Hellbrunner Berg

“A ninth child, can you imagine?” The life of Polina Osipenko began in a humble Ukrainian peasant family. She was one of nine children. Now, before you stands a bust commemorating this remarkable woman. Polina Osipenko wasn’t destined for a life of quiet farm work. She yearned for the sky. In 1930 she left the farm behind and started her journey at the Kazan Flight School. She graduated in 1933 and began her career as a military pilot flying fighters. Polina Osipenko wasn’t just a pilot. She was a record-breaker. In 1937 she soared to new heights, setting three world altitude records. In October of that year, she and Marina Raskova embarked on a groundbreaking flight from Moscow to Aktobe, setting a women’s flight distance record. Their ambitions didn’t stop there. In July 1938, Polina, Vera Lomako, and Marina completed another incredible feat, flying non-stop from Sevastopol to Arkhangelsk in a Beriev MP-1. But it was a flight in September 1938 that cemented her place in history. Together with Valentina Grizodubova and Marina Raskova, Polina attempted a non-stop flight from Moscow to Komsomolsk-on-Amur in a Tupolev ANT-37. Weather threw a wrench in their plans, forcing them to land short of their goal. They ended up near the Sea of Okhotsk, fuel tanks dry. They crash-landed, but their accomplishment was undeniable. They set a new women’s nonstop flight distance record. For this daring feat, they were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on November 2, 1938. Polina Osipenko was a pioneer, a skilled pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible for women in aviation. The bust before you serves as a reminder of her courage and her lasting contribution to the world of flight.