Ilushina in Noggle, 50.

  The mechanics and armorers felt a fierce: Irina Rakobolskaya in Cottam 1997, 152; Irina Rakobolskaya quoted in Pennington 2001, 80.

  Instead of the usual Soviet routine: Irina Rakobolskaya in Cottam 1997, 153; Markwick & Cardona 2012, 97; Irina Rakobolskaya quoted in Pennington 2001, 80, 82.

  Irina Rakobolskaya, the regiment’s chief of staff, was so proud: Irina Rakobolskaya in Cottam 1997, 154; Pennington 2001, 83.

  In February 1943, the 588th Night Bomber: Merry, 125; Pennington 2001, 83.

  After they became the 46th Guards: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 70; Pennington 2001, 75.

  It wasn’t until February 1943 that Irina: Vinogradova 2015, 251–52.

  “almost carrying them in our hands”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 67.

  the young women got the eight Po-2s: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 211; Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 67.

  “The moment we took off I was almost snoozing away”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 68.

  It was cloudy as well as dark: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 211.

  “Vera, fighters are attacking us; do you see them? . . . Speed, speed, Lorka!”: The dialogue as quoted between Vera Belik and Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova is part of Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova’s story in Cottam 1997, 212.

  “I glanced at the instruments . . . ‘Adjust speed!’”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 212.

  “Larisa, wake up . . . searchights!”: Vera Belik quoted by Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 68.

  At last, only 200 meters: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 212.

  “You shouldn’t have flown tonight”: Vera Belik as quoted by Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  Vera flew the Po-2 back: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  “Between us we had to fly . . . or if I lived or died”: Nina Raspopova in Wasps and Witches, 39:43 ff.

  “afraid of having nightmares . . . searchlights”: Irina Rakobolskaya in Cottam 1997, 156.

  “When we returned . . . four years of the war”: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 32.

  CHAPTER 25: TWO AGAINST FORTY-TWO

  In February 1943 they were assigned to defend: Pennington 2001, 105, 118.

  Sofya Osipova was one of nine . . . “We found nothing all around but ruins”: Sofya Osipova in Cottam 1997, 277.

  “The first machine touched down . . . you had to meet the next plane”: ibid., 277.

  “General Mud and General Cold are helping the Russian side”: Vasily Grossman in Grossman, 223.

  As soon as one pilot returned: Nina Shebalina in Noggle, 203.

  “One machine is airborne . . . always optimistic . . .”: Sofya Osipova in Cottam 1997, 277.

  Later that spring, the regiment was lucky: Pennington 2001, 130.

  almost every single one of its aircraft: Glancey, December 15, 2001; Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263.

  Pilots Tamara Pamyatnykh and Raisa: Tamara Pamyatnykh in Noggle, 160; Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 187.

  The pilots already in the air: Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263; Nina Slovokhotova in Noggle, 179.

  “I see the enemy aircraft!”: Tamara Pamyatnykh quoted by Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263.

  “There are quite a few of them!”: Raisa Surnachevskaya quoted by Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263.

  “Attack!”: Aleksandr Gridnev, quoted in Pennington 2001, 104.

  Then the radio cut out: Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263.

  They reached Kastornaya: Glancey, December 15, 2001.

  surrounded by a mess of smoking bomb craters: Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 187.

  But the only trace of an air battle: Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 263.

  When they’d taken off, Tamara and Raya: Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 187.

  So the two young women in their Yak: Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 264–65.

  “By that time my guns were empty . . . I fell into a spin”: Tamara Pamyatnykh in Noggle, 160.

  With her plane plunging: ibid., 160–61.

  “that we had both been given birth again”: ibid., 161.

  Raya explained that when: Glancey, December 15, 2001; Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 188–89.

  Raya and Tamara’s meeting: Agniya Polyantseva in Cottam 1997, 265; Glancey, December 15, 2001; Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 188, 189.

  Raya’s had forty-three bullet holes in it: Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 189.

  Back in Voronezh at the 586th’s base: Tamara Pamyatnykh in Noggle, 161; Nina Slovokhotova in Noggle, 179; Pennington 2001, 105.

  two weeks later . . . “junior airwomen”: Wilmington Morning News, April 5, 1943, 11.

