Mariya Dolina

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Mariya Dolina
1922–
Dolina in front of Pe-2
Place of birth	Sharovka, Omsk Oblast, Russian SFSR
Allegiance	Soviet Air Force
Years of service	1941–1950
Rank	Guards Captain
Unit	125th Guards Bomber Flying Regiment (4th Guards Bomber Flying Division, 1st Guards Bomber Flying Corps, 3rd Flying Army)
Commands	Deputy commander of the 125th Guards Bomber Flying Regiment
Battles/wars	Eastern Front of World War II
Awards	Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin, 2 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st class

Mariya Ivanovna Dolina (Russian: Мария Ивановна Долина, Mariya Ivanivna Dolina, Ukrainian: Марія Іванівна Доліна; born December 18, 1922) was a Soviet dive bomber pilot, active primarily on the 1st Baltic Front during World War II. On August 18, 1945 Dolina was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Dolina was the eldest daughter of the Ukrainian peasant. In 1932, after Mariya's father lost his leg in the Russian Civil War, the family moved back to Ukraine again. In 1939 Mariya finished her graduating in Kherson Flying School and then entered Engels Military Flying School. In July, 1941 she started her military service and later became a crew member of Pe-2 twin-engine medium range bomber. On June 2, 1943 Dolina's aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft artillery over Kuban prior to reaching her target, disabling an engine and starting the bomber on fire. Dolina's fighter escort had disappeared while pursuing enemy fighters, yet she continued flying and made the scheduled bomb-drop. On the way back, with no fighter escort, her flight was attacked by six German fighters (2 FW 190 and 4 Me 109). Dolina's crew managed to kill one FW 190 and one Me 109.