Who was the woman pilot in the Russian Imperial Air Force

28 October 2006, 09:12 PM

Hi, I remember reading somewhere of a Russian princess who actually volunteered for duty in WW1 as a pilot in the Russian Imperial Air Force.
Could someone give me her details.
Also who was the first Russian Aviatrix.

Thanks

David

Doc · 29 October 2006, 12:28 AM

David, you will get lots of controversy with this question. Russian aviation expert AG Blume, who hangs out here sometimes, does not believe that any of the Russian ladies actually flew in combat. However, I have some contemporary reports which say they did--- I do not know the truth. AG says that the story was started by Meos in his 1979 article, but as I said, I have contemporary reports far preceding Meos which I have not yet been able to discount. That said...

First Russian woman pilot was Lydia V. Zvereva, who got her license (#31) at Gatchina on 10 August 1911.

Various references give credit to flying in the Imperial Russian Air Force to various women. The one you are probably thinking of is Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya, the second Russian lady pilot, who got her license at Johannisthal on 16 August 1911 (German # 247). Others mentioned in this context include Lyubov Golanchikova (also known as Molly Moore), Helen P. Samsonova, and Princess Sophie A Dolgorukaya. Nadesha Degtereva is frequently mentioned as having been the first woman pilot wounded in combat. If you have any documentation on any of these ladies, I would love to see it.

As an aside, Lydia Zvereva apparently published her biography, but I don't know when or where. If anyone has access to a copy, I would love to see it. Doc

agblume · 29 October 2006, 06:05 AM

Hello Doc and David, There is no archival evidence to support the myth that Russian women ever served as pilots in the Military Air Fleet. My archivist in Moscow has looked high and low. Also the Military Air Fleet was never known as Imperial (perhaps you're thinking of the Imperial All-Russian Aero-Club). Also please be aware that the Imperial era ended with the forced abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in March 1917. Kind regards, agblume

TomVrille · 29 October 2006, 08:10 AM

Greetings David

The reference where you read about the "Flying Princess" may have been a book titled The First Air Campaign, co-authored by Eric and Jane Lawson. There is a short sidebar type of article titled Flying Princesses: Aviatrices of the First World War. Brief sketches are given of Eugenie Shakhovskaya, Lyubov Golanchikova, Helen Samsonova,and Nadesha Degtereva, all of whom are said to have flown for Russia during WW1. There is also mention of Hélène Dutrieu, said to be the first female Belgian pilot, who began flying in 1910.

I do not know how much credence to place in this article, but it is worth noting that Lyubov Golanchikova is said to have set the world altitude record for women while flying with Anthony Fokker in Germany in 1913. I do recall reading of this event in other sources. Golanchikova was a popular stage actress who is said to have served as a test pilot early in the war, flying a Voisin, before returning to the stage. It is said that she later flew sorties and trained Red pilots for the Training Squadron of the Red Air Fleet during the Civil War. After the Civil War, she emigrated to New York City, and made a living as a taxi driver until her death in 1961. It may be possible to verify a good bit of this account through surviving archives.