Maguba Syrtlanova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maguba Syrtlanova
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Native name |
Мәгубә Хөсәен кызы Сыртланова
|
| Born | 15 July [O.S. 2 July] 1912 Belebey, Bashkortostan, Russian Empire |
| Died | 1 October 1971 (aged 61) Kazan, USSR |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service/ |
 Soviet Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Senior Lieutenant |
| Unit | 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Maguba Syrtlanova was a very brave pilot from the Soviet Union. She was a senior lieutenant and helped lead a group of pilots known as the "Night Witches" during World War II. This group was officially called the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. Maguba was awarded the highest honor, "Hero of the Soviet Union," in 1946. She earned this award for flying an amazing 780 missions during the war!
Early Life and Dream of Flying
Maguba was born on July 15, 1912, in a place called Belebey, which is in Bashkortostan, Russia. She came from a Tatar family. After finishing high school in 1927, she started studying chemistry in Kazan. However, she had to move to another part of the Soviet Union with her older brother and couldn't finish her studies there.
Maguba worked different jobs, like being a telegraph operator and later at a silk factory. She also trained to become a surveyor, which means she helped map out land. Even though she had these jobs, Maguba really wanted to fly planes.
She tried to join a flight school in 1933 but was asked to leave without a clear reason. But Maguba didn't give up! She found work as an aircraft mechanic in Tbilisi. This job helped her get closer to her dream. Finally, in 1935, she learned to fly at a local flying club. After that, she became a flight instructor herself, teaching many other people how to fly before the war began.
Flying in World War II
When World War II started for the Soviet Union in June 1941, Maguba joined the military. At first, she continued teaching at a military aviation school. But as the war got closer to her area, the school had to close.
In November 1942, Maguba joined the famous 588th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. This group later became known as the "Night Witches" because they flew at night and used old, slow planes that made a soft "whooshing" sound, like a broomstick. Maguba quickly became known as a confident and skilled pilot. Even though she joined the fighting later than some, her many years of flying experience before the war helped her a lot. She was promoted to lead a flight of planes.
In February 1943, her unit was given a special honor and renamed the 46th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment. Maguba received an award called the Order of the Red Banner for completing 104 successful missions. She kept flying more and more missions throughout the war. For example, she flew 100 missions during the battle for the Taman Peninsula and 172 missions during the battle for Crimea. Sometimes, she would fly eight missions in just one night! During one of these missions, she managed to destroy an enemy artillery battery.
By the end of the war, Maguba was a deputy squadron commander. On June 20, 1945, she was nominated for the title "Hero of the Soviet Union." By then, she had flown 780 missions, dropped 104 tons of bombs on enemy areas, and safely guided her plane through heavy enemy fire and bad weather. She had destroyed three artillery batteries, two searchlights, two trains, a fuel warehouse, and four ground vehicles. She officially received the "Hero of the Soviet Union" award on May 15, 1946.
After the War
After the war ended, Maguba stayed in the Air Force for a short time in Poland. In October 1945, she left the military and moved back to Tbilisi. She worked as a manager for a civil air fleet company.
Maguba married Maksim Fyodorovich Babkin, and they had two daughters, Svetlana and Natalya. In 1950, she moved to Kazan and worked at a factory that made parts for aircraft and missiles. Maguba Syrtlanova passed away on October 1, 1971, after being ill for a long time. She was buried in the Tatar cemetery.
Awards
- Hero of the Soviet Union (May 15, 1946)
- Order of Lenin (May 15, 1946)
- Two Orders of the Red Banner (May 28, 1943, and May 22, 1945)
- Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class (October 20, 1943)
- Order of the Red Star (April 26, 1944)
- Other campaign and jubilee medals
See also
In Spanish: Maguba Sirtlanova para niños
