Friday, March 10, 2017

Intrepid Flyers

Thought for the day:  Endurance is the price tag of accomplishment.


Wouldn't it be cool to fly like a bird? To soar and swoop and make some lazy circles in the sky... it's a dreamy thought, isn't it? But not a new one. Man has always been enthralled with the idea of flight.

Today, we're going to talk about some very unusual flyers... the first from the bird kingdom, and the next from the human ranks. One thing these groups have in common is determination. Determination and endurance. (Okay, two things.)

                                                                 First, the bird.

[source:Henri Weimerskirch, CNRS, France]
It practically takes an act of Congress to get some children out of bed at times, but not so for juvenile frigate birds. No sirree, and it's none of that lazy circles in the sky stuff for them, either. It isn't at all unusual for a young frigate bird to take off from his cozy nest and fly non-stop for the next 185 days straight... covering as much as 34,000 miles.

[source: Aurelian Prudor, CNRS, France]



These amazing birds, with their lovely forked tails and wingspans of up to seven and a half feet, (2.3 meters) fly an average of 255 miles per day... and can do it for months on end.

They accomplish this by making brilliant use of the wind currents, and they can ascend to 2000 feet and then drop back down to sea level with only a single flap of their massive wings.
[wikipedia]


Another interesting fact about these birds is, even though they're classified as seabirds... they can't get in the water. Why? Their feathers aren't waterproof. If they were to dive into the water or even land on its surface, they'd get waterlogged, and wouldn't be able to fly again. So if they choose to eat during their long journeys, they have to swoop down and grab small critters from near the water's surface.  According to scientist Henri Weimerskirch, of France's Center for Scientific Research, (CNRS) who tracked 80 of these birds for two years and learned about their remarkable ability to master air currents, "There is no other bird species like them."  (No wonder this male's chest is all puffed out!)


The human flyers were part of a remarkable group, too, and since it's only a couple days after International Women's Day, it's rather fitting that they were also... women.

[credit: Sovfoto/ UIG- 1944]





Meet the Nightwitches, aviators of Russia's all-female 5880th Night Bomber Regiment. These brave women, ages 17 to 26, some of whom had never even seen an airplane before they joined the regiment, played a vital role in World War II, and struck terror in the hearts of their enemies.






[wikipedia]


These women flew in Polikarpov PO-2s, re-purposed biplanes from the 1920s, which were constructed of wood and canvas, and had been used mainly as crop-dusters prior to the war. These planes were slow, obsolete, and contained no radios or radar, so rudimentary navigation hinged on a stop watch and a map.

[[credit: Quality Time]






So what was so terrifying about these women, and how did they get the nickname Nightwitches? That's the English translation of the name bestowed upon them by German soldiers, who called them Nachtexen. (which, um, obviously means the same thing...) See, what these women did as they conducted their night missions was as they approached their targets, they shut off their engines. Then they'd glide down to drop the bombs, so the only sound accompanying their descent was the whoosh of their planes cutting through the air... which sounded like witches' brooms to the soldiers below.

[credit: The Image Works]


After dropping their bombs, the airplane engines then had to be re-started in mid-air, and if that meant a navigator had to climb out onto the wing to give the prop a spin, sobeit.

Because the planes were only capable of carrying two bombs at a time, each night's mission consisted of multiple flights ... as many as eighteen harrowing sorties in a single night. Weight limitations of these planes didn't just dictate the amount of armament they could carry, either. It also meant no parachutes.

At its largest, this battalion contained forty two-person crews, and in total, these gutsy gals carried out 30,000 missions, and dropped 23,000 bombs. At first, Russian male pilots thought these brave young women were a joke, but they soon learned to respect them for their courage, their ability, and their endurance.

[courtesy the Image Works]

Nadia Popova, who was sometimes referred to as Russia's Amelia Earhart, said, In winter, when you'd look out to see your target better, you got frostbite, our feet froze in our boots, but we carried on flying." 

After one mission, her airplane was riddled with forty-two bullet holes, and she was shot down a couple of other times. Still, she persevered and continued to serve as a Nightwitch commander. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 91, and she and her fellow witches will long be remembered as some of Russia's most intrepid flyers.

