Warbird Information Exchange

Here's a poser (and I don't have a definite answer)...

Who might be the earliest female combat pilot or aircrew member?

And can anyone call out notable women aircrew in combat?

N.B. While their contribution is notable, I'm not including the WASP or female ATA ferry pilots of W.W.II under the combat heading.

More recent (post W.W.II era) names and achievements welcome.

Offers?

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

One would presume Russian James?

All the best,

Steve.

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75-Stay Alive, 76-Radio Tricks, 77-Going to Heaven.

G'day James,

There are recorded examples of a number of Russian women who flew combat missions during the First World War. How about Princess Sophie Alexandrovna Dolgorukaya, who had the misfortune of being Russian royalty, which didn't win her any prizes after 1917?! A number of other Russian women are said to have flown reconnaissance and artillery-spotting missions. Names include Princess Eugenie M. Shakovskaya, Helen P. Samsonova, and Nadeshda Degtereva.

The Frenchwoman, Marie Marvingt was said to have flown bombers against German forces around the same time.

It's only a few years before the Soviet women made a name for themselves in the fight against the Nazis, but how about the women who fought with the Republicans in Spain? Mari Pepa Colomer comes to mind.

Do I win a pony? I can visit the Victorian Goldfields to pick it up! My mother and two sisters live in Castlemaine, and they'd be happy to store my pony!

Cheers,
Matt

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Matt Austin - playing with warbirds since the early 80s.

See my Lee-Enfield videos at - http://www.youtube.com/user/Jollygreenslugg

Perhaps not the first women, but early and notable,
The Russian "Night Witches", 588th Night Bomber Regiment flew thousands of sorties in Polikarpov Po-2
biplanes against the Nazis from 1942 till the end of the war. The bomb loaders and mechanics were female also.

Nice 3 minute documentary newsreel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNVuNAh4pu8

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Bill


Website

I don't have the time to look up the ref right now, but Kemal Ataturk's adopted daughter was a military pilot and flew combat (what we'd call counter insurgency now) missions in the early 1930's.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Great stuff guys, several new to me. A particular tip of the hat has to go to the Russians in W.W.II because their women were active in significant numbers in fighters, bombers and the night harassment just mentioned.

We seem to have several candidates for the W.W.I era, but no dates (and I've not found good ones). Any offers on either dates here (or reliable refs), or any pre- Great War?

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Following up on Ataturk's daughter:Sabiha Gökçen was her name, and I think the distinction is as first 'official' female combat pilot in a regular military.


http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/ ... n_1996.asp


Still leaves open slots for 'irregular" military

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.