  The two valiant pilots: Tamara Pamyatnykh in Noggle, 161; Nina Slovokhotova in Noggle, 179; Pennington 2001, 105.

  the bullet holes in Raya’s Yak: Raisa Surnachevskaya in Noggle, 189.

  Sidebar: Radio versus Radar

  Soviet aircraft began to be fitted: Nina Slovokhotova in Noggle, 178.

  CHAPTER 26: A NEW START FOR THE 587TH

  From April until July 1943 they flew: Yekaterina Fedotova in Cottam 1997, 114; Pennington 2001, 99.

  Few men were left: Grossman, 119–20.

  Now Commander Valentin Markov: Valentin Markov in Noggle, 103, 104.

  on May 4, 1943, they were awarded: Pennington 2001, 99.

  The 587th was involved in six: ibid.

  Masha Dolina was at the head: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 71.

  “Why aren’t you saying . . . turn off the radio”: Mariya Dolina quoted by Galina Dzhunkovskaya in Cottam 1997, 119; the same story appears as quoted by Galina Dzhunkovskaya in Markova 1983, 65. Markova is Dzhunkovskaya’s married name, under which she published her own books.

  “a continuous curtain of fire”: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 71.

  The planes bounced and shuddered: ibid., 72.

  But the clouds had now become so thick: Markova 1983, 79; Pennington 2001, 99.

  Suddenly the antiaircraft guns stopped . . . “We were all as if in a ‘fist’”: The story and the quotation attributed to Klavdiya Fomicheva are as told by Galina Dzhunkovskaya in Markova, 1983, 77.

  One of Masha’s engines was hit: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 72; Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  On the other side of the formation: Markova 1983, 80.

  Now Tonya Skoblikova’s Pe-2: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 72.

  Behind their machine guns: Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  As Masha’s burning plane sank lower: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 72; Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  “like a torch”: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 72.

  The moment Zhenya’s formation: Markova 1983, 81.

  Klava Fomicheva and her crew: Yekaterina Migunova in Cottam 1997, 60–61; Markova 1983, 81.

  There was no way the squadron: Markova 1983, 81; Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 120.

  Nobody felt like sleeping: Markova 1983, 82.

  Then, just after daylight broke: Antonina Skoblikova in Cottam 1997, 67.

  When they left the formation: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 72.

  “Keep going, Commander . . . let’s go together!”: Ivan Solenov quoted by Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 73.

  Galya, standing behind Masha: Mariya Dolina in Cottam, 73; Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  Ivan attacked the jammed canopy: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 73; Vinogradova 2015, 277.

  “When he pulled us . . . fire out around us and on us”: Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  “a fountain of fire and smoke”: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 73.

  Masha and her crew were picked up: ibid.

  Lelya Sholokhova and the rest: Yekaterina Migunova in Cottam 1997, 63.

  All nine flight crews survived: Mariya Dolina in Cottam 1997, 71; Yekaterina Migunova in Cottam 1997, 64; Cottam 1998, 141; Mariya Dolin
a in Noggle, 120; Pennington 2001, 99.

  And Ivan got a bonus: Mariya Dolina in Noggle, 121.

  “quick and boisterous . . . grey, cunning eyes”: Yekaterina Fedotova in Cottam 1997, 112.

  “more thanks to the weather”: Antonina Khokhlova-Dubkova in Noggle, 114.

  “I was like a drunken person . . . quick and help us!”: ibid., 114–15.

  “What do you think . . . strawberries in green leaves!”: ibid., 115.

  CHAPTER 27: THE 46TH GUARDS IN TAMAN, 1943

  In March, they moved their fleet: Kaleriya Rylskaya-Tsiss in Cottam 1997, 184.

  Here, there was a strongly fortified line: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 33; Vinogradova 2015, 273.

  The 46th Guards dropped bombs: Pennington 2001, 73.

  Yevdokia “Dusya” Nosal was a calm: Nina Ulyanenko in Cottam 1997, 176–77; Cottam 1998, 73.

  On the night of April 23, 1943, Dusya: Cottam 1998, 74.

  “Dusya! Dusya! . . . pulling her up by her collar”: Irina Kashirina quoted by Nina Ulyanenko in Cottam 1997, 177.

  Irina made it back to the airfield: Nina Ulyanenko in Cottam 1997, 177; Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 226; Polina Gelman in Noggle, 37; Pennington 2001, 84.

