Russia's three all-female air regiments flew more than 30,000 missions along the Eastern Front in WWII.
At home they were known as Stalin's Falcons, but terrified German troops called them the Night Witches.

Here - with the help of archive images - Radio 4's Lucy Ash tells their story, and discovers that their extraordinary exploits have inspired others decades later.

Javascript and Flash plug-in required

Either the Flash plugin was not detected on your computer or the JavaScript features of your brower have been disabled.

To enable Javascript on your browser we recommend that you contact your computer support line.

Click here to download the Flash plugin from the Macromedia website

Images courtesy RIA Novosti, Getty Images, Anna Yegorova, Garth Ennis and Russ Braun.

Night Witches will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 2002 on Monday 2 November 2009.
It will then be available for seven days on the BBC iPlayer.

Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 2 November 2009.

More audio slideshows

Soldier artist

Ethiopia's water traps

Selling the suburbs

Bookmark with:

What are these?

FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS

Paralysed state

Ahmed Rashid on conspiracy theories sweeping Pakistan

In pictures

Rare creatures found in the depths of the ocean

men drinking sorghum beer bought from women sellers at Kauda market

The next Darfur?

Region which could become new Sudan front line

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Explore the BBC

Home

BBC links A to F

BBC links H to L

BBC links M to Sc

BBC links Sp to W

A whole lot more

To top

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.

Related BBC sites

Audio slideshow: Night witches