The PR Blog

How a fearless squadron of female pilots turned plywood planes into weapons of war - and fear. These women flew under the radar - literally - to bomb the Nazis and change the face of combat

As the war raged on the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union was in dire need of pilots to combat the relentless advance of the German forces. In response, Marina Raskova, herself a pioneering aviator, proposed the formation of female combat air regiments. Thus, in October 1941, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment was born, later to be known as the "Night Witches" by their German adversaries.

What set these women apart was not just their gender but their method of operation. Flying Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes, these wooden-framed, canvas-covered flying machines were dubbed "crop dusters" by the Germans, hardly a match for the formidable Luftwaffe. However, it was precisely this underestimation that became their greatest advantage.

Operating under the cover of darkness, the Night Witches struck terror into the hearts of the enemy. Flying low and slow, their Po-2s emitted a distinctive whooshing sound, resembling a witch's broomstick, hence their ominous moniker. With no parachutes and minimal defensive armament, they navigated through the night skies, dropping their payloads of bombs on unsuspecting German encampments and supply lines.

King Haakon VII of Norway (1872–1957) was one of Norway’s most respected and beloved monarchs. Born as Prince Carl of Denmark, he was invited to become Norway’s king in 1905 after the country peacefully separated from Sweden. His strong leadership and resistance during World War II made him a symbol of national unity and defiance against Nazi occupation.

Throughout history, nations have either triumphed or been crushed in the face of authoritarianism, and so often it comes down to the strength of the people leading them.

But strength exercised through fear and strength exercised through patriotism and love are two very different things.

Hitler was strong. Pol Pot was strong. Idi Amin was strong. Fear can be a very effective tool of power.

But there is another kind of strength entirely ... the kind that asks ordinary people not to cower, but to stand.

And when it takes courage simply to defend your rights, your traditions, your history, or even your right to speak openly, chances are fear has already entered the room.

It is always our choice whether we stand or fall in the face of it.

As a young girl, I was instilled with a deep understanding of the importance of caring for nature. 

In school we were taught about animals that had helped humanity and how it was important to always be caring and considerate with other living creatures.

Two such creatures come to my mind when I think back to those days all those years ago in my small rural primary school. They were known as Pelorous Jack and Opo.  

Today I want to share their remarkable stories. Among the creatures ( like Kiwis - as in the birds )  that have left a mark on the nation's cultural heritage, these two dolphins stand out: They captured the hearts of New Zealanders and visitors alike, becoming legendary figures in their own right.

Mother’s Day, as we know it in Australia, traces its roots to the heartbreak and hope of wartime America.

Born out of the compassion of two peace-minded women during the Civil War, the first “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” weren’t about flowers or cards. but about caring for the wounded, no matter their uniform.

Adopted in Australia in the early 20th century, the day gradually took hold, especially after World War I, when a Sydney woman began collecting gifts for mothers grieving lost sons and husbands. It’s no coincidence that Mother’s Day often falls near VE Day, the anniversary of victory in Europe during World War II. Behind the celebration lies a deeper truth: mothers have always stood quietly at the heart of history, bearing both the joy of life and the sorrow of sacrifice.