Who were those who put their lives on hold during wartime? Of course, not just men. Whilst some Russian women actively fought in combat during WW2, Churchill and Selwyn Jepson realised women were a weapon of sorts arguing that suspicion wouldn’t immediately fall upon those whose nature it was to nurture. This unleashed a new force—ordinary yet extraordinary, a force capable of espionage, subterfuge and ‘setting Europe ablaze.’ Yes, Churchill’s ‘Angels,’ were far from angelic, often seen pedalling around the countryside on bicycles and quietly going about their business. Women were doing their bit: on land and in the air with the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) and the WAFS (the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron). Towards the end of the war, the ATA finally allowed women to dispatch planes abroad. Dangerous work as they flew unarmed and without radar, but again, they rose to the challenge!

 Another band of brave aviatrixes hailed from Russia.  They were given the name 

Night Witches or Nachthexen due to the whooshing ‘broomstick’ sound their planes made when gliding through the night. Formed by Marina Raskova who was sometimes dubbed the ‘Russian’ Amelia Earhart, Marina had the support and respect of Stalin. Her 588th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment was exclusively female, and most feared by the Germans. But back home things were very different. These women faced derision and discrimination from their male counterparts. They flew unarmed, carried no parachutes, and were given ill-fitting uniforms. Their planes were simple plywood framed biplanes stretched with linen with top speeds of only 60 miles per hour when fully loaded. The lack of solid metal meant they bypassed radar but their wooden construction made them vulnerable to fire.  But bomb they did with great efficiency in the dead of the night. Working in groups of three, they separated many a vulnerable enemy plane, surrounding it before bombing it so that any German pilot