  The 46th Guards had to organize: Nina Ulyanenko in Cottam 1997, 177–78.

  Soon afterward, Dusya was posthumously: Nina Ulyanenko in Cottam 1997, 178; Polina Gelman in Noggle, 37; Pennington 2001, 84.

  “To avenge Dusya”: Milanetti, 79.

  “I swear! While our eyes . . . annihilate the fascist invaders.”: The “Guards’ Oath” as quoted in Markwick & Cardona 2012, 99.

  “Fight, girls, fighting friends . . . fire in your breast . . .”: “Hymn of the Regiment” by Zhenya Rudneva, as quoted in Markwick & Cardona 2012, 99.

  CHAPTER 28: THE HEAT OF BATTLE

  It was hard to provide maintenance: Vinogradova 2015, 192.

  Raisa and Mariya both did: Cottam 1998, 150–51; Pennington 2001, 109.

  Because of yet another issue: Cottam 1998, 150; Pennington 2001, 134–35.

  Lilya and Katya hadn’t been: Pennington 2001, 137.

  But the 73rd Guards is where they stayed: Merry, 168; Pennington 2001, 135, 136.

  “we mechanics slept . . . ice on our hair and faces”: Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 196.

  Lilya soared from height to height: Cottam 1998, 152; Merry, 168; Von Hardesty & Grinberg, 149.

  She performed forbidden aerial stunts: Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 198; Pennington 2001, 137.

  She colored strips of parachute silk: Krylova 2010, 275; Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 196.

  When men were assigned: Pennington 2001, 136.

  On March 22, 1943, Lilya was involved: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 303, 304; Pennington 2001, 137.

  Lilya’s heroic fight and her battle: Pennington 2001, 61; Vinogradova 2015, 257–58.

  Lilya had to stay on the ground: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 309; Pennington 2001, 137; Vinogradova 2015, 259.

  Back in Voronezh, Aleksandr Gridnev: Pennington 2001, 119.

  The Luftwaffe pilots figured out: Mariya Kuznetsova in Noggle, 168.

  “She will be arrested . . . violation of flight regulations”: Alexander Osipenko quoted by Aleksandr Gridnev in Pennington 2001, 120.

  As punishment for that, she was grounded: Olga Yamshchikova in Cottam, 326; Pennington 2001, 120–21.

  Two of the men Lilya Litvyak flew with: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 308.

  In a letter to her mother . . . her “best friend”: Pennington 2001, 138–39.

  In May, she made a triumphant flight: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 310; Pennington 2001, 139–40.

  Lilya’s way of grieving seems: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 311; Cottam 1998, 152; Pennington 2001, 140.

  “I am completely absorbed . . . anything but the fighting”: A letter from Lilya Litvyak to her mother quoted by Inna Vladimirovna Pasportnikova in Pennington 2001, 141, from a typescript in Pennington’s collection headed “Moi Komandir,” 1989. See note 72 in Pennington 2001, 257.

  “I long . . . for a happy . . . Your Lily”: A letter from Lilya Litvyak to her mother quoted by S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 311.

  On August 1, 1943, Lilya Litvyak flew: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 311; Cottam 1998, 152; Pennington 2001, 141.

  On her fourth flight of the day: Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 198.

  The fighter planes started firing: S. Gribanov in Cottam 1997, 311.

  Lilya’s Yak was hit by enemy fire: Merry, 169; Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 196, 198.

  “shining image . . . struggle and victory!”: Leaflet produced by the Political Administration of the Southern Front, quoted in Cottam 1998, 153.

  Double ace Lilya Litvyak: Cottam 1998, 152; Pennington 2001, 142.

  But Lilya and her aircraft had vanished: Inna Pasportnikova in Noggle, 199; Pennington 2001, 141.

  On September 16, 1943, a document: Cottam 1998, 153.

  CHAPTER 29: “OUR PLANES WERE BURNING LIKE CANDLES”

  By the summer of 1943: Hook, 117, 123–24.

  One by one, each aircrew dropped their bombs: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 31.

  On the night of July 31, 1943, the fifteen: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213, 214; Vinogradova 2015, 300.

  Squadron commander Mariya: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 34.

