Maria Smirnova file photo [26608]

Maria Smirnova

SurnameSmirnova
Given NameMaria
Born31 Mar 1920
Died10 Jul 2002
CountryRussia
CategoryMilitary-Air
GenderFemale

Contributor:

ww2dbaseMaria Vasilyevna Smirnova was born in 1920. During WW2, she flew 950 sorties in Po-2 biplanes as a member of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment of the Soviet Air Force. She made a Hero of the Soviet Union. She joined the Communist Party in 1943. In a later interview, she recalled the strain placed upon her body and mind from flying night time combat missions:

When we returned from missions at dawn, I couldn't fall asleep. I tossed in bed and had anxiety attacks. Fear was always an inseparable part of our flights, but we knew we had to go through with it for we were saving our motherland.

ww2dbaseSmirnova passed away in 2002.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Mar 2017

Photographs

Officers of 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, 325th Night Bomber Division, Soviet 4th Air Army Yevdokia Bershanskaya (left), Maria Smirnova (standing), and Polina Gelman, 1944

Maria Smirnova Timeline

31 Mar 1920 Maria Smirnova was born in Vorobievo, Tver Oblast, Russia.
15 Oct 1945 Maria Smirnova retired from the Soviet Air Force.
10 Jul 2002 Maria Smirnova passed away in Tver, Russia.




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Event(s) Participated:
» Vistula-Oder Offensive

Maria Smirnova Photo Gallery
Officers of 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, 325th Night Bomber Division, Soviet 4th Air Army Yevdokia Bershanskaya (left), Maria Smirnova (standing), and Polina Gelman, 1944


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