Valentina Grizodubova
| Valentina Grizodubova | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 10 May 1909 Kharkiv, Kharkov Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 28 April 1993 (aged 83) Moscow, Russia |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union
|
| Service/branch |
 Soviet Air Forces
|
| Rank |
Polkovnik  
|
| Awards |
|
(2)
Valentina Stepanovna Grizodubova (Russian: Валентина Степановна Гризодубова, Ukrainian: Валентина Степанівна Гризодубова Valentina Stepanivna Grizodubova; May 10, 1909 in Kharkov – April 28, 1993 in Moscow) was one of the first female pilots in the Soviet Union and was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Socialist Labour decorations.
Born in Kharkiv, in the Kharkov Governorate of the Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine), she was the daughter of Stepan Vasil'yevich Grizodubov, a pioneer aircraft-designer. At the age of fourteen she flew a glider solo. She played piano and graduated from a conservatory as well as from the Khar'kov Technical Institute. She spoke several foreign languages. In 1929 she graduated from the Penza Flying Club of the paramilitary association OSOAVIAKhIM. She also trained at the Khar'kov Flying School.
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