  Zhenya Krutova flew with her navigator: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  Behind Anya and Galya: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 34; Vinogradova 2015, 300.

  As a pilot, Anya was one of several: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  a new navigator who’d started the war: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  Behind Larisa and Nadya came: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 215.

  As usual, the target was only: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  Then, unexpectedly, the antiaircraft guns: Serafima Amosova-Taranenko in Noggle, 46.

  Mariya Smirnova, the squadron commander: Mariya Smirnova in Cottam 1997, 33.

  Sure enough, from the dark sky came: Vinogradova 2015, 301.

  “We had not been attacked . . . fighter planes”: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 33.

  Mariya was a hardened combat pilot: ibid.

  Behind her, flying far back: Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 229; Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  Larisa and Nadya were over the Kuban: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  Then Larisa saw a white spot caught: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  Natasha and Lida also saw: Vinogradova 2015, 301.

  The white spot suddenly became: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova; in Cottam 1997, 213; Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  Zhenya Krutova and Lena Salikova were in: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam, 213.

  “My arms and legs shook . . . before my eyes”: Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 229.

  “A bitter tickling . . . made of cotton-wool”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 65.

  “A fighter firing!”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 213.

  “I was so frightened . . . target in two minutes”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 66.

  “If only we had a machine gun . . . load my pistol?”: Nadezhda Studilina quoted by Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 214.

  “Load it. But you’re not likely to use it”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 214.

  The German guns on the ground: Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 229.

  When the third plane began to blaze: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 214.

  “We realized that our friends were dying”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 66.

  “I thought we would split into pieces”: ibid.

  “They caught another air crew!”: Nadezhda Studilina quoted by Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 214.

  Larisa glanced back over her shoulder: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 215; Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 66.
/>
  “Our planes were burning like candles”: Serafima Amosova-Taranenko in Noggle, 46.

  “The tracer bullets . . . scattered in the air”: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 34.

  “The entire lower and upper . . . by the shot-holes”: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Cottam 1997, 215.

  But Larisa had managed to avoid: ibid.

  Four pilots and four navigators of the 46th Guards: Milanetti, 86, 89; Vinogradova 2015, 302.

  The events of July 31, 1943, were: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 67; Pennington 2001, 85.

  Zhenya Rudneva was utterly heartbroken: Vinogradova 2015, 301.

  “I kept running up . . . emptiness in my heart!”: Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 229.

  “It was impossible not to cry”: Serafima Amosova-Taranenko in Noggle, 46.

  Even so, the next night: Mariya Smirnova in Noggle, 34.

  Soviet fighter pilots cleared the sky: Larisa Rozanova-Litvinova in Noggle, 67; Pennington 2001, 85.

  The Luftwaffe night fighter pilot: Milanetti, 89.

  “Now that Galya is no more . . . I simply can’t part”: Zhenya Rudneva in Cottam 1997, 230–31.

  I’ll rest and get better after the war: Galina Dokutovich diary entry of December 20, 1942, quoted by Polina Gelman in Cottam 1997, 164.

  “If no enemy bullet kills me . . . wonderful like our Galya”: Polina Gelman quoted in Vinogradova 2015, 303. The quotation is from a letter written by Polina Gelman and published as part of The Heart and the Wings by Galina Dokutovich, translated from the Belorussian by Veronika Gorbyleva and Olga Vashkova; see Vinogradova 2015, 330, note 497, and 331 under “Dokutovich.”

  Sidebar: Night Bombing without Parachutes

  “a single incendiary bullet could turn it into a flaming torch”: Irina Rakobolskaya in Cottam 1997, 151.

  Ordinary people called the Po-2 a “kerosinka”: Beevor & Vinogradova in Grossman 2006, 133.

  For most of the war: Pennington 2001, 75.

  “Our pilots thought the plane . . . captured by the Germans”: Irina Rakobolskaya in Noggle, 27.

  In the summer of 1944, at last: Noggle, 19.

  But the change saved only one: Pennington 2001, 87.

  CHAPTER 30: NIGHT WITCHES

  One of her original ideas: Pennington 2001, 75.

  “Let’s fly in two-plane elements . . . antiaircraft weapons”: Yevdokia Bershanskaya quoted by Marina Chechneva in Cottam 1997, 167.