"After Raskova’s death in a flying accident, the women of the 588th Bomber regiment requested that it be renamed the 125th M. M. Raskova Borisov Guards Bomber Regiment, after her." - Strebe 25 After Marina Raskova's death, the women in her regiment wanted to name their unit after her. This regiment was honored during the war, becoming a “Guards” regiment.
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"The American Committee for Aid to the Soviet Union in the war against Nazi Germany announced that on June 22, 1943, a supply ship would be launched at one of the wharves in California. It would be named "Marina Raskova" in memory of the heroic Russian Air Force pilot." |
“For inspiration we had a portrait of Raskova at our base, and we each carried a picture of her in a pocket on the leg of our flight suits. The pocket has a clear covering over it, so we could see her picture. We all called ourselves, ‘Raskovsi’, belonging to Raskova. She was brave, and so we were brave.” |
"Marina Raskova and her crew crashed and were killed... Her death greatly affected the women of the regiments, She was given a hero's funeral, and her remains were interred in the Kremlin Wall, a place of high honor." |
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In the gallery to the left, pictures of women, along with men, in the combat show women integrated into the war efforts. Because of Raskova and the success of the female aviation regiments, women were viewed more equally in combat and in society.
Propaganda posters showed women’s equality with men and how those who pioneered women's entrance into combat changed the view of Soviet women. The posters show the power and skill of women to the public and to the Germans. They encouraged more women to join the war efforts and further instilled fear into the German soldiers. "According to Soviet conventions of matriarchy, women were still also seen as devoted mothers," but also pictured in combat. “No other country in the world let women fly in combat, but Stalin proclaimed that our women could do everything, could withstand anything! It was a kind of propaganda to show that Soviet women were equal to men and could fulfill any task, to show how mighty and strong we were. Women could not only bring babies into being but could build hydroelectric plants, fly aircraft, and destroy the enemy." - Lieutenant Yevgeniya Gurulyeva-Smirnova |
"Soviet art was known as Soviet Realism and featured images of strong men and women building bridges or farming, to encourage the modernization of the county. This artwork was used as propaganda during the war to stir up a patriotic spirit. Using the women pilots was part of this process, so their images were featured." (Berman)
What changed for women because of Raskova's leadership?
By forming all-female aviation regiments in the Red Air Force, Raskova helped pave the way for women pilots in other countries. Shortly after, the USA followed the Soviets and created an all women aviation regiment: the WASP's (Women Airforce Service Pilots). Also, "in England, women flew light spotter planes looking for German
U-Boats off shore. They would radio the RAF who would then send bombers after
the U-Boats" (Berman).
"Many women learned to fly in Soviet flying clubs. By 1941, there were about 3000 licensed women pilots in the USSR (Mostly from Russia and Ukraine)" (Berman). As for the Russian Air Force today:
"There are around 29,000 women serving the Armed Forces... 3.5 percent serve in command posts; the remainder function in posts such as staff workers, medical and financial specialists, or in the communications troops. There are also approximately 19,000 women serving on contracts as soldiers and sergeants. In 2012, the state decorated 22 female members of the Armed Forces and 4,500 were awarded medals by the defense ministry" (McDermott). |
"Marina was an exemplar of courage, stamina and beauty — a powerful combination. At a banquet in their honour, Stalin said 'Today these three women have avenged the heavy centuries of the oppression of women'— they had excelled in a male-dominated field of activity." |
Raskova and the women air regiments were highly decorated, earning many awards:
- Raskova - the Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Patriotic War First Class, and two Orders of Lenin
- 5 out of 75 women in the Night Witches received the Hero of the Soviet Union
- Collectively, the women earned at least thirty Hero awards
"Speaking as a woman pilot, I want more of our Soviet girls to study aviation and take to the skies." |