When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 the soviets insituted operiation Barbarossa, which created three all female air regements. Marina was summoned to organized the first of these regiments, the The 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and latter was appointed commander of the The 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. The Germans would come to know the 46th as, the Night Witches. This regement was the only one to remain all female though out the war.