Galina Dokutovich
Belarus- Biography of Galina Dokutovich
- The Early Years
- Joining the Red Army
- Service in the Night Bomber Aviation Regiment
- Dedication and Tragedy
Biography of Galina Dokutovich
Galina Dokutovich was born and raised in Gomel, Belarus. From a young age, she developed a passion for aviation and graduated from the local aeroclub. She flew gliders, airplanes, and even participated in parachute jumps. In 1938, she enrolled in the Moscow Aviation Institute.
With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, Galina volunteered to join the Red Army. She completed her training at the Engel's Aviation School, where she served as a navigator on heavy transport aircraft TB-3 during the winter of 1942. Later, she fought in the 588th (46th Guards) Night Bomber Aviation Regiment and completed over 120 combat missions.
On the night of August 1, 1943, Galina Dokutovich tragically died in a night battle over the Taman Peninsula.
The Early Years
Galina had a typical childhood in Gomel, where she developed a love for literature. She believed that literature had a great influence on people's minds and hearts, teaching them to see life more deeply and to live more boldly and virtuously. As she grew older, Galina became interested in physics, history, mathematics, and music. She excelled in gymnastics and won second place twice in republican gymnastics competitions. In the 9th grade, she began aviation sports and in 1938, she entered the Moscow Aviation Institute.
Joining the Red Army
In August 1941, Galina learned from the news that her hometown had been occupied by German forces. Motivated by the desire to defend her homeland, she decided to join the army. On October 11, Galina went to the Central Committee of the All-Union Leninist Communist Youth League (VLKSM) with a recommendation from the institute's Komsomol organization. At that time, a women's aviation unit was being formed under the leadership of Marina Mikhaylovna Raskova. Galina was accepted into the unit and sent to train in the city of Engel's. She was assigned to the navigator group, which was the largest group due to the shortage of trained female navigators at that time. Her group included Zhena Rudneva, Dusya Pasko, Rufina Gasheva, Natasha Meklin, and others.
Service in the Night Bomber Aviation Regiment
Galina's days in the aviation school were filled with intensive training, often lasting 16-17 hours a day, with sacrifices made in sleep. Eventually, the long-awaited day arrived when the order to form a women's night light bomber aviation regiment was announced. Evdokia Davydovna Bershanskaya was appointed as the commander. The regiment soon received orders to deploy to the front. On May 23, 1942, the female pilots bid farewell to their garrison and took off in formation, circling the city before heading towards the battlefront.
The regiment arrived at the front during a difficult period, with fierce battles taking place in the southern part of the Donets Basin, along the Mius River, and in the approaches to Taganrog. Galina was appointed as a squadron aide-de-camp and occasionally flew as a bombardier. However, she longed to fly as a pilot like her friends, without rest or sleep. Her dream came true, and from then on, her life revolved around the air, the battles, and the plane. Rare moments of rest were few and far between.
Dedication and Tragedy
One day, after returning from a mission, Galina lay down to rest on the airfield. Unfortunately, a fuel truck driver, in a hurry to take off, accidentally ran over her while she was sleeping in the tall grass. Galina suffered a spinal injury. Despite the excruciating pain, she never complained or cried. She believed that she would fly again.
In December 1942, Galina returned to the regiment. Although she appeared to be physically healthy, she still needed a long period of rest. However, she chose not to take her six-month leave, as she couldn't bear to rest while her country was in such dire need. She returned to the regiment without revealing her leave documents.
In January 1943, the women's aviation regiment was deployed to the North Caucasus. Galina was appointed as the regiment's navigator and was responsible for overseeing the actions of all the navigators. Occasionally, she flew on combat missions herself.
The work was arduous, intense, and relentless, with fatigue often taking its toll. During missions, Galina constantly faced mortal danger, but she felt a sense of purpose and the importance of serving her homeland. In those days, she wrote:
"Formidable armies of bombers come,
And above them, flocks of hawks soar.
The enemy trembles and retreats,
Running from the furious sunlit land!"
In addition to her combat duties, Galina also engaged in community work. She edited a literary magazine published by the regiment, in which her own stories were featured. The magazine was highly popular among the female pilots.
In the summer of 1943, as Soviet forces launched a counter-offensive and advanced towards Orel and Belgorod, the German forces fought back with all their might. Fierce battles took place on the ground and in the air. By that time, Galina had completed over 120 combat missions.
On the night of August 1, the female pilots of the aviation regiment were carrying out another mission. That night, the regiment suffered heavy losses as six female pilots, including Galina Dokutovich, heroically gave their lives for their country.
After Galina's death, her friends discovered from her diary that she had returned to the regiment even when she was still seriously ill after being discharged from the hospital. She had to hide her excruciating pain while fighting alongside her comrades. Sometimes, she had to take painkillers to endure the agony.
Excerpts from Galina Dokutovich's diary were partially published in the book "The Taman Aviation Regiment of the Guards" by A. Magid (Moscow, 1960). One of her letters is kept in the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War.
