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This new decal sheet from Balkan Models includes markings for 4 different 1/72 Jak-1. Soviet women bore their share of the burden in World War II (locally known as the Great Patriotic War). 800,000 women served in the Soviet Armed Forces during the war. Nearly 200,000 were decorated and 89 eventually received the Soviet Union’s highest award, the Hero of the Soviet Union. They served as pilot, snipers, machine gunners, tank crew members and partisans, as well as in auxiliary roles.
For Soviet women aviators, instrumental to this change was Marina
Raskova, a famous Russian aviator, often referred to as the ‘Russian Amelia
Earhart’. When World War II broke out, there were numerous women who had training as pilots and many immediately volunteered. Raskova is credited with using her personal connections with Joseph Stalin to convince the military to form three combat regiments for women. These regiments flew a combined total of more than 30,000 combat sorties, produced at least thirty Heroes of the Soviet Union, and included at least two fighter aces. The 4 aircraft include:
You can buy this decal sheet directly from Balkan Models. Steve Bamford
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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford