Dear All, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you about an upcoming event that I believe you would be interested in attending. We are delighted to announce the registration for the magical Las Vegas conference is now open! The conference, titled "Magic Las Vegas: Unveiling the Secrets," will take place from November 5th to November 7th at the luxurious Las Vegas Convention Center. This event aims to bring together magicians, illusionists, and magic enthusiasts from all around the world to showcase and explore the fascinating world of magic. Throughout the three-day conference, attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops, panel discussions, and live performances by renowned magicians. The conference will cover a wide range of magic-related topics, including sleight of hand, stage illusions, mentalism, and more.

Meet the Night Witches, the Daring Female Pilots Who Bombed Nazis By Night

They flew under the cover of darkness in bare-bones plywood biplanes. They braved bullets and frostbite in the air, while battling skepticism and sexual harassment on the ground. They were feared and hated so much by the Nazis that any German airman who downed one was automatically awarded the prestigious Iron Cross medal.

All told, the pioneering all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment dropped more than 23,000 tons of bombs on Nazi targets. And in doing so, they became a crucial Soviet asset in winning World War II.

The Germans nicknamed them the Nachthexen, or “night witches,” because the whooshing noise their wooden planes made resembled that of a sweeping broom. “This sound was the only warning the Germans had. The planes were too small to show up on radar… [or] on infrared locators,” said Steve Prowse, author of the screenplay The Night Witches, a nonfiction account of the little-known female squadron. “They never used radios, so radio locators couldn’t pick them up either. They were basically ghosts.”

Women pilots of the “Night Witches” receiving orders for an up-coming raid. (Credit: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

Using female bombardiers wasn’t a first choice. While women had been previously barred from combat, the pressure of an encroaching enemy gave Soviet leaders a reason to rethink the policy. Adolf Hitler had launched Operation Barbarossa, his massive invasion of the Soviet Union, in June 1941. By the fall the Germans were pressing on Moscow, Leningrad was under siege and the Red Army was struggling. The Soviets were desperate.

The 588th’s first mission, on June 28, 1942, took aim—successfully—at the headquarters of the invading Nazi forces.

A Woman Leads the Charge
The squadron was the brainchild of Marina Raskova, known as the “Soviet Amelia Earhart”—famous not only as the first female navigator in the Soviet Air Force but also for her many long-distance flight records. She had been receiving letters from women all across the Soviet Union wanting to join the World War II war effort. While they had been allowed to participate in support roles, there were many who wanted to be gunners and pilots, flying on their own. Many had lost brothers or sweethearts, or had seen their homes and villages ravaged. Seeing an opportunity, Raskova petitioned Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to let her form an all-female fighting squadron.

On October 8, 1941, Stalin gave orders to deploy three all-female air force units. The women would not only fly missions and drop bombs, they would return fire—making the Soviet Union the first nation to officially allow women to engage in combat. Previously, women could help transfer planes and ammunition, after which the men took over.

Raskova quickly started to fill out her teams. From more than 2,000 applications, she selected around 400 women for each of the three units. Most were students, ranging in age from 17 to 26. Those selected moved to Engels, a small town north of Stalingrad, to begin training at the Engels School of Aviation. They underwent a highly compressed education—expected to learn in a few months what it took most soldiers several years to grasp. Each recruit had to train and perform as pilots, navigators, maintenance and ground crew.

Beyond their steep learning curve, the women faced skepticism from some of the male military personnel who believed they added no value to the combat effort. Raskova did her best to prepare her women for these attitudes, but they still faced sexual harassment, long nights and grueling conditions. “The men didn’t like the ‘little girls’ going to the front line. It was a man’s thing.” Prowse told HISTORY.

Making Do With Hand-Me-Downs and Relics
The military, unprepared for women pilots, offered them meager resources. Flyers received hand-me-down uniforms (from male soldiers), including oversized boots. “They had to tear up their bedding and stuff them in their boots to get them to fit,” said Prowse.

A partisan airplane, the Polikarpov Po-2, during World War II. (Photo by: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

Their equipment wasn’t much better. The military provided them with outdated Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes, 1920s crop-dusters that had been used as training vehicles. These light two-seater, open-cockpit planes were never meant for combat. “It was like a coffin with wings,” said Prowse. Made out of plywood with canvas pulled over, the aircraft offered virtually no protection from the elements. Flying at night, pilots endured freezing temperatures, wind and frostbite. In the harsh Soviet winters, the planes became so cold, just touching them would rip off bare skin.

Due to both the planes’ limited weight capacity and the military’s limited funds, the pilots also lacked other “luxury” items their male counterparts enjoyed. Instead of parachutes (which were too heavy to carry), radar, guns and radios, they were forced to use more rudimentary tools such as rulers, stopwatches, flashlights, pencils, maps and compasses.

There was some upside to the older aircraft. Their maximum speed was slower than the stall speed of the Nazi planes, which meant these wooden planes, ironically, could maneuver faster than the enemy, making them hard to target. They also could easily take off and land from most locations. The downside? When coming under enemy fire, pilots had to duck by sending their planes into dives (almost none of the planes carried defense ammunition). If they happened to be hit by tracer bullets, which carry a pyrotechnic charge, their wooden planes would burst into flames.