Determination is doing what needs to be done even when you don't feel like it. [author unknown]

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. [Og Mandino]

Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you. [Denis Waitley]

Endurance is the price tag of achievement. [author unknown]

Each of us, in our own way, has the ability to fly. Maybe not across an ocean like a frigate bird, and maybe not in daring night missions in antiquated airplanes... but we can fly; we can succeed. Those birds don't back down when faced with the daunting task of flying for weeks and months on end; they just do it. Those women, many of whom had never even seen an airplane before, didn't say, "We can't do it;" they just did it. Like them, with determination, we, too, can overcome obstacles, and we, too, can fly. We can achieve, and we can make our dreams come true, so never settle for less. Remember, even the grandest oak tree started out as a little acorn that refused to give up. Surely we nuts can do the same.


                                  Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.

73 comments:

  1. I knew about both of these awe inspiring flyers. And am suitably humbled.

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    1. PS: Love your new header. A grandbaby?

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    2. And I am suitable impressed that you were familiar with both... but not surprised. :)

      No, not a grandbaby. Just a cute freebie shot I found on Morguefile.

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  2. Interesting flyers, the birds and the ladies!

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  3. Hi Susan - yes as EC says delightful header photo ... lovely. I knew about the Frigate Birds ... but not the stats ... incredible animals. The Russian aviators ... I'd never heard of them ... fascinating read - while this turtle/tortoise will stay grounded for every onward ... there might be a foray in a metal machine, but otherwise I shall stay as is. Though I did used to fly in canvas and balsa wood gliders - donkey years ago!! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Yes, those birds are absolutely amazing. I think of birds having to eat frequently because of their high metabolic rates, but those frigate birds manage to make they long flights on little to no food. Remarkable!

      Oooh, very interesting about the balsa and wood gliders. There's gotta be a story or two in that...

      Cheers back atcha!

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  4. I'm very, very impressed by the Nightwitches. The frigate birds are impressive too, I hadn't known much about them apart from the name.
    Your new header is a sweetie. Prettiest butterfly I've ever seen.

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    1. Yeah, those women were something else, weren't they? Talk about bad-asses, and I never heard a peep about them in school

      Isn't that picture adorable? I couldn't resist her when I found her picture on Morguefile.

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  5. We can all fly...I love that sentiment. No permission to take off required...just do it.

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    1. Yep! That "just do it" phrase worked well for Nike; no reason it shouldn't work for us, too. :)

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  6. I was not aware of these intrepid flyers - quite impressive and rather daunting. I'll admit to not being daring at all. "Go ahead, you go first."
    Have a great weekend

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    1. What??? You're not a daredevil, even a teensy bit? Depends on how you look at it. After all, you married an animal-loving dude with a couple of animal-loving sons, didn't you?

      You have a super weekend, too.

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  7. I love, love, love your header photo. Her big smile tells me that, yes, she is ready to fly.

    I appreciate you telling these stories of these amazing, brave women. As you said, we all have the ability to fly, with the hopes of soaring to the great heights. We just have to believe.

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    1. Thanks. I love that picture, too. Her smile is irresistible.

      I'm glad you enjoyed their story. Yep, it might require a little more "boost" to get us into the air these days, but we can still do it!

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  8. Wow, I've never heard of the Nightwitches but what an amazing story! Why is it always women who've made amazing historical contributions that somehow get forgotten???? Grrr.
    Thanks for the inspiration, we can all fly indeed. Have a great weekend, Susan!

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    1. I guess it's like Virginia Woolf said, "For most of history, 'anonymous' was a woman."

      You have a great weekend, too!

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  9. Those Nightwitches were amazing. As are the frigate birds. The cutie in your header photo already knows the secret of flying :)

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    1. Thanks. I'm glad they pushed your "amazing" button, too.

      Yeah, she does look like she knows the secret, doesn't she? I think maybe we all did at that age. :)

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  10. I'd read about the Nightwitches not too long ago, but can't remember where. Brave women!

    I wonder why the the seabirds are considered seabirds when they can't even go in the sea?

    We can and we will succeed, whatever that looks like for us! :)

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    1. The Nightwitches were a heckuva lot braver than I could imagine myself ever being. Then again, maybe we're all capable of amazing things when the situation calls for it. Still... no parachutes? Yipes.

      Good question. Maybe because they spend so much time flying over the ocean.

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  11. Very inspiring! Love it. I just wish the history books had more of these stories, especially when I was growing up. They not only silence every us opportunity they get in our personal lives, but they'd love it if history did the same thing.

