Night Witches: The Amazing Story of Russia's Women Pilots in WWII

Although this book does not claim to be a concise history, it is what it sets out to be. It is a collection of the accounts of the Russian woman pilots themselves. I was drawn to them on a personal level, and I could almost feel what they are feeling. Some of the reviewers here are criticizing it because it is not what one would normally expect from a history book, but those critisms are out of order, in my opinion. If you want a dry, boring history book, look elsewhere. If you want something fun and interesting to read, this book is top notch.

The unusual title of the book may cause you to pass it by but don't. It is a book not to be missed if you are interested in aviation, or WWII, or women's causes, or courage itself. Spielberg could take this book and make a first-class movie from it. The descriptions of events and people are realistic and full of life and not just told in a dry statistical manner. The name of the book comes from what the Germans called the women pilots who bombed their positions at night.

Despite the occasional misinformation, and the journalistic embellishment in novelizing these true historical events, this is still a terrific book which deserves a larger audience. Any high-school student will find it as inspiring and historically-significant as "Anne Frank's Diary" or "Summer of My German Soldier". It's an entertaining read for anyone who would like to get a personal insight of the young Soviet women (many of them idealistic teenagers) who joined the struggle against the invaders of their homeland. And these gallant Russians' story deserves to be remembered! Author Bruce Myles thought so, after accidentally encountering a single reference to the women's air-regiments of the Great Patriotic War. He was so intrigued that he came to Russia to personally interview, through a translator, a number of veterans of those regiments. His admiration and respect for the veterans and their deeds is evident in his writing. Read this book along with K. J. Cottam's more factual biographies and translated memoirs and Anne Noggles' more recent interviews of Soviet women combat-aviators.

Buy it. Buy it now. Hit the little one-click button up to the right there. This is an outstanding book. Written in the words of the women who flew, and in the back photos of each of them today. This is one of the best books I have read in a decade.

This is a literal account of air combat, under the most trying circumstances. People fighting for the existence of their Nation and Culture retell their story. An absolute must read.