Sapphire skies / Belinda Alexandra.

In 1942, after the German invasion of the Soviet Union, a squadron composed entirely of Russian women fighter pilots was formed. Most were no older than twenty and, because they were women, were given obsolete planes to fly. However, under the skillful command of record-breaking aviatrix Marina Raskova, the squadron soon became one of the most feared in the history of the Second World War. The women would fly to a certain distance within the enemy encampments, cut their engines and then glide silently over their targets. Such missions took nerves of steel. The Germans were so terrified of these women that they called them ‘Nachthexen,’ Nightwitches. his is the story of Katya Makarova, downed from France and in danger of capture by German soldiers. Saved by a Frenchman, the two lovers try to find each other again after the war through a maze of Soviet red tape, lies and deception.