Irina Sebrova was a lieutenant and pilot for the Soviet Air Forces who served in the all-female Night Witches during the Second World War. Sebrova was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 23 February 1945 for her first 825 bombing missions. Sebrova was born on 25 December 1914 to an impoverished family in Tetyakovka after completing only five grades of school in 1927 she went to trade school, and then became a locksmith and a factory worker while taking nursing courses. She then entered an aeroclub and went on to become a flight instructor. At the age of 23, she was already an experienced flight instructor at the Frunze flight club in Moscow. In 1938, she was a lieutenant and pilot for the Soviet Air Forces who served in the all-female n 25 December 1914 to an impoverished family, after completing only five grades of school in 1927 she went to trade school, and then became a locksmith and a factory worker while taking nursing courses. She then entered an aeroclub and went on to become a flight instructor. At the age of 23, she was already an experienced flight instructor at the Frunze flight club in Moscow. In 1938, she graduated from the Moscow Aeroclub, and in 1940 she began training in military aviation. was a lieutenant and pilot for the Soviet Air Forces who served in the all-female Night Witches during the Second World War. Sebrova was awarded the title Hero of Soviet Union, to a working-class family, Sebrova moved to Moscow and graduated with a degree in milling from Moscow University, after which she worked in a factory. At the age of 23, she was already an experienced flight instructor at the Frunze flight club in Moscow. In 1938, she graduated from the Moscow Aeroclub, and in 1940 she began training in military aviation. Joining the Red Army in October 1941, she completed her military aviation studies and was assigned to the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, also known as the Night Witches, in 1942. Sebrova took part in 1008 bombing sorties against the Axis. Sebrova joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1943.On February 23, 1945, by decree of the Presidium, Sebrova was awarded the Hero of Soviet Union with a Gold Star and the Order of Lenin. Sebrova retired from the Air Force in 1948, joining the Moscow Aviation Institute. She died in 2000 and is buried in Rakitin Cemetery. Soviet women played a major role in World War II on the Eastern Front. While most women worked in the industry, agriculture, transport, and other civilian roles. They often had to work double shifts so they could free up enlisted men to fight and increase military production. A large number of women also served in the army, the majority of those were in medical units as nurses, 800,000 women served in the Soviet Armed Forces during the great patriotic war, as it is called in the Soviet Union. Of those, almost 200,000 were decorated, and 89 eventually received the Hero of the Soviet Union, Soviet Union’s highest award. Some served as snipers, pilots, machine gunners, tank crew members and partisans, as well as in all other auxiliary roles. So let’s take a look at some of the Female Soviet Fighters! Sebrova retired from the Air Force in 1948, joining the Moscow Aviation Institute. She died on 5 April 2000 and was buried in the Rakitin Cemetery. AWARDS Hero of the Soviet Union (23 February 1945) Order of Lenin (23 February 1945) Three Orders of the Red Banner (19 October 1942, 26 April 1944, and 15 June 1945) Order of the Patriotic War 1st and 2nd class: (11 March 1985 and 27 April 1943) Order of the Red Star (8 October 1943)

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