17th anniversary of the death of Rudolf Perešin
The 17th anniversary of the death of the Croatian Air Force pilot Colonel Rudolf Perešin that was killed in 1995 during the execution of combat mission in the “Flash” military-police operation was commemorated today, May 2, by laying a wreath on Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb.
Celebration was attended by the delegation of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, led by Commander of the 91st Air Force Base Brigadier Darko Brajković and the family of Colonel Perešin.
Rudolf was born on 25 March 1958 in Jakšinec in Gornja Stubica municipality. In the last year of elementary school he decides to become military pilot. At the beginning of the Homeland War, he was flaying within 352 aviation reconnaissance squadron (352 IAE) of the back then Yugoslav Air Force, based in a large military airport near Bihać. On 25 October 1991, he flees to Austria by his MiG, where he says his famous words: “I am a Croat! I cannot and do not want to shoot on other Croats.” After four days he returned to Croatia and got actively involved in the defence of Croatia and later became the Commander of the 1st Air Force fighter squadron.
Pilot Rudolf Perešin was killed during the “Flash”military operation, after the enemy force downed his MiG-21 on 2 May 1995. His remains were returned to Croatia on 4 August 1997, and on 15 September 1997 he was buried at City Cemetery Mirogoj. Rudolf Perešin died as Commander of the 21st fighter squadron of the 91st Air Force Base Pleso. He participated in all combat operations of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence. He was awarded with the Order of Duke Domagoj with necklace, Order of Nikola Šubic Zrinski, Order of Ban Jelačić, Order of Zrinski and Frankopan with gilding, Order of Stjepan Radić, the Homeland War and Homeland Gratitude memorials. He is also the holder of the “Exceptional undertakings” and “Flash” medals.