AF Heroes of the War
Commander-in-chief of the Air Force said that RV i PVO (Air Force and Air
Defense) had 40 killed and 110 wounded soldiers in combat.
RV i PVO members fought brave and used innovative tactics to counter technologically
most advanced and numerically superior opponents.
- C-in-C general-potpukovnik Spasoje Smiljanic was promoted to rank of general-pukovnik
and awarded Medal of War Flag - First Degree
- Deputy of C-in-C Supreme Command Headquarters for the AF general-pukovnik Ljubisa
Velickovic was awarded Medal of War Flag - First Degree. General Velickovic was killed in
combat. He was former C-in-C of the AF and below is a picture from Batajnica '98 Airshow
were he opened the show with display flight on MiG-29.
Knights in combat
First Yugoslav planes in the air were "Knights" from 127 LAE with their
MiG-29 (only unit operating them). Based on publicly released data one could
conclude that three MiG's were scrambled from Batajnica, near Belgrade with
Potpukovnik (Lieutenant Colonel) Ljubiša Kulačina,
Major Nebojša Nikolić and Major Milorad Milutinović in cockpit
and two (Potpukovnik Dragan Ilić, Major Aljo Arizanov) from Nis airport. Since Germany had the same type of MiG-29 for a decade NATO was expected
to be successful in jamming radar and communication with GC center. Bearing that in mind
and the fact of great numbers of enemy aircraft in the air backed by 4 AWACS Yugoslav
pilots applied new tactics. They abandoned usual leader-wingman formations and used
fast solo dashes near ground to stay out of sight and than, when close enough to fire R-73
(AA-11), vertical climb trying to get firing solution with KOLS laser - IR
rangefinder/homing system .
The folowing pilots were awarded Bravery Medals and promoted to higher ranks:
- major Nebojsa Nikolic
- major Slobodan Peric
- major Predrag Milutinovic
- major Iljo Arizanov
- kapetan I klase Zoran Radosavljevic, killed in combat
Other pilots that flew combat missions (based on data gathered so far):
- general-pukovnik Ljubisa Velickovic
- pukovnik Milenko Pavlovic, commander of 204. Fighter Regiment,
killed in combat
- potpukovnik Nebojsa Kulacina
- potpukovnik Dragan Ilic
.
List of awarded units
- 250. Rocket Brigade AD received the Order of the
National Hero medal, the
highest military medal for their exceptional service during the war
- 126. Early Warning brigade received the Order of the
National Hero medal,
the highest military medal for their exceptional service during the war
List of awarded members
- potpukovnik Zivota Duric, Bravery Medal and promotion to higher rank. He was killed in
combat when he tried to ram enemy aircraft with his badly damaged J-22 Orao
- pukovnik Kis Bela, Bravery Medal
- pukovnik Ostojic Goran, Bravery Medal
- potpukovnik sreto Malinovic, Medal of Honor
- major Vukicevic Srdjan, Bravery Medal
- major Milenkovic Sava, Bravery Medal
- major Nikcevic Rade, Bravery Medal
- major Milovanovic Aleksa and kapetan I klase Jovanovic Srdjan got Distinguished Service
Medal's for rescuing downed pilot under enemy fire
- kapetan I klase Abrt Emilijan, Bravery Medal
- kapetan I klase Mrvljevic Nebojsa, Bravery Medal
- kapetan Bulatovic Nenad, Bravery Medal
- kapetan Spasic Nenad, Bravery Medal
- stariji vodnik I klase Vukovic Dragan, Bravery Medal
- vodnik I klase Aksic Milos, Bravery Medal
- vodnik I klase Komazec Zdravko, Bravery Medal
- vodnik I klase Djurcic Dragan, Bravery Medal
Last Modified: 20.02.03 12:51
© Copyright: Dragan Kostadinov
