Mariya Tolstova

Mariya Ilyichina Tolstova (; 15 May 1918 8 January 2004) was a flight commander in the 175th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment, and one of the few women to fly the Il-2.

Civilian life Tolstova was orphaned at a young age, resulting in her attending a boarding school for much of her youth. After completing school she worked at a railway station and later as a schoolteacher before eventually becoming a flight instructor at an aeroclub. After the war she worked for the civil air fleet, flying cargo in a Po-2 until retiring from aviation in 1959. Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class Order of the Red Star Medal "For Courage" campaign and jubilee medals