Last of the night witches...

[Zmaj76]

..died this summer....Nadezda Popova 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/world/europe/nadezhda-popova-ww-ii-night-witch-dies-at-91.html

 

and it seams russians did a series covering actions of night witches..its a bit romantized ofcourse....

 

http://www.youtube.com/channel/SWbqzp5PPAE2o

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2013 by Tvrdi

[Bearcat]

Wow... that would make a fantastic film..

[Dutch]

Wow... that would make a fantastic film..

Especially if Michelle Pfeiffer played the lead role....... mmmmmm..........Michellle Pfeiffer.......

[MarcoRossolini]

852 sorties... not half bad...

[Cybermat47]

Rest in Peace.

 

I think I'll make some Nachthexen missions for IL2 DBW in her honour.

[JV44Rall]

Wow... that would make a fantastic film..

I dunno. I read a history of the Night Witches, http://books.google.com/books?id=HBpSGQAACAAJ. As I recall, the routine alternated between brutal/herculean/terrifying (flying 10 to 20 sorties at night in depending on how long the night lasted) and then extremely dull (sleep during the day and get ready for nightfall). 99% of the action was at night, so that's not going to translate on film very well. They'd launch from forward airfields, fly 15-30 minutes in the dark, drop on targets and return to rearm. Warm up, drink some tea, brief the next sortie and launch. Rinse and repeat until sunrise. There wasn't a lot the Wehrmacht could do for defense; lights would give away positions, and night fighters and flak were ineffective against low, slow, dope/cotton/wood/wire biplanes.

 

The numbers speak volumes - 23,000 total sorties and only 30 fatalities.

 

Just my $.02 - although the Night Witch story is incredible and their contribution immense, without a Ben Affleck-ian effort to tart up, mash up and glamorize it, I'm afraid it's kind of repetitive.

[Scarecrow]

No english subs, bummer. I would watch that.

[Corto]

this time no chicks with guns:

 

but chicks with planes.....

 

I would like to see this series.