To the Crew of the airplane "Rodina"

Comrades V. Grizodubova, P. Osipenko, M. Raskova

We warmly congratulate you on the successful and splendid completion of the nonstop flight Moscow -- Far East.

Your heroic flight, covering 6,450 kilometers along the route and 5,947 kilometers in a straight line over the course of 26 hours and 29 minutes, represents an international women's record both in a straight line and along a broken line.

Your courage, composure, and superb flying skill, demonstrated under the most difficult conditions of the journey and landing, inspire the admiration of the entire Soviet people.

We are proud of you and from the bottom of our hearts shake your hands.

On behalf of the CC VKP(b) and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR

I. STALIN, V. MOLOTOV

Pravda. September 8, 1938.

Note:

Grizodubova V.S. (1910-1993), Soviet aviatrix, Colonel (1943), Hero of the Soviet Union (November 2, 1938). Member of the CPSU from 1941. Daughter of the aviator and aircraft designer S.V. Grizodubov. Graduated from the aeroclub (1929); worked in the Civil Air Fleet. During the Great Patriotic War, from March 1942 she commanded the 101st Long-Range Aviation Regiment (later the 31st Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment), which provided assistance to partisan detachments. Awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, the Patriotic War First Class, the Red Star, and medals.

Osipenko P.D. (1907-1939), Soviet military aviatrix, Major (1939), Hero of the Soviet Union (November 2, 1938). Member of the CPSU from 1932. Graduated from the Kacha Aviation School (1932); served in fighter aviation as a junior pilot and flight leader. Set five international women's records. Died in the line of duty. Buried at Red Square by the Kremlin Wall. Awarded two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Raskova M.M. (1912-1943), Soviet navigator-aviatrix, Major (1942), Hero of the Soviet Union (November 2, 1938). Member of the CPSU from 1940. Born into a family of educators. From 1932 worked in the aeronavigation laboratory of the Zhukovsky Air Fleet Academy. In 1934 earned the rank of navigator at the Central Training Combine of the Civil Air Fleet. Graduated from the pilot school of the Central Aeroclub (1935). From 1938, in the Red Army. During the Great Patriotic War, she commanded an aviation group for forming women's aviation regiments; from January 1942, commander of a women's bomber aviation regiment. Author of the book Notes of a Navigator (1939). Died in the line of duty. Buried at Red Square by the Kremlin Wall. Awarded two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Patriotic War First Class (posthumously).