The Terrifying Night Witches of WWII

During WWII, Soviet female pilots became known as Night Witches for their daring nocturnal bombing raids. They flew obsolete wooden biplanes that were so quiet they could glide over targets undetected.

These brave women flew dangerously low to avoid radar detection, cutting their engines to glide silently before dropping bombs. The only warning enemy soldiers heard was a soft whistling sound as the planes approached. Because their aircraft were made of plywood and canvas, they were highly flammable and carried no parachutes. Their reputation for precision was so fearsome that Germans offered an Iron Cross to any pilot who shot one down.