First woman to fly combat reconnaissance missions as a military pilot in November 1914.
On November 15, 1914, Shakhovskaya undertook combat reconnaissance missions for the Imperial Russian Air Service, becoming the first woman to do so. Flying under combat conditions in a male-dominated military hierarchy, she set benchmarks not only in the field of aviation but also for military engagement by women. Her missions underscored the growing role of aviation in warfare and the critical contributions women could make in this new domain.