Long Nights, Stealth Tactics
The Polikarpovs could only carry two bombs at a time, one under each wing. In order to make meaningful dents in the German front lines, the regiment sent out up to 40 two-person crews a night. Each would execute between eight and 18 missions a night, flying back to re-arm between runs. The weight of the bombs forced them to fly at lower altitudes, making them a much easier target—hence their night-only missions.

Captain Polina Osipenko (Co-Pilot and Commander of the plane), Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Valentina Grizodubova (Navigator), and Senior Lieutenant Marina Raskova right before taking flight. (Credit: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

The planes, each with a pilot upfront and a navigator in back, traveled in packs: The first planes would go in as bait, attracting German spotlights, which provided much needed illumination. These planes, which rarely had ammunition to defend themselves, would release a flare to light up the intended target. The last plane would idle its engines and glide in darkness to the bombing area. It was this “stealth mode” that created their signature witch’s broom sound.

There were 12 commandments the Night Witches followed. The first was “be proud you are a woman.” Killing Germans was their job, but in their downtime the heroic flyers still did needlework, patchwork, decorated their planes and danced. They even put the pencils they used for navigation into double duty as eyeliner.

Disbanded and Overlooked
Their last flight took place on May 4, 1945—when the Night Witches flew within 60 kilometers (approx. 37 miles) of Berlin. Three days later, Germany officially surrendered.

According to Prowse, the Germans had two theories about why these women were so successful: They were all criminals who were masters at stealing and had been sent to the front line as punishment—or they had been given special injections that allowed them to see in the night.

Altogether these daredevil heroines flew more than 30,000 missions in total, or about 800 per pilot and navigator. They lost a total of 30 pilots, and 24 of the flyers were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Raskova, the mother of the movement, died on January 4, 1943, when she was finally sent to the front line—her plane never made it. She was given the very first state funeral of World War II and her ashes were buried in the Kremlin.

Despite being the most highly decorated unit in the Soviet Air Force during the war, the Night Witches regiment was disbanded six months after the end of World War II. And when it came to the big victory-day parade in Moscow, they weren’t included—because, it was decided, their planes were too slow.

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Night Witches

There was a night bomber regiment in World War Two composed entirely of women. Natural-born Soviet airwomen.

These 200 women and girls, flying outdated biplanes from open fields near the front lines, attacked the invading German forces every night for 1,100 consecutive nights. When they ran out of bombs they dropped railroad ties.

To each other they were sisters, with bonds forged in blood and terror. To the Red Army Air Force they were an infuriating feminist sideshow. To the Germans they were simply Nachthexen—Night Witches.

Night Witches requires 3-5 players, who will take turns in the role of game master during the game. It can be played for a single two-hour session or expanded into a literal campaign following the Regiment across the entire Second World War. Either way, you’ll tell an epic tale of heroism and sacrifice that honors the women who did it for real.

Time: 2 hour one shot, or ongoing campaign

The conference will cover a wide range of magic-related topics, including sleight of hand, stage illusions, mentalism, and more. Experts from different areas of magic will be sharing their insights, tips, and tricks, providing an invaluable learning experience for all participants. In addition to the informative sessions, the conference will also host a magic trade show, where participants can browse and purchase the latest magic tricks, props, and books.

What's Included

188-page softcover book Rulebook in PDF, ePub & MOBI formats PDF handouts (character portraits, playbooks, duty stations and more)

This will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow magicians, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration for future performances. To register for the Magic Las Vegas conference, please visit our website at www.magiclasvegas.com. Early bird registration is available until September 30th, offering a discounted rate for those who register early. We encourage you to take advantage of this offer and secure your spot at this magical event. We understand that due to the current situation, some attendees may not be able to travel to Las Vegas. Therefore, we are offering a virtual attendance option, allowing individuals to participate in the conference remotely from the comfort of their own homes. All sessions and performances will be streamed live, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the magic from anywhere in the world. Do not miss this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of magic, learn from the best, and create lasting connections within the magic community. Register now and join us for a truly enchanting experience at Magic Las Vegas. For any inquiries or assistance regarding registration, please do not hesitate to contact our team at [email protected] or call us at +1-555-123-4567. We look forward to welcoming you to the Magic Las Vegas conference. Best regards, [Your Name].

Reviews for "Experience the Ultimate Magic of Las Vegas: Register Now for a Spectacular Trip"

1. Emily - 1 star

I was extremely disappointed with my experience at "Register for magic Las Vegas". The event was poorly organized and chaotic from start to finish. The registration process was a complete mess, with long lines and confusion among the staff. Once inside, the seating was cramped and uncomfortable, making it hard to enjoy the show. The performances themselves were underwhelming and lacked the wow factor I was expecting. Overall, it was a complete waste of time and money.

2. Mark - 2 stars

I did not have a great experience at "Register for magic Las Vegas". While the show had some promising acts, the execution fell flat. The stage was poorly lit, making it difficult to see some of the tricks. The venue itself was also quite noisy, with lots of background chatter that distracted from the performances. Additionally, the ticket prices were overly expensive for what was delivered. Overall, I left feeling unimpressed and unsatisfied.

3. Sarah - 2 stars

"Register for magic Las Vegas" did not live up to my expectations. The show lacked originality and felt like a rehash of tricks I had seen before. The performers seemed disinterested and lacked charisma. Additionally, the venue was overcrowded, making it hard to fully enjoy the show. The only positive aspect was the friendly staff, but that wasn't enough to salvage my overall disappointment. I would not recommend attending this event.

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