Question

during world war ii, almost every military in the world proscribed female aviators in combat roles. the 588th night bomber regiment, an all - female soviet unit of fighter pilots, was a notable exception. the eighty - member unit was formed in 1941 at the urging of marina raskova, who was known as the soviet amelia earhart. the pilots of the 588th served under conditions inimical to safety as they struggled to gain the respect of their male peers and superiors. they flew primarily night missions in flimsy plywood planes that lacked radios, radar, and even parachutes. nevertheless, each pilot flew eight or more missions each night—as many as thirty thousand in total. despite these disadvantages, the regiments skill earned it a fearsome reputation among german forces. the women capably evaded enemy defenses by idling their engines and gliding stealthily toward their targets under the cover of night. this covert maneuver made a soft whooshing noise that german soldiers likened to the sound of a witchs broomstick. as a result, the women were dubbed the night witches—a name they claimed as a badge of honor. what is the meaning of inimical as used in the passage? unusual or exceptional adverse or unfavorable conducive or advantageous fundamental or essential

Explanation:

The context shows that the pilots of the 588th faced dangerous flying conditions like flying in flimsy planes without radios, radar, or parachutes. So "inimical" here means adverse or unfavorable to safety.

Answer:

adverse or unfavorable