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Photo of Anna Yegorova before her plane was shot down and she became a POW, no later than August 1944

Senior Lieutenant Anna Alexandrovna Timofeyeva-Yegorova (Russian: Анна Александровна Тимофеева-Егорова; 23 September 1916 – 29 October 2009) was a pilot in the Red Army Air Force (VVS) during the Second World War. She flew in total 277 liaison, reconnaissance and ground-attack missions. She was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

After the German invasion Anna Yegorova volunteered for the frontline service. In 1941–42, she flew 236 reconnaissance and delivery missions for the 130th Air Liaison Squadron in a wooden biplane, the Polikarpov Po-2 and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for distinguished service. After an aircrash which she reported to her commanding officer to be her fault, she was transferred to a training air regiment. In 1943 she was recruited to the 805th Attack Aviation Regiment and flew 41 missions in the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, including battles above the Taman Peninsula, Crimea and Poland. During these campaigns she flew in formations of four to six aircraft.

During an August 1944 mission when she was in formation of 15 aircraft to attack German forces at the Magnuszew bridgehead near Warsaw, Yegorova's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Her gunner was killed, and the plane was heavily damaged. Rolling inverted, Yegorova was burned as she left the plane at a low altitude; her parachute only partially opened and she suffered broken bones and other internal injuries on hitting the ground. She was given first aid by her German captors, then taken to a prisoner of war camp where her wounds were tended by Dr. Georgy Sinyakov. Back at her air base, Yegorova was presumed dead and 'posthumously' recommended for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union but this resulted in awarding Order of the Patriotic War 1st class.

On 31 January 1945, Soviet forces overran the Küstrin prisoner camp where she was being held. Yegorova was interrogated as a potential traitor continuously for eleven days at an NKVD filtration camp for returning Soviet prisoners. After others vouched for her injuries and her conduct, she was released but invalided out of the Soviet Air Forces for medical reasons in 1945.

Native name Анна Александровна Тимофеева-Егорова
Born 23 September 1916
Died 29 October 2009 (aged 93)
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service/branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service 1941–1945
Rank Senior Lieutenant
Unit 130th Air Liaison Squadron (1941–1942)
805th Attack Aviation Regiment (1943–1944)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Yegorova