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🇭🇷 Croatia /Culture & Society

Story of Croatian war hero Perešin reaches audiences worldwide: “I am a Croat. I cannot and will not fire on my own people”

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Croatia is holding the 29th Rudi Gatherings in honor of Rudolf Perešin, a celebrated pilot who defected from the Yugoslav army in a MiG-21 and landed in Austria 35 years ago.
  • The central air program in Gornja Stubica includes Croatian military and general aviation aircraft, the Wings of Storm aerobatic team, police special units and air forces from neighboring countries.
  • Retired pilot Ivan Selak recalled Perešin’s death in 1995 and the later recovery and identification of his remains.

Thirty-five years after Rudolf Perešin flew a MiG-21 out of the former Yugoslav army and landed in Austria, his story remains at the center of one of Croatia’s largest air events. The 29th Rudi Gatherings are being held this weekend in honor of the legendary Croatian Air Force pilot, a hero of the Homeland War and an honorary citizen of Zagreb and Gornja Stubica.

The main program takes place above Gornja Stubica, with aircraft from general aviation and the Croatian Air Force, the Wings of Storm aerobatic team, special units of the Interior Ministry and air forces from neighboring countries. Parachutists also have a special part in the program. Organizers have advised visitors to watch from nearby hills and viewpoints.

Perešin first defected in a MiG-21 35 years ago. Instead of monitoring the Yugoslav army’s withdrawal from Slovenia, he made the flight to Austria, dealing what the article describes as a heavy blow to the attacking force.

I am a Croat. I cannot and will not fire on my own people.

· Rudolf PerešinThe statement is cited in the headline as the defining message of the Croatian pilot’s defection.

Ivan Selak, a retired pilot and Perešin’s colleague, recalled the day Perešin died on May 2, 1995. Selak wrote that he wished the day had never happened and described the painful search by Perešin’s wife, Ljerka, for her husband and his remains. She found them after two years and three months.

Selak said he was present during the identification of the remains on a bridge in Gradiška. Perešin had been hit after ejecting and fell into the Sava River. His body was later found several dozen kilometers downstream. The supplied account ends as Selak describes seeing the remains wrapped in a tent canvas, with the pilot’s anti-G suit still on him.

May 2, 1995, was a Tuesday. Today the date is the same, but 29 years have passed since a day I wish had never happened, had never dawned, and that I could delete if I were a computer.

· Ivan SelakSelak recalled Perešin’s death in an emotional social media post.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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