    Sorry, didn't mean to get on a soap box. Love the photo's, especially that turtle. Yeah, go for it! I am!!! Great quotes, too!

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    1. The history books leave lots of stories out, and it's a shame. If kids read more stories like this, they might have a greater interest in history.

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  12. I'm reading Code Name Verity about young women who flew for the RAF. The Nightwitches sound like an interesting bunch.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I think they sound like an interesting bunch, too. So's that book you're reading.

      Have a super weekend, kiddo.

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  13. That is true, sometimes we just have to do it and fly we shall. Wow, never knew about either at my sea. That is a long arse time to be in the air. Those birds can see the earth 10 times over if they wanted. The women were brave and amazing indeed.

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    1. A positive attitude and determination have gotten a lot of dreams off the ground. (I'm taking a parachute, though.)

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  14. Of course, his chest is puffed up! :-) Mine would be as well if I could fly that many miles. :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  15. "a navigator had to climb out onto the wing to give the prop a spin"

    Are you kidding me? I've never heard of the Night Witches, but that is unbelievable. And the frigate birds as well. I had no idea a bird could stay up in the air so long.

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    1. What they say is true. Sometimes truth really is more strange than fiction.

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  16. Fascinating tidbits on flyers--both the feathered variety and otherwise. Hope you have a nice weekend!

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    1. Fascinating tidbits are the best kind, especially when they aren't fattening. (I'm rather fond of tidbit-sized pieces of cheesecake...)

      You have a super weekend, too.

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  17. My grand mother Maria was a "flinten woman" ... "gun woman" in WW2 ... until she was captured and raped and sent to some reorientation camp in Siberia and died there age 45 ... she stayed up in the air for only so long until not ... I never got to meet her ... yeppers ... let's hope uncle donald doesn't send any new Marias dat or any other way Love, cat.

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    1. Wow, that's quite a history. Heartbreaking. I hope your parents had pictures of her to share with you and were able to tell you enough about her to make you "feel" like you knew her.

      True dat, dear cat.

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    2. There is no pic of Maria, friend S ... but the night my baby Jenny died way back in 1986, I had a dream ... a lil white being floating towards me and saying: Say good bye to dad for me ... and this very dark image looking over my right shoulder ... saying: Don't worry, she is with me ... both were talking to me per brain waves or eye contact or sumthin ... the lil white figure was Jenny alright ... she appeared to me numerous times for 7 months ... then she left after saying good bye, I have to go now.... Grandma Maria ... never came back to me ... but I will remember her dark thick hair put up like crown on her head ... I told my mumme about that and she cried out: That was HER blessed U for seein her one more time ... Anyway, friend Sue ... I read your book and love everything and all the nuances about every lil nuance ... I guess me could write book about ma life titled: Life is a cow pie ... but suspect I never will ... anyway 'nough said ... Love, cat.

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    3. Wow, that's an amazing story. I'm used to your poetry sometimes making my eyes leak a little, but I didn't expect you to touch my heart with a comment on my blog. Yes, ma'am, you could definitely write a book. I hope you do. :)

      I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed my book. If you're so inclined, I sure would appreciate a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. If not, no biggie. It's enough that you liked it. :)

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  18. We saw frigate birds (on the ground) in the Galapagos Islands. It was amazing how large they could puff out that red throat sac to attract females!!

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    1. How cool! I haven't seen one of them in person, not even in a zoo.

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  19. How come I'd never heard of the Nightwitches? They deserve their stories told!

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    1. I don't know, but I only read about them recently. Theirs is quite the story.

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  20. How incredible were those women... that was very amazing and super scary... someone having to get out on the plane to get the propeller working, now that is dedication xox

    That bird was pretty cool too, flying all that time and distance xox <3

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    1. Having to go out on the plane's wing to spin the propeller must have been terrifying, but not nearly as terrifying as the prospect of what would have happened if she DIDN'T.

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  21. Courageous women - incredible birds -
    The power of the mind has the ability to soar over obstacles and ignite uncharted paths. Inspiration is eternal...

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    1. Yes on both accounts.

      If we're very lucky, our minds stay strong and powerful, even as our bodies age and weaken. My mind is still sharp and ready to soar, but alas, my body is sometimes slow to follow.

