Dolina was a military-pilot who flew the Pe-2 twin-engine, medium range bomber (pictured above). Dolina is most famous for the battle she took part in on 2 June 1943, on the North Caucasus Front in Kuban'. Her aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft artillery prior to reaching her target, disabling an engine and starting the bomber on fire. Her fighter escort had dissappeared 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 (two Focke Wulfs 190 and four Me 109). Dolinas crew managed to kill one FW 190 and one Me 109. After crossing the front lines, the burning aircraft made an emergency belly-landing in a field. The battle had consisted of nine Soviet bombers and eight German fighters. Although two Soviet bombers had been shot down, there were no personnel losses among the bomber crews. The battle itself went down in the history of the Soviet Air Force as a model of flight personnel's skill, tenacity, courage and valor.