Over Fields of Fire: Flying the Sturmovik in Action on the Eastern Front 1942–45

by Anna Timofeeva-Egorova

During the 1930s the Soviet Union launched a major effort to create a modern Air Force. That process required training tens of thousands of pilots. Among those pilots were larger numbers of young women, training shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. A common training program of the day involved studying in 'flying clubs' during leisure hours, first using gliders and then training planes. Following this, the best graduates could enter military schools to become professional combat pilots or flight navigators. The author of this book passed through all of those stages and had become an experienced training pilot when the USSR entered the war. Volunteering for frontline duty, the author flew 130 combat missions piloting the U2 biplane in a liaison squadron. In the initial period of the war, the German Luftwaffe dominated the sky. Daily combat sorties demanded bravery and skill from the pilots of the liaison squadron operating obsolete, unarmed planes. Over the course of a year the author was shot down by German fighters three times but kept flying nevertheless. In late 1942 Anna Egorova became the first female pilot to fly the famous Sturmovik (ground attack) plane that played a major role in the ground battles of the Eastern Front. Earning the respect of her fellow male pilots, the author became not just a mature combat pilot, but a commanding officer. Over the course of two years the author advanced from ordinary pilot to the executive officer of the Squadron, and then was appointed Regimental navigator, in the process flying approximately 270 combat missions over the southern sector of the Eastern Front initially (Taman, the Crimea) before switching to the 1st Belorussian Front, and seeing action over White Russia and Poland. Flying on a mission over Poland in 1944 the author was shot down over a target by German flak. Severely burned, she was taken prisoner. After surviving in a German POW camp for 5 months, she was liberated by Soviet troops. After experiencing numerous humiliations as an 'ex-POW' in 1965 the author finally received a top military award, a long-delayed 'Golden Star' with the honorary title of 'Hero of the Soviet Union'. This is a quite unique story of courage, determination and bravery in the face of tremendous personal adversity. The many obstacles Anna had to cross before she could fly first the Po-2, then the Sturmovik, are recounted in detail, including her tough work helping to build the Moscow Metro before the outbreak of war. Above all, Over Fields of Fire is a very human story - sometimes sad, sometimes angry, filled with hope, at other times with near-despair, abundant in comradeship and professionalism – and never less than a large dose of determination!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Biography, Autobiography, Military Fiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2010

Reviews

[Javier Casado · Rating 2 out of 5]

La biografía de Anna Egorova, piloto de la fuerza aérea rusa durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, una de las pocas mujeres que llegaron a pilotar un Il2 Sturmovik, el "tanque aéreo", el avión de ataque a tierra por excelencia. Decenas de veces condecorada y finalmente reconocida como Héroe de la Unión Soviética.
Vale, ésa es la protagonista, la heroína, el personaje histórico. ¿Y el libro...? Pues... se deja leer, pero la verdad es que no es gran cosa. Quizás, más que nada, porque se queda a medias en todo: no profundiza en las acciones bélicas o en las tácticas, pero es que tampoco profundiza en el lado humano. Ser mujer en el ejército ruso, y especialmente en una unidad de combate de primera línea, no debía ser fácil (aunque no fuera ni mucho menos la única), pero apenas lo deja entrever, no profundiza en ello. En cuanto al lado más emocional, sólo se trasluce en su evidente esfuerzo por intentar nombrar a todos sus camaradas y en dejar una pequeña reseña de todos los que cayeron en combate, pero poco más. Incluso su odiosa situación final, repudiada por el partido tras haber sido tomada prisionera por los alemanes (costándole casi 20 años que se restituyera oficialmente su honor), resulta algo frío.
En fin, en suma un libro que tiene un cierto interés histórico, pero poco más. Sólo para los muy interesados en el tema.

[Denny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating story of a woman who flew through much of World War II as a combat pilot. She flew the Il-2 Sturmovik, essentially the Soviet equivalent of today's A-10 attack plane.

The combat stories are harrowing, and it's very interesting to read about the Soviet system as well. Her perspective as a Communist Party member who fully seems to support and follow the (literal) Party line, and then finds herself ostracized because she dared survive being shot down and was captured as a POW, is as interesting as the combat stories that make up the first two thirds of the book.

It's not the most well-written or translated WW2 restrospective you'll read. She skips around at times, and you'll end up wanting to hear more about some of the people she introduces you to. (Though I wonder if some of that is due to the Soviet system and the times causing people to have more "formal" relationships.) Also, I'd liked to have heard more about her life after the war, outside of her struggle to regain her rights in the Party.

Still, it's a fascinating first-hand account of a part of the war we in America haven't heard much about, and it's interesting to read about the women on the front lines 50 years before American women were allowed into combat.

[Spad53 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book about part of WW2 that you rarely get to read about. We follow her career from flying club in Moscow to mobilization, and her struggle to be allowed to fly, first in combat in a Polikarpov Po-2, and then after a long struggle with the military leadership to fly the Sturmovik in combat. She was eventually shot down and badly wounded. She describes the difficulties of being a woman in the Russian military. And even worse when she came home, from German captivity at Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Instead of being rewarded as the hero she was, she was met by suspicion and humiliation. It took 20 years before she was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
I wouldn't read this today, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but I'm glad I have read it.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant, short autobiography. From childhood to pilot, the author has a good memory for broad and tiny events. Photos, half of which seem to be friends killed in action, sadly, fill the back "pages" of the ebook.

[Jesse Zupanic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a very interesting book by a woman who clearly lived a fascinating life.
Unfortunately, I think it was hurt by what I assume was a poor translation, as some parts felt lost in translation to me.

[Edmund D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic account of life in the air

[Reza Gazali Renville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna is the first female Sturmovik (ground-attack aircraft) pilot. It tells the story of brave, courage WW2 women pilot who contributed to fight the country before she joining Soviet Air Force as voluntary. She had 270 missions flying in the face of the enemy. She survived the obstacles which she drove the plane until she crashed her plane on fire, then subject to fracture and survived from her plane until she was imprisoned by the Germans. She rescued by Soviet troops and regard her as a traitor to her country,even though she had contributed her body and soul to fight for her country. Good for read, each chapter is not so much the long-term reading and the last section of this book there are many photographs included in his album. The book is very interesting title to read and rarely tells the story of a war female pilot but only few of them.

more on her info:
http://redskyblackdeath.wordpress.com...

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is obviously written in English as a second language, but this is a the view of the war against Getmany and the incredible flying of the first female fighter pilot who flew for Russia against the Nazi Regime. Once you get past the language, the information is good.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely interesting although I thought that it got a little too technical at times.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing account of WW II woman Russian combat pilot. The ins and outs of Stalin 's Russia play a background role that she still does not dare emphasize given her personel sacrifices.

[Tracy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring memoir of a heroic Russian woman who served during WWII as a combat pilot with an all-male unit. Those who don't think women have "the right stuff" need to read this book.

[Ken Weinert]

False

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

[Dan Mayhew]

Fascinating look at Russian involvement in WW2 from a Russian perspective. I enjoy the book, but I find it easy to put down and pick up later when I feel the inclination to find a change of pace. I will finish it but I don't know when.