Rudolf Perešin
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Perešin a Croatian
fighter pilot in the Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA), defected from Željava Air Base
to Klagenfurt
, Austria
in 1991, during a reconnaissance flight because he wanted to help his homeland Croatia
during the Croatian War of Independence
. He was the first pilot to desert from the JNA. He was shot down in 1995 by Serbian Krajina military forces resulting in his death.
near the Croatian capital of Zagreb
. He entered Military Pilot Academy in Zadar
, Croatia. He graduated in 1981 with outstanding scores at the top of his class as one of the best fighter pilots of the JNA.
In 1990, as the JNA was preparing for a military campaign in Croatia Perešin decided to defect to help defend his homeland, realizing how risky that plan was. Like all Croatian-born personnel, he was under close phone and visual surveillance by the Serbian Ministry of Interior. That did little to discourage him so on October 25, 1991, he flew over to Austria after a brief chase by five Serbian MiG-29's
flying out of Kraljevo-Lađevci Airport. Although the five MiGs caught up with Rudi, he managed to dodge their radars by flying below 500 meters where airplane radars are ineffective.
Croats recognize him as one of the greatest heroes of the war, his defection dealing a powerful blow to the morale and political agendas of the enemy while simultaneously giving a huge boost to morale, defiance and pride to Croats, who were fighting for their freedom against seemingly hopeless odds. After landing in Klagenfurt, he explained his action saying: "I am a Croat and I cannot and will not fire upon my Croatia".
The MiG-21 he used to defect can be viewed in front of the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum
(military history museum) in Vienna. On May 2, 1995 while providing close air support
to the Croatian Army during Operation Flash
he was shot down over Stara Gradiška
by anti-aircraft artillery from the military of Serbian Krajina
. He was buried with full military honors in Mirogoj cemetery of Zagreb.
Today, the Croatian Air Force Flight School in Zadar and Aviation High School in Velika Gorica
are both named in his honor.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
fighter pilot in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
(JNA), defected from Željava Air Base
Željava Air Base
Željava Air Base, situated on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under Plješevica Mountain, near the town of Bihać in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the largest underground airport and military airbase in the former Yugoslavia and one of the largest in Europe.-History:Construction...
to Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt
-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1991, during a reconnaissance flight because he wanted to help his homeland Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
during the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
. He was the first pilot to desert from the JNA. He was shot down in 1995 by Serbian Krajina military forces resulting in his death.
Biography
Perešin was born in the village of Jakšinec, Gornja StubicaGornja Stubica
Gornja Stubica is in the Krapina-Zagorje county in Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 5,726 inhabitants in the area. An absolute majority of them which are Croats....
near the Croatian capital of Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. He entered Military Pilot Academy in Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
, Croatia. He graduated in 1981 with outstanding scores at the top of his class as one of the best fighter pilots of the JNA.
In 1990, as the JNA was preparing for a military campaign in Croatia Perešin decided to defect to help defend his homeland, realizing how risky that plan was. Like all Croatian-born personnel, he was under close phone and visual surveillance by the Serbian Ministry of Interior. That did little to discourage him so on October 25, 1991, he flew over to Austria after a brief chase by five Serbian MiG-29's
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
flying out of Kraljevo-Lađevci Airport. Although the five MiGs caught up with Rudi, he managed to dodge their radars by flying below 500 meters where airplane radars are ineffective.
Croats recognize him as one of the greatest heroes of the war, his defection dealing a powerful blow to the morale and political agendas of the enemy while simultaneously giving a huge boost to morale, defiance and pride to Croats, who were fighting for their freedom against seemingly hopeless odds. After landing in Klagenfurt, he explained his action saying: "I am a Croat and I cannot and will not fire upon my Croatia".
The MiG-21 he used to defect can be viewed in front of the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum
The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum is a military history museum located in Vienna, Austria. It claims to be the oldest and largest purpose-built military history museum in the world...
(military history museum) in Vienna. On May 2, 1995 while providing close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
to the Croatian Army during Operation Flash
Operation Flash
The Serbs in western Slavonia took part in the organized rebellion against the government of the Republic of Croatia that had just proclaimed independence in June 1991, by proclaiming the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia in August 1991...
he was shot down over Stara Gradiška
Stara Gradiška
Stara Gradiška is a village and a municipality in the Brod-Posavina county of Croatia. It has 542 residents, while the municipality has 1,717 , in six other smaller villages...
by anti-aircraft artillery from the military of Serbian Krajina
Military of Serbian Krajina
* Armored Vehicles** T-34/85** T-55** T-72 ** M-84 ** PT-76** OT M-60** BVP M-80** BOV ** BRDM-2** M36 Jackson** M18 Hellcat* Artillery** M-63 Plamen** M-77 Oganj * Anti-aircraft ** ZSU-57-2** M53/59 Praga...
. He was buried with full military honors in Mirogoj cemetery of Zagreb.
Today, the Croatian Air Force Flight School in Zadar and Aviation High School in Velika Gorica
Velika Gorica
Velika Gorica is the largest and most populous city in Zagreb County, Croatia. The city itself has a population of 31,341, while the municipality has a population of 63,511 inhabitants .Velika Gorica is the centre of the historical Turopolje region....
are both named in his honor.
External links
- http://arhiva.kurir-info.rs/Arhiva/2007/jun/14/V-03-14062007.shtml