Mariya Dolina

Mariya Ivanivna Dolina (, Мария Ивановна Долина Mariya Ivanovna Dolina; December 18, 1922 – March 3, 2010) was a Soviet pilot, deputy and acting squadron commander of the 125th “Marina M. Raskova” Borisov Guards dive bomber Regiment. She was active primarily on the 1st Baltic Front during World War II. On August 18, 1945 Dolina was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Biography
Born in the village of Sharovka, Poltava District, Omsk Region of Siberia, Dolina was the eldest daughter of Ukrainian peasants. In 1934, after Mariya's father lost his leg in the Russian Civil War, the family moved back to Ukraine again. Because of her fathers condition Dolina had to labor for the whole family, consequently she left school and went to work in a plant. (Despites her mother was against it ) Mariya trained at a flying club of the paramilitary Osoaviakhim and in 1940, graduated from the Kherson Flying School. Then entered the Engels Military Flying School. Before the German invasion of 22 June 1941, she worked as an instructor in flying clubs in Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv. In July 1941, she started her military service. She initially flew the Polikarpov Po-2, liaising infantry units. Later became a crew member of a Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine medium range bomber, in the 587° Dive Bomber Regiment.

Dolina, who described herself as being “impulsive and excessively restless”, nevertheless became one of the best pilots of her unit, later re-designated – for its distinguished combat performance - 125th “M.M. Raskova” Borisov Guards Dive Bomber Regiment.

On June 2, 1943, Dolina's aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft artillery over Kuban prior to reaching her target, disabling an engine and causing a fire. Dolina's fighter escort had disappeared while pursuing enemy fighters, yet she continued flying and made the scheduled bomb-drop. On the way back, with no fighter escort, her flight was attacked by six German fighters (2 FW 190 and 4 Bf 109). Dolina's crew claimed one FW 190 and one Bf 109. Altogether, Mariya flew seventy-two missions bombing enemy ammunition depots, strong points, tanks, artillery batteries, rail and water transports, and supporting Soviet ground troops. After the war, Dolina continued to serve in the Soviet Air Force, she was deputy commander of bombing aviation regiment. Lived in the city of Šiauliai (now Lithuania) and then in Riga (now Latvia) where she worked in the Latvian Communist Party Central Committee until 1975. She was married to two (one died in 1977 and she remarried another from her former regiment later on) former Soviet Air Forces mechanics.

Many pioneer secondary schools where named after her.

Dolina lived in Kiev (hence in Ukraine again) from 1983 until her death.

On the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II Dolina was promoted to the rank of major by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and awarded with the title of "Honored Citizen of Kiev" by mayor of Kiev Leonid Kosakivskyi, and a Kievian school was named after her.

Dolina took part in the 2009 celebrations of Victory Day in Kiev.

On March 3, 2010, Dolina died in Kiev at the age of 87.

Honours and awards

 * Hero of the Soviet Union
 * Order of Lenin
 * Two Orders of the Red Banner
 * Order of the Patriotic War 1st class
 * Medal "For Courage"
 * Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus"
 * Medal "For the Defence of Stalingrad"
 * Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"