Convincing Stalin
Earlier pleas to let women into air combat were turned down, but Raskova was able to convince Stalin of the benefits of having a greater fighting force, partly due to her influence within the Soviet Union.
"Much of the ensuing success of the Soviet women’s aviation programme was due to the exhaustive efforts of Marina Raskova. She unapologetically used her hero status and personal contacts in high places to attain more and better equipment for her aviators."
- Pennington ('Wings Women and War")