A Thousand Sisters: The Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II

The gripping true story of the airwomen of the Soviet Union—the only women who flew in combat in World War II—from the award-winning author of Code Name Verity.

In 1941, at the start of World War II, the Soviet Union issued an order that made it the first country in the world to allow female pilots to fly in combat. Led by Marina Raskova, these three regiments—including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, nicknamed the “night witches”—faced intense pressure and obstacles both in the sky and on the ground. Some of the young women perished in flames. Many of them were in their teens when they went to war.

This is the story of Marina Raskova’s three regiments, whose members enlisted and were deployed on the front lines of battle as navigators, pilots, and mechanics. This is the story of a thousand young women who wanted to take flight to defend their country, and the woman who brought them together in the sky.

Packed with black-and-white photographs, fascinating sidebars, and thoroughly researched details, A Thousand Sisters is the inspiring true story of a thousand women who set out to change the world, and of the sisterhood they formed even amid the destruction of war—from Elizabeth Wein, acclaimed author of Code Name Verity.

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