The “Night Witches”: WWII’s Most Terrifying Silent Bombers

Some of the most feared night bombers of World War II weren't made of steel—they were made of canvas and wood.

Meet the "Night Witches," an all-female Soviet regiment that flew the antique Polikarpov Po-2 biplane. These planes were so incredibly slow that their maximum speed was actually lower than the stall speed of advanced German Bf 109 fighters. When German pilots tried to slow down to shoot them, their own planes would violently stall and fall from the sky!

To maximize their bomb payloads, these legendary women stripped their planes of radios, defensive guns, and even parachutes. Their most terrifying tactic? As they approached a German encampment in the dead of night, they would completely cut their engines. Gliding in absolute silence, the only warning the enemy had was the soft whistling of wind through the canvas wings—right before the bombs hit.

Could you fly a wooden plane with no parachute? Let me know below!

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