Overview

The air force of Tito's Yugoslavia has had many different peculiarities - from a unique Cold War position of having operated a mix of US, Soviet, and indigenous aircraft and equipment, to the changeable strategies in case of war. One such feature was an entire underground air base constructed inside a hill near the town of Bihac, in western Bosnia. 'The Object' was the core, the heart, of this air base: it housed four MiG-21 squadrons for nearly 25 years, until the civil war tore Yugoslavia apart. 'The Object' was built as the outcome of Yugoslav military efforts to build up its independent defence capabilities, especially the air force which was regarded as the strategic tool in keeping Tito's Yugoslavia's independence from both Cold War blocks. There were a few other underground shelters built at Yugoslavia's air bases, but Bihac underground air base remained the only underground facility which was permanently used. Bihac Air Base was constructed directly on the border between two former federal states of Yugoslavia, now two independent countries: The Republic of Croatia, and The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Indeed, their post-independence border runs between the former taxiways and underground entrances. Nowadays, its ruins are a place of pilgrimage by many aviation and military enthusiasts, and is known as 'Zeljava', after a nearby village on the Croatian side. In its five chapters this book provides an in-depth account of the design and construction of the air base and its 'underground object', and a detailed account of the activities of its MiG-21 squadrons and everyday operations in the period between 1968 and 1991. The book concludes with an exhaustive description of combat operations during the final year of the existence of the Bihac Air Base in 1991-1992, under the conditions of the civil war. AUTHORS: Bojan Dimitrijevic is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Contemporary History, in Belgrade, Serbia. Milan Micevski is an entrepreneur from Belgrade, he has been exploring archives and collecting data on aviation history for more than three decades. 136 b/w & 8 colour photos, 12 colour profiles, 7 b/w & 2 colour maps, 1 b/w diagram, 6 tables

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9781913118679

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Reviews

This slim but information packed book is an excellent new addition to Helion's Europe @ War series. * Wargames Illustrated * ''Lots of archive images throughout, many from personal collections of those who were based there, and who also contribute their memories of the period. Designed with one entrance plus 4 exits, this is really interesting reading for any aviation enthusiast with reference to the Cold War period.'' * Military Model Scene *

This slim but information packed book is an excellent new addition to Helion's Europe @ War series. * Wargames Illustrated *

This slim but information packed book is an excellent new addition to Helion's Europe @ War series. * Wargames Illustrated * ''Lots of archive images throughout, many from personal collections of those who were based there, and who also contribute their memories of the period. Designed with one entrance plus 4 exits, this is really interesting reading for any aviation enthusiast with reference to the Cold War period.'' * Military Model Scene * The level of detail is staggering, including accounts from those involved at the very start. [...] This book is of special interest to each of them [military personnel] as well as to aviation buffs. Highly recommended. * Miniature Wargames - John Drewienkiewicz *

Author Information

Bojan Dimitrijevic is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Contemporary History, in Belgrade, Serbia. Educated at the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad, CEU Budapest and University of Bradford, he was custodian of the Yugoslav Aviation Museum before, serving as advisor to the Minister to the Serbian MoD, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of Serbia, and as Assistant to the Minister of Defence. His has researched the military history of Yugoslavia, and the Balkans in the Second World War, Cold War, and conflicts since, he has published over 50 books and 100 scientific articles in Serbia and abroad. Milan Micevski is an entrepreneur from Belgrade, he has been exploring archives and collecting data on aviation history for more than three decades. He is considered one of the leading experts in the field of the Yugoslav Air Force as well as Soviet Aviation in former Yugoslavia. With Bojan Dimitrijević, he has so far co-authored seven books on different aspects of Yugoslav Air Force history, and has worked with other authors two other volumes.

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