02-04-2008, 12:42 AM
In “A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in World War II” by Anne Noggle, the following is stated:
In 1941 the first women’s air unit was created, the 122nd Composite Air Group. It was split up into three air regiments in 1942. “The women’s instruction, equipment, and ultimate assingment were identical to those of their male counterparts. There is nothing in the designation of the regiments that were later formed out of the 122nd – the 586th Fighter Regiment, the 587th Bomber Regiment, and the 588th Air Regiment – to indicate these were female units.” pp. 7-8
“The 586th Fighter Regiment (Air Defense) was the first of the three regiments to become operational in April, 1942. … The original commander of the regiment, Major Tamara Kazarinova, an experienced military pilot, was recalled very early on in the war because of failing health. Her replacement was a male pilot, Lieutenant-Colonel A.V. Gridnev, who commanded the regiment until the end of the war.” p. 157
“The 587th Bomber Regiment was honored during the war by being designated a “Guards” regiment and officially became the 125th M.M. Raskova Guards Bomber Regiment. … The first commander of the regiment was Major Marina Raskova. When she was killed Lieutenant-Colonel V.V. M a r k o v, a male commander with extensive combat experience, was assigned to the regimant.” P. 99
“The 588th Air Regiment was activated in the summer of 1942 and was honored in 1943 by being designated a “Guards” regiment, henceforth known officially as the 46th Taman Guards Bomber Regiment. … Major Yevdokiya Bershanskaya, a civilian pilot before the war, was the regimental commander. She was the only woman to remain in command of a women’s regiment throughout the war.” p. 18
From the book it appears that there was indeed a “glass ceiling” where no woman was promoted above the rank of major, at least in the air units. (Unfortunately there is no index in the book (!), but having read it I don’t recall any mention of a higher ranking woman flier.)
In 1941 the first women’s air unit was created, the 122nd Composite Air Group. It was split up into three air regiments in 1942. “The women’s instruction, equipment, and ultimate assingment were identical to those of their male counterparts. There is nothing in the designation of the regiments that were later formed out of the 122nd – the 586th Fighter Regiment, the 587th Bomber Regiment, and the 588th Air Regiment – to indicate these were female units.” pp. 7-8
“The 586th Fighter Regiment (Air Defense) was the first of the three regiments to become operational in April, 1942. … The original commander of the regiment, Major Tamara Kazarinova, an experienced military pilot, was recalled very early on in the war because of failing health. Her replacement was a male pilot, Lieutenant-Colonel A.V. Gridnev, who commanded the regiment until the end of the war.” p. 157
“The 587th Bomber Regiment was honored during the war by being designated a “Guards” regiment and officially became the 125th M.M. Raskova Guards Bomber Regiment. … The first commander of the regiment was Major Marina Raskova. When she was killed Lieutenant-Colonel V.V. M a r k o v, a male commander with extensive combat experience, was assigned to the regimant.” P. 99
“The 588th Air Regiment was activated in the summer of 1942 and was honored in 1943 by being designated a “Guards” regiment, henceforth known officially as the 46th Taman Guards Bomber Regiment. … Major Yevdokiya Bershanskaya, a civilian pilot before the war, was the regimental commander. She was the only woman to remain in command of a women’s regiment throughout the war.” p. 18
From the book it appears that there was indeed a “glass ceiling” where no woman was promoted above the rank of major, at least in the air units. (Unfortunately there is no index in the book (!), but having read it I don’t recall any mention of a higher ranking woman flier.)
Steiner: "Why do you want it so badly? It's just a worthless piece of metal. Look."
