 She enlisted in the military in December 1941 and was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1942.Sanfirova joined the Air Force at the encouragement of Marina Raskova.She trained at the Engels Military School of Aviation, and after graduating the Bataysk Military Aviation School in 1942 she joined the 588th Night Bomber Regiment (nicknamed the "Night Witches" by their German opponents), which was renamed the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment in February 1943.