I've been listening to Dan Carlin's series on The Ostfront, and heard today about the squadron of female Russian bi-plane pilots who silently bombed the German troops during the German invasion of Russia. I understand how rumours circulate through the ranks during wartime, but what I can't understand is how the Germans could possibly know that the pilots were all women. Other than one of them being shot down and being interrogated; but they are said to have never worn parachutes, so that doesn't seem likely.
Can anyone help shed some light on this for me?
Luftwaffe ground observation posts were actively intercepting radio chatter - their radio ops knew russian, even taunted soviet pilots or warned german pilots when certain aces were up ( Achtung! Achtung! Pokryshkin ist in der Luft! = Attention! Attention! Pokryshkin is in the air! - see [3]) . Also, the Abwehr was quite effective in tracking movements of Red Army troops. It worked other way too - russian forward air observation posts ( ВНОС ), pilots and staff radio officers on ground were also intercepting german chatter.
the squadron of female Russian bi-plane pilots
My guess you've meant 46^th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. They would also operate in same area for some time, with very distinct tactics of nightly raids - see [1].
but they are said to have never worn parachutes, so that doesn't seem likely.
Not true - according to [2], they were issued parachutes in 1944.
Also note that in Polikarpov Po-2 it was much easier to perform emergency landing (comparing to fast monoplane fighters). The only drawback - wooden frame and textile were prone to fires. Several pilots survived such crash-landings and some even got back thru frontline. But quite often direct hit of AA meant fireball, without much chances of parachuting or landing.
Sources
War path of 46^th Gv. NBAP. As you see, they operated whole 1943 in Taman area (e.g. near Crimea) and near Caucasus Mountains.
russian, online book - Rakobolskaya, Kravtsova - We were called Night Witches. Memoirs of Night Witches, a lot of photos posted.
Example of radio intercept and detection of airborne planes - Hero of USSR, Vodopyanov was also quite known ace (pilot of heavy bomber). In this excerpt, his radio operator mistakenly assumed that Pokryshkin was shot down when germans were in fact warning that Pokryshkin is in the air. Mistake is discovered, when Vodopyanov lands and checks with staff officer - he advice radio operator to better study german, as he also heard german message and correctly translated it as a warning.
Note that Pokryshkin was piloting a plane with distinct paintwork and unique number 100 at that time.
В самый разгар боев я вел тяжелый бомбардировщик во вражеский тыл. Недалеко от Краснодара радист крикнул мне по внутреннему телефону:
— Покрышкина сбили!
— Что? Откуда ты это взял?
— Сам слышал, немцы по радио хвастаются.
— Врут, наверное, мерзавцы!
Только мы вернулись на смою базу, я побежал в штаб, узнать, что слышно о Покрышкине.
— Ничего, — ответили мне, — летает, «клюет» немцев.
— Но ведь мой радист сам слышал!
— Мы тоже слышали, — засмеялся один из офицеров. — Могу повторить даже: «Achtung! Achtung! Pokryshkin ist in der Luft!». Это значит: «Внимание, внимание! Покрышкин в воздухе!» Так радионаводчик предупреждал своих летчиков, чтобы они улепетывали. Пусть ваш радист немецкий выучит...
