Mariya Dolina
Encyclopedia
Mariya Ivanivna Dolina 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
.
District, Omsk
Region of Siberia
, Dolina was the eldest daughter of Ukrainian peasants. In 1932, after Mariya's father lost his leg in the Russian Civil War
, the family moved back to Ukraine again. 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 Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolayev, in Ukraine.
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.
Many pioneer
secondary schools where named after her.
Dolina lived in Kiev
, Ukraine
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.
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
Regiment. She was active primarily on the 1st Baltic Front
1st Baltic Front
The First Baltic Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. The commanders of it were Army General Andrey Yeryomenko and succeeded by Army General Bagramyan. It was formed by re-naming the Kalinin Front in October 12, 1943 and took part in several important military...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On August 18, 1945 Dolina was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
.
Biography
Born in the village of Sharovka, PoltavaPoltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
District, Omsk
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
Region of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Dolina was the eldest daughter of Ukrainian peasants. In 1932, after Mariya's father lost his leg in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, the family moved back to Ukraine again. Mariya trained at a flying club of the paramilitary Osoaviakhim and in 1940, graduated from the Kherson
Kherson
Kherson is a city in southern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Kherson Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast. Kherson is an important port on the Black Sea and Dnieper River, and the home of a major ship-building industry...
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 Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolayev, in Ukraine.
In July 1941, she started her military service. She initially flew the Polikarpov Po-2
Polikarpov Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik for maize; thus, 'maize duster' or 'crop duster'), NATO reporting name "Mule"...
, liaising infantry units.
Later became a crew member of a Petlyakov Pe-2
Petlyakov Pe-2
The Petlyakov Pe-2 was a Soviet dive bomber aircraft used during World War II. It was regarded as one of the best ground attack aircraft of the war and it was extremely successful in the roles of heavy fighter, reconnaissance and night fighter...
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
Kuban
Kuban is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe, Volga Delta and the Caucasus...
prior to reaching her target, disabling an engine and causing a fire. Dolina's fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
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
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
, she was deputy commander of bombing aviation regiment. Lived in the city of Šiauliai
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
(now Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
) and then in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(now Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) where she worked in the Latvian Communist Party Central Committee until 1975.
Many pioneer
Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer...
secondary schools where named after her.
Dolina lived in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
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
Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Danylovych Kuchma was the second President of independent Ukraine from 19 July 1994, to 23 January 2005. Kuchma took office after winning the 1994 presidential election against his rival, incumbent Leonid Kravchuk...
and awarded with the title of "Honored Citizen of Kiev" by mayor of Kiev
Mayor of Kiev
Mayor of Kiev is the elected mayor of the municipality of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, who is also normally automatically appointed as Head of the City's State Administration and Chair of the City Council....
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.
External links
- GUARDS MAJOR MARIYA DOLINA by Henry Sakaida, soviet-awards.com (2002)
- Mariya Ivanovna Dolina in the "Country Heroes" portal.
- Dolina's award certificates
Further reading
- Прыжок из пламени. (В небе фронтовом; М., 1971).
- Cottam, Kazimiera Janina. Women in War and Resistance – Selected Biographies of Soviet Women Soldiers. Newburyport MA, Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. 1998. ISBN 1-58510-160-5.