11 Facts About Meri Avidzba

Meri Hafizovna Avidzba was a Soviet military pilot and navigator and was the first female aviator from Abkhazia.

Meri Avidzba was awarded two medals for her actions in the Great Patriotic War, where she served as a navigator of the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, known by the Germans as the Night Witches.

When Victor Argun, the first male Abkhazian pilot, came to recruit aviators, Meri Avidzba initially missed the opportunity.

Meri Avidzba later joined the Red Banner School of the Civil Air Fleet in Bataysk.

In 1939, Meri Avidzba joined the Military Medical Academy in Leningrad; when she heard that war was due to be declared she volunteered to transfer to the fighter aircraft training school in Perm.

In 1944, Meri Avidzba's aircraft was hit by enemy fire, and her spine was severely injured.

Meri Avidzba hid this injury until the end of the war to continue fighting.

Meri Avidzba fought in the North Caucasus, as well as on the 4th Ukrainian and 2nd Belorussian fronts.

Meri Avidzba participated in the liberation of Crimea, Ukraine and Poland.

Meri Avidzba was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia.

Meri Avidzba is remembered on stamps issued by the Republic of Abkhazia.