Nadezhda Vasilveyna Popova was a squadron commander in the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Regiment during the Second World War who achieved significant domestic publicity after completing 18 bombing sorties in one night with navigator Yekaterina Ryabova. Awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 23 February 1945 for completing 737 sorties, she was featured on the cover of Komsomolskaya Pravda and in many other major Soviet publications during the war.
Nadezhda Popova
Popova with Russian president Medvedev in 2009
The Polikarpov Po-2 served as an all-weather multirole Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik. The reliable, uncomplicated design of the Po-2 made it an ideal trainer aircraft, as well as doubling as a low-cost ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, psychological warfare and liaison aircraft during war, proving to be one of the most versatile light combat types to be built in the Soviet Union. As of 1978 it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other Soviet-era aircraft.
Polikarpov Po-2
A Po-2 at a museum in Dresden, Germany
Damaged and abandoned Po-2 forced to land in Ukraine, and subsequently captured by German troops, 1941.
U-2LNB night attack aircraft of the Polish 2nd Night Bomber Regiment "Kraków" (in Polish Aviation Museum)