The first women heroes of the Soviet Union (PHOTOS)

For their feat, these courageous pilots also became the first women to be awarded the country's highest award – the title of ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’.

The idea of ​​a nonstop flight by an all-female crew came from pilot Valentina Grizodubova, who, at the time, held five world records in light aircraft.

She proposed breaking the distance record held by French pilots – 4,000 km – and using a bomber; a civilian aircraft simply could not have covered such a distance. The plan was supported, especially since, a few months earlier, an all-male crew had already set their own record, covering the 7,850 km distance from Moscow to Spassk-Dalny in Primorsky Krai in 24 hours and 36 minutes.

The ANT-37 ‘Rodina’ aircraft departed Moscow on September 24, 1938. The next day, the ‘Pravda’ newspaper reported on the flight, but no one knew what had happened to the crew. Beyond the Urals, contact with the aircraft was lost, leaving the pilots alone to face the elements – heavy clouds and gusty winds. Tragically, they also lost their maps – they were sucked out through the open astro hatch. So, they were flying virtually blind. Soon, they also began to run out of fuel: Raskova bailed out – remaining in the nose cone was mortally dangerous – while Grizodubova and Osipenko successfully landed the plane in the taiga.

Fifty aircraft and over 100 foot detachments were deployed to search for them, combing the taiga, and, finally, on October 3, the ANT-37 was spotted from the air. The crew was transported to Komsomolsk-on-Amur and then to Khabarovsk. Against all odds, they managed to set a new record: they reached the Far East in 26 hours and 29 minutes, covering 6,450 km (5,910 km as the crow flies)! A month later, on November 2, they were awarded the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’.