 Flying Polikarpov Po-2s, Smirnova and the Night Witches became accustomed to attacking targets defended by anti-aircraft guns and spotlights.However, she later recalled on one flight when they were attacked by German fighters, with tracer rounds setting the canvas and paper bodies of the Russian biplanes on fire.At the end of the war, Smirnova was one of 23 members of the regiment to be recognized as a Hero of the Soviet Union.