Soviet Airmen’s or Red Airmen's Song

Our planes are roaring, roaring for the battle,
High in the air above the clouds we speed,
Our bombs are ready, our machine-guns rattle,
Against the world’s imperialist greed,

Chorus

Flying higher, higher and higher,
Our emblem the Soviet Star,
And ever propeller is roaring,
Defending the USSR,

(shout) Red Front ! or (Shout) Y-C-L

But to the workers and the toiling masses,
A gleam of hope all our propellers whirl,
We drop them leaflets while we bomb their bosses,
The first Red Air Force of the world,

Chorus

Our proud machines obey our every order
There is no flight our pilots do not dare,
We form an iron ring above our border
The workers first squadrons of the air,

Chorus

And should dictators with snouts come rooting
Around the soil of our free Soviet land,
Our guns can sting the jaws that gape for looting,
Our bombs will smash the greedy hand

END

NOTES

other versions of Chorus

Flying higher, higher and higher,
Our emblem the Soviet Star,

And ever propeller is turning,
In defence of the USSR

or below the University Labour Federtation version

And ever propeller is roaring
Red Front ! Defending the USSR

Alternative...........................

Chorus

Flying higher, higher and higher,
Our emblem the Soviet Star
And ever propeller is turning,
In defence of the USSR,

(Shout) Y-C-L

or

And ever blade is turning
in defence of the USSR

This song was very popular amongst Communist Party and Young Communist League (YCL) members during and after the war, the Chorus often being sung on its own with great passion. (also with hand movements to replicate propellers turning).

The first version I can trace has words adapted by Randall Swingler of the Workers Music Association in 1939 costing 2d

Kevin Halpin states this chorus is correct

Flying higher, higher and higher,
Our emblem the Soviet Star,
And ever propeller is roaring,
Defending the USSR,

(shout) Red Front ! or (Shout) Y-C-L

"The Partisans" sang the song to the following words

We sail the sky as steamers sail the ocean.

We boldly fly where none has flown before.

Our arms are wings of metal swift in motion,

Our beating heart - the mighty engine's roar.

Fly higher, and higher, and higher -

Our emblem, the Soviet star

And every propeller is roaring

Defending the USSR.

Our watchful gaze explores the wide horizon.

Our iron nerves the elements defy.

To every foe, to any fighting challenge

Our mighty air fleet swiftly will reply.

(Chorus)

Our proud machines obey our every order.

There is no flight our pilots do not dare.

We form an iron ring above our border -

The workers' first great squadrons of the air.

(Chorus).

The Randall Swingler version starts with

Our engines roar the frozen air is cleaving
Red Square is darkened
Our guardian shade
And over lands and polar oceans
Weaving our cable lines of peace are laid

CHORUS
Higher and Higher and higher
Our emblem the Soviet star
And every propeller is roaring
Defending the USSR

Soviet or Red Airmen's Song

Michael Walker