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  22. I loved hearing about the undaunted women flyers, and also the frigate bird. Your theme of flying is great, Have you heard the song about "I'm learning to fly" and how landing is hard to learn.

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    1. No, I haven't heard that song, but I kinda think it'd be easier to land than it is to get up there... thanks to gravity. Whatever goes up has to come down sooner or later. :)

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  23. Fabulous !

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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  24. How Incredible, the Nightwitches! I wish some enterprising soul - Spielberg, perhaps - would tell their story via film.

    Your last paragraph rivals any commencement speech I've ever heard!

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    1. Hey, it could happen! It's certainly a story that begs to be told.

      Aw, gee, thanks! I used to enjoy giving speeches. (Yeah, I know, weird!)

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  25. Fascinating! There was a "women in aviation" exhibit at one of the aviation museums we visited and I was amazed at the accomplishments of women back then. I heard a podcast on Amelia Earhart and they said the reason she wore her hair so short is that she was up in the air with the wind blowing and a helmet on and it was just easier and safer! I'd never even thought of that before.

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    1. That's just one of the reasons I love museums so much. We can learn about so many things there that we rarely find in our history books.

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  26. Thank you so much for introducing me to the Nightwitches. I am inspired. I mean, I'm not going to go drop bombs on anyone or anything, but I'm certainly inspired by their fearlessness.

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    1. HA! Hey, I read your book, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were SOME people you wouldn't mind bombing. :) (Maybe not with explosives, but with something, I dunno, brown and smelly, perhaps?)

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  27. Wow, so fascinating, especially those Nightwitches. Their determination is beyond impressive!

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  28. Love these night witches. Amazing blog post Susan.

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  29. Wow, I thought the bird was fascinating (sleeps in midair, I suppose), and then the heroism of the women is insane! Wow! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Actually, from what I've read, it's questionable as to whether the birds sleep at all during their long flights. If they do, they'd be verrrrry brief... like 5 minutes at a time.

      Thanks for reading! :)

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  30. I have seen Frigate birds but did know they stayed aloft so much! Amazing women pilots. When I hear about things like that today I think what wusses we are today. I also wish I still dreamed of flying. I haven't had a flying dream in forever.

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    1. I dunno if we're wusses or not. I'd like to think we're all capable of rising to the challenge if it's required of us. (But I'll let YOU climb out on the wing...)

      Hmmm, it's been a long time since I flew in my dreams, too. (Without a plane, of course. I'd just lift my legs and take off, as if I were on an invisible magic carpet...)

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  31. Yeah, like Theresa, I was wondering how they slept. Check this out - they power nap while flying. What fascinating birds.

    http://www.audubon.org/news/scientists-finally-have-evidence-frigatebirds-sleep-while-flying

    Also, I love these history lessons about people I've never heard of. The Nightwitches (and by extent, Nachtexen - I know German, don't ask) have the most badass name I've ever heard. Very fitting for such a badass group of ladies.

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    1. Very cool! I wish I could get by with taking only ten-second naps. Thanks for the link.

      Yeah, that is a badass name, isn't it?

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  32. It's the difficulty of the circumstances that strengthen their wings past believable endurance. Although I love the story of those women, I just wish they hadn't been delivering death. This sensitive part of me weeps inwardly at the prospective.

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    1. I know what you mean, but those women were part of a response to the horrible ravages of war that had already been inflicted upon their country and people.

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  33. Wow Susan. I am amazed by your creative thoughts. You took me in so many wonderful directions from the first thought of the day, to the beautiful frigate birds, especially the one who can't experience water because of his feathers, and the nightwitches, of whom I now want to research, and then the last bit of inspiration. Thank you. Perfect post. Wow. I hope to expand my own mind on such wonderful blogging topics.

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  34. This is a beautiful post, Susan. I loved learning more about birds, but I love those Nightwitches. Fascinating and inspiring. You look after yourself, too.

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    1. Thanks. I think the nightwitches have captured everyone's imagination. (I guess you could say they've "bewitched" us...) It's too bad we never heard about them in school.

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  35. This was a great post, but I'm going to confess...when I read the title, all I thought of was the University of Dayton Flyers basketball team. They have their opening game in the NCAA tournament tonight and here in Dayton that's all I've been hearing for days.

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    1. That's funny, but I'll confess, too. It's highly unlikely that you will EVER read anything about basketball on my blog. :)

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