Meri Avidzba

Meri Avidzba
Born	(1917-01-24)24 January 1917 Abkhazia, Russian Empire
Died	12 April 1986(1986-04-12) (aged 69) Sukhumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service/branch	Soviet Air Force
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Order of the Patriotic War
Other work	Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia

Meri Hafizovna Avidzba (Russian: Мери Хафизовна Авидзба; 24 January 1917 – 12 April 1986) was a Soviet military pilot and navigator and was the first female aviator from Abkhazia. She was awarded two medals for her actions in the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), where she served as a navigator of the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, known by the Germans as the Night Witches. Later in her life, she was elected a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia.