20 godina od poslednjeg leta pilota koji je voleo da jedri

[Милан Ракић]

Pod ciničnim izgovorom „humanitarne intervencije“, u večernjim satima 24. marta 1999, 18 zemalja članica NATO (jedino se Grčka uzdržala od učešća) napalo je Saveznu republiku Jugoslaviju. Tako je, na kraju XX veka, točak sudbine ponovo doveo nemačke, italijanske, turske, francuske, britanske i američke avione na nebo Srbije i Crne Gore. Ovaj put, arhineprijatelji i nekada veliki saveznici su dolazili ruku pod ruku kao agresori, uz pridružene vazduhoplovne kontigente Belgije, Kanade, Danske, Holandije, Norveške, Portugala i Španije.

Nemar, nedostatak novca i izolacija tokom devedesetih godina prošlog veka doveli su lovačke snage RV i PVO u očajan položaj. Jedini avioni teoretski sposobni da se suprostave NATO armadi od preko 1.000 vazduhoplova iz 59 baza širom 12 zemalja bili su 14 MiGova 29 rane verzije 9-12B (L-18) i par dvoseda NL-18 varijante 9-51 iz 127.lae ‘Vitezovi’. Nabavljeni 1987, što zbog nedostatka rezervnih delova što zbog činjenice da su još 1996. bili zreli za remont, jedva da su bili u letnom stanju. Njihovi piloti bili su ozbiljno hendikepirani, sa naletom od svega par desetina sati u prethodnim godinama. Priterane uza zid, u predvečerje rata majušne snage raštrkane su širom zemlje: dva L-18 sa četiri pilota nalazila su se u Nišu, jedan L-18 sa dva pilota u Podgorici, dva L-18 sa četiri pilota na Ponikvama, četiri L-18 i jedan NL-18 sa 11 pilota na Batajnici. Četiri L-18 i jedan NL-18 na Batajnici nisu ni bili u letnom stanju.

L-18 iz 127. lae „Vitezovi“ sa četiri rakete vazduh-vazduh R-60 i dve R-27 na pilonima pod krilima u armirano-betonskom skloništu na Batajnici.
Foto: Darko Perišić

Prvi sukobi sa NATO pokazali su ono čega su se mnogi u RV i PVO plašili i na šta su upozoravali. Suočeni sa taktički, tehnnološki i brojčano nadmoćnim neprijateljem, sa lošim sistemom navođenja i otkazima najvažnijih sistema u kritičnim trenucima, piloti 127. lae mogli su da se uzdaju samo u svoju hrabrost i sreću. Kao da to sve nije bilo dovoljno, sopstvene protivavionske jedinice su se pokazale podjednako opasnim kao i neprijateljski lovci. Pet ‘vitezova’ je poletelo između 19.50 i 20.40 kako bi se suprostavili prvim borbenim grupama od oko 100 neprijateljskih aviona. Dva su se digla iz Niša. Major Iljo Arizanov je oboren južno-jugoistočno od Prištine – verovatno vatrom sa zemlje od ‘prijateljske’ baterije SA-6. Katapultirao se iznad oblasti pod kontrolom albanskih terorista i probio do aerodroma Slatina dva dana kasnije. L-18 majora Dragana Ilića je pogođen radarski navođenom raketom AIM-120 u nos, ali je uspeo da normalno sleti na niški aerodrom. Od dva aviona koja su uzletela sa Batajnice u sred vazdušnog napada, major Nebojša Nikolić je izbegao dve rakete AIM-120 da bi se katapultirao nakon što ga je pogodila treća kod sela Knićanin, dok je major Nebojša Kulačin po izbegavanju jedne rakete sleteo na aerodrom Surčin. Peti L-18, koji se uzdigao sa Ponikvi, je oboren raketom zemlja-vazduh SA-6 na prilazu niškom aerodromu, major Predrag Milutinović se katapultirao u blizini Male Reke na Jastrepcu. Na svakom od ovih aviona došlo je do otkaza bilo uređaja za indikaciju radarske ozračenosti SPO-15 ili radara S-29.

L-18 ev.br. 18113 rula prema pisti tokom aeromitinga na Batajnici 15. juna 1997. Ovaj avion, fabričkog broja 2960525142, je uveden na stanje
RV i PVO 24. aprila 1988 / Foto: Aleksandar Radić

Ujutro 26. marta, major Slobodan Perić i kapetan I klase Zoran Radosavljević zajedno su se uputili sa Novog Beograda na komandno mesto 127.lae smešteno između Stare i Nove Pazove. Kada je trebalo odmeniti dežurni par, dobrovoljno su se javili da zauzmu mesta u kabinama, Perić kao vođa u L-18 ev.br. 18114 i Radosavljević u ulozi pratioca u ev.br. 18113. Bilo je 16.45 kada su dobili naređenje za poletanje – činjenica da su ga primili preko Radosavljevićevog mobilnog telefona najbolje opisuje sa čime su se suočavali piloti 127.lae!

Dva ‘viteza’ su uzletela osam minuta kasnije i vođa je brzo ustanovio da mu radar ne radi. Po dolasku nad Zrenjanin u brišućem letu, naređeno im je da zauzmu kurs jug-jugozapad i kad su bili desno od sela Koševac, javljeno im je da je neprijatelj nad Valjevom. Držeći se zadatog kursa, po preletu Save kod Šapca, par se popeo kroz oblake i ubrzo se našao na visini od 7.000 m. Oficir za navođenje ih je obavestio da su neprijateljski avioni na jedan sat, na daljini od 60 km i da se udaljavaju. Vođa ga je upozorio da će postojećim kursom preći granicu, ali nije dobio odgovor. Uskoro je Radosavljević upozorio Perića da na svom SPO-15 ima indikaciju da su u radarskom zahvatu sa desne strane, pa je vođa naredio manevar ‘makaze’ i nakon 30 do 40 sekundi par se vratio na pređašnji kurs. Odmah potom oficir za navođenje ih je upozorio da izgleda da se neprijatelj vraća pravo ka njima. Dok su pokušavali da na nebu uoče protivnika, vođa je video četiri traga na paralelnom kursu, na 10 do 15 km udesno, i kad su tragovi nestali shvatio je da su to rakete vazduh-vazduh. Viknuo je pratiocu da beži i pošao u spuštajući zaokret sa nekih 6 do 7 G, dok je Radosavljević odgovorio da beži u oblake. Nakon što je izbegao prvu raketu AIM-120, druga je Perićev L-18 pogodila u desnu stranu trupa. Katapultirao se i prizemljio u ataru sela Donja Trnova u Republici Srpskoj. Prihvatili su ga lokalni Srbi i vratili kući u roku od nekoliko sati. Njegov pratilac nije bio te sreće: raketa AIM-120 je pogodila L-18 ev.br. 18113 u blizini kabine u 17.12, na visini od 7.800 m i usmrtila ga na mestu. Avion se raspao i Zoran Radosavljević je pao u zaseok Žuge, sa delimično otvorenim padobranom. Meštani su našli njegovo telo i prebacili ga u Srbiju; 34-godišnji pilot posmrtno je unapređen u čin majora i odlikovan Medaljom za hrabrost. Kasnije se pokazalo da u trenutku kada su dva MiGa podignuta ni jedan avion NATO nije bio u vazdušnom prostoru Srbije i da ih je oficir za navođenje poslao direktno na dežurnu paru koja je patrolirala nad Bosnom i Hercegovinom! Obojicu je oborio pilot F-15C serijskog broja USAF 86-01556 kapetan (Captain) Džef Hvang iz 493. lovačkog skvadrona (Fighter Squadron) 48. lovačkog puka (Fighter Wing).

U kabini L-18. Levo od merdevina vidi se zafarbano mesto gde su ranije bile ucrtane poslednje tri cifre ev.br.RV i PVO / Foto: Darko Perišić

U narednim nedeljama, sa L-18 su izvršena još četiri borbena leta. Poslednji je završio pogibijom potpukovnika Milenka Pavlovića, komandanta 204.lap, kod Petnice 4. maja. Svega četiri L-18 i jedan NL-18 su dočekala kraj rata 10. juna: šest L-18 je oboreno, jedan je izgubljen u udesu, tri L-18 i jedan NL-18 su uništeni na zemlji.

Zoran Radosavljević je rođen 26. februara 1965. u Prištini. Njegov otac je bio pešadijski podoficir JNA i familija se često selila i pre dolaska u Beograd 1977. živela je u Skoplju i Kruševcu. Po završetku osnovne škole, 1979. upisao je vazduhoplovnu gimnaziju ‘Maršal Tito’ u Mostaru. U 36. klasu VVA stupio je 1983. Po selekciji za lovce, diplomirao je 1987. kao peti u rangu. Te godine, po prvi put u istoriji RV i PVO, svih 11 diplomiranih pilota supersoničnih lovaca raspoređeni su u 128. lae batajničkog 204. lap, opremljenu sa L-17 i NL-16 (MiG 21UM). Tokom 1990. rasformirana je 128. lae a njen sastav preveden u 126. lae. Po izbijanju građanskog rata u leto 1991, aktivno je učestvovao u borbenim operacijama nad Hrvatskom i kasnije nad Bosnom i Hercegovinom. Kao jedan od najperspektivnijih pilota eskadrile, 1992. je završio preobuku na L-18 i kao najmlađi pilot na tipu u RV i PVO prešao u 127. lae.

Poručnik Zoran Radosavljević (sedi u sredini) pored L-17 ev.br.17228 iz 126.lae tokom aeromitinga na Batajnici 20. maja 1990. MiG 21bis ev.br.17228 je uništen na aerodromu Batajnica dejstvom NATO-a u proleće 1999 / Foto: Danijel Šunter

Energičan mladi čovek, sa širokim vidicima i interesovanjima, Zoran Radosavljević je izlazio iz strogih vojnih okvira. Ubrzo po okončanju VVA, počeo je da se bavi svojom drugom životnom strašću – jedrenjem – i kao kvalifikovani skiper 1992. osnovao je jedriličarski klub ‘Polaris’. Tokom 1996. upisao je magistarske studije na Saobraćajnom fakultetu u Beogradu i juna 1998. magistrirao na temu satelitske navigacije. Četiri meseca kasnije otpočeo je sa studijama engleskog jezika na Višoj vojnoj školi u Beogradu, istovremeno pripremajući doktorat. Zbog toga skoro da nije leteo tokom 1998. Na dužnost na aerodromu Batajnica javio se 23. marta 1999, iako pre toga duže od šest meseci nije seo u avion.

Piloti 127. lae: majori Slobodan Tešanović i Ljubomir Đorđević, i kapetani I klase Radosavljević i Milovan Đorđević / Foto: porodica Radosavljević

Danas porodica, prijatelji i kolege ne odustaju od čuvanja žive uspomene na hrabrog pilota i jedriličara. Glavna ulica u Batajnici nazvana je po njemu. Svakog 2. decembra, među pripadnicima 204. vazduhoplovne brigade, koju čine sve jedinice na aerodromu Batajnica, biraju se najbolji za odeljenje koje nosi njegovo ime. Saobraćajni fakultet uveo je njemu u čast nagradu za najboljeg diplomca na Odseku za vazdušni saobraćaj i transport. Konačno, svake godine održava se memorijalna, ‘Zokijeva regata’, okupljajući kako iskusne skipere u klasama Kruzer i Mikro, tako i najmlađe takmičare u kategoriji Optimist.

Priložene fotografije dobijene su od porodice Zorana Radosavljevića, Danijela Šuntera (L-17 ev.br.17228), Darka Perišića (Batajnica 1993.) i Aleksandra Radića (L-18 ev.br.18113).

Odlomak iz knjige „Zaboravljeni album“.

Petar VOJINOVIĆ

[Милан Ракић]

Američki pilot Jeffrey C.J. Hwang pozira pored svog lovca F-15C. Dve zelene zvezde simbolišu vazdušne pobede koje je ovaj pilot postigao 26. marta 1999. godine nad jugoslovenskim avionima MIG-29.

Pored oznaka oborenih aviona, ovaj pilot nosi na duši i jedan mladi život, svog kolege pilota Zorana Radosavljevića.

Ovde možete pročitati (na engleskom) komunikaciju (i Hwangov opis događaja) tokom "vazdušne bitke" 26. marta 1999. godine između NATO aviona, kapetana Jeffrey C.J. Hwang, kapetana J. Boomer" McMurray i aviona za rano upozoravanje i kontrolu u vazduhu (AWAKS) E-3 Sentry:

While on a sortie over Bosnia on March 26th, 1999 during Operation Allied Force, Captain Jeffrey C. J. Hwang identified two aircraft in violation of Bosnian airspace and NATO peace-keeping directives. After spotting the aircraft on radar, Hwang and his wingman, Captain J. "Boomer" McMurray, turned deeper into Bosnian airspace and assumed a position of disadvantage both to determine the intent of the other pilots and to avoid a confrontation along the border. But the Serbian aircraft continued to close in on the F-15Cs and NATO forces on the ground. The F-15 pilot’s training then took over as he maneuvered to take a shot at the rapidly approaching aircraft. Both Hwang (flying a Lakenheath AFB (LN) F-15C S/N 86-0156) and his wingman (flying a Lakenheath AFB (LN) F-15C S/N 84-0014) fired AIM-120 missiles. Later investigation revealed only Hwang’s two missiles had reached and destroyed the targets - two MiG-29s from the Serbian Air Force (one piloted by Major Slobodon Peric, who ejected safely; the other piloted by Captain First Class Radosavljevic, who was killed in action as a result). 

Captain Hwang became the first pilot in combat aviation history to single-handedly and simultaneously destroy two enemy aircraft during a single intercept using radar-guided missiles. In recognition to his achievement, he was awarded the Mackay Trophy on September 14th, 2001 in Washington, D.C. The aircraft flying as Hwang's wingman during the shootdown (84-0014) later scored a kill during Operation Desert Storm. On March 20th, 1991, Captain John T. Donesky was credited with one Iraqi SU-22 kill with the same F-15 involved in this recording. 

Dirk One (F-15C, Serial 86-0156)
- Pilot: Captain Jeffrey C. J. Hwang (Dirk1)

Dirk Two (F-15C, Serial 84-0014- Wingman
- Pilot: Captain J. "Boomer" McMurray (Dirk2)

Magic Seven-seven
- AWACs E-3 Sentry (Magic77)

Terms
----------------------------
Bogey/Bandit- Enemy aircraft
Bullseye- Secret code for aircraft location
Given in a heading from center of bullseye, distance from center, altitude, and direction of flight
EX: 254 (heading), 45 (miles), 23 Thousand (altitude), Westbound (direction)
Fox Three- Announcement that an AIM-120 missile has been launched
Picture- Current situation (any threats around)
Splash- Enemy kill + the number (ex. Splash Two mean two enemy kills)
----------------------------
Magic77- "All clean, Magic Seven-seven, Magic, clean, bulls, zero-three-zero, forty-five.
Magic77- "Magic break break. All clean. Magic, picture, bogey bulls zero-two-zero, forty-five, westbound, twenty thousand, radar track."
Dirk1- "Verify contact there. Arm hot. Magic, Dirk, request purple onion."
Magic77- "Standby."
Dirk2- "Contact there."
Dirk1- "(? walked on) two MiG-29's."
Dirk2- "One-four, forty-five, twenty-three thousand!"
Magic77- "Magic, the same contact, bogey, radar, twenty-two thousand."
Dirk1- "Dirk Two, Threat hostile, hostile. Dirk Two, engage there. Bogey, bandit maneuvring northbound."
Dirk2- "Two show's same. Two's engaged."
Dirk1- "Press."
Dirk2- "Zero-five-five, twenty-four BRA, twenty thousand."
Dirk1- "Dirk come back in."
Magic77- "Maneuvring north, twenty-four thousand. Magic has two contact."
Dirk1- "Copy, two contacts there."
Dirk2- "Fox Three!"
Magic??- "I have, ah, Frank Three-five up. That's about it. It's all yours. Ahw, he's descending to two-three-zero, if he's not there already." (extranious comm, not related to incident. It is from an AWACs flight, a combat air controller is switching shifts, and his relief is giving him the picture. The recorder of this comm might have switched frequencies, and in the mean time, Dirk1 probably launched his 2 AIM-120s, since there is no mention of this till "Splash 2!")
Magic77- "One bandit is turning hot. (?) Forty-one."
Dirk2- "Eighteen thousand, nose eight miles."
Dirk1- "Dirk One, tally one nose."
Magic77- "He's at, twenty-four thousand, southbound."
Dirk1- "Splash Two! Splash Two! MiG-29! Bullseye, three-six-zero, thirty-six! ? radar."
Magic77- "You copied the Splash Two?"
Dirk1- "A-firm, Splash Two!"
Magic77- "Eighty-five, picture clean, picture clean. Clean, give me the bogey's position. Magic, roger, bulls zero-zero-five, thirty-five east bound." 

Monday, June 07, 1999 8:32 AM 
As told by "Claw" Hwang - MiG killer: 

Well, I'm finally back in England after being TDY since the end of January, at least for two weeks anyway. Got sent direct to Cervia AB, Italy, from Operation Northern Watch in Turkey after being at the Incirlik AB for over 7 weeks ("Luv the 'Lik" no 'mo ! ). My house and yard is a total mess! There doesn't seem to be an end in sight in the Kosovo situation, but the war is over for me for a while. Some of you probably already heard throught the grapevine about what happened to "Boomer" Mcmurry and I. Here's the proverbial "Rest of the Story"... 

Boomer and I were tasked as Bosnia-Herzgovinia DCA on 26 Mar, vul time from 1500Z to 1900Z. We were established on CAP over Tuzla for about an hour after initial refueling. At 1602Z, while eastbound approaching the Bosnia/Yugoslavia border, I got a radar contact 37 nm to the east, 6k', beaming south at over 600kts. Of course AWACS had no clue and did not have any inkling of someone was flying on the other side of border (although he was real good at calling out every single friendly WEST of us!). 

I called out the contact and Boomer was locked same. Without an ID and not tactically sound to cross the border at the time, I elected to pump our formation in a right hand turn through south and called "PU**** UP, BURNER, TAPES ON!" (we were initially flying .85M, 28K') and rolled out heading west/southwest. At that time I didn't think anything much would happen. I figured the contact would probably continue south or turn east and remain well on the east side of the border. Nevertheless, I called the flight lead of the south CAP over Sarajevo and gave him a craniums up on the posit of contact, altitude, and the heading. This entire time AWACS still had no radar contact, even after I called it out on the radio. 

Man, running away with the contact at our six o'clock with AWACS not having any clue was NOT comfortable! Boomer and I continued west for a total of 60 sec (about 10 nm) before I directed the formation to turn back hot, again turning through south in an attempt to get some cut-off. Boomer was on the northside of the formation(left side as we rolled out heading east). We both got contact 070 degrees for 37 nm, 23k', target now heading west (hot towards us). AWACS finally woke up and starting seeing the same thing. Now, I'm starting to think, "@#%$ IS GONNA HAPPEN" (evident with the increase of about two octaves in my voice!). 

Checked AAI for friendly squawk: nobody home! We still needed to get clearance from AWACS to engage, so I requested (codeword) and got no reply from the controller (pretty sure he had no 'freakin clue what that codeword meant!). About this time both Boomer and I got good ID on the target in our own cockpit and with threat hot towards us inside 30 nm decided to blow off the AWACS/clearance to engage restriction and go for it! 

Target was now inside 30 nm and I directed Boomer to target the single group. I broke lock and went back to search in 40 nm scope and 120 sweep. The target check turn towards northwest (about 14L aspect) and descend to high teens. Boomer and I checked about 30 deg left to northeast for cutoff. This check turn slung me aft in the formation so I stroke it up to full AB to get more line abreast. I called "COMBAT 1, ARM HOT" and saw Boomer's wing tanks come off with bright flames under the wing. Pretty impressive! 

I was well over the Mach when I punched my tanks off and the jet jumped up abruptly (you can see it in the HUD). Took a quick look back to check and see if my stabs were still intact... I rolled my elevation coverage looking from about 5K' to 21K' and no kidding stay in search for at least one full frame (believe me, I wanted to go back to single target track SO DAMN BAD !!!) 

Ed note: They have an system identification that they've got at least one MiG. Claw had the discipline to break lock and search. 

AWACS started calling out two contacts, lead trail. Sure enough, I was starting to see the breakout on my scope! At about 20nm, Boomer called "FOX 3, 18K' !". I saw the cons/smoke came from his jet and thought: SONOFABITCH!!!! I gotta get me some!!! I commanded mini-raster on the leader and as soon as the radar lock (about 17nm), immediately thumb forward to HDTWS. My first shot came off inside 16 nm from the leader. When I pressed the pickle button, it seemed like an ETERNITY before the missile actually launched, but when it did...WOW!!!! I have never shot an AMRAAM or AIM-7 before at WSEP (and I don't think I have a chance in hell of shooting more missiles at WSEP after this!). The missile came off with such a loud roar/whoosh, I not only heard it clearly in the cockpit above the wind noise, radio comm, ear plug, and helmet, I actually FELT the rocket motor roar! In the HUD, you can see the flames shooting out from the tail end of the missile, and the smoke and cons following it! 

Stepped immediately to the trailer in HDTWS and press and held the pickle button for at least 3 seconds. Again, thinking: COME ON, DAMN IT! LAUNCH!!! The second missile came off just as impressive as the first after the same painful delay. I yelled "Dirk 1, Fox 6, lead trail!" ("Cricket" Renner later critique my comm as incorrect 3-1 terminology... EAT ME!!!) 

Since Boomer was the primary shooter, I assumed he was locked to the leader, so I kept the trailer as the PDT. Didn't want to screw with a good thing, I stayed in HDTWS inside 10nm ("Dozer" Shower, our WIC dude, promptly crititiqued me for NOT going STT inside 10nm upon reviewing my VSD tape, thus I still have to pass my Intercept ride!). Both targets started a check turn to the southwest (14L to 16R aspect) and continued to descent to low teens. Approaching 10nm, checking RWR to make sure we weren't targeted: "Dirk 1 naked !" "Dirk 2 naked !" 

"Dirk, let's go pure! "From 30K', both of us rolled our jets inverted and pointed nose low directly at the TD box on the HUD, and pulled throttle to idle. I think my heart rate at this time was reaching my aerobic limit for my age (you know, that formula: 220 minus age...)! Against a broken cloud background, I saw a tiny dot in the TD box about 7 to 8 nm out. "Dirk 1, tally ho nose 7 nm, low ! "Realizing I saw the trailer, I was praying Boomer would soon follow up with a tally call on the leader. Approaching 5 nm, I'm scanning in front of the trailer for the leader but no joy. @#%$! The trailer continued his left turn to southwest and I was looking at approx 14R aspect. Inside of 5 nm, thumb aft to AIM-9 and tried twice to uncage but the tone was not there. 

Just then, between the HUD and the canopy bow (about right 12:30 to 1 o'clock position), I saw the leader explode! The best visual description I can think of is if you held a torch from one of those Hawaiian Luau party, and swing it through the air. The flame with a extended tail trailing the torch is exactly what I saw! Turning my attention back to the trailer, the trailer exploded into a streaking flame seconds later just as I tried to uncage the missile the third time! Never mind! "DIRK 1, SPASH TWO MIG-29s, B/E 360/35 !!! 

"Heater, I'm ashamed... I was screaming like a woman! Didn't really bothered to keep an eye on the fireballs, so I didn't see any chutes. Later report confirmed both pilots ejected safely. Not that neither Boomer nor I would've felt bad if they morted. Anyway, I called for Boomer and I to reference 080 heading and short range radar. Thumbed aft to AUTOGUNS and plug in full AB and accelerated to 460 kts at 20K'. My cranium was on a swivel and breathing like I just ran a full sprint! "Dirk 2, blind!" Crap!!!! I looked north and it took me a few seconds to find Boomer (about 3.5nm left and stacked high). Tried to talk his eyes back to me, but Boomer called out to west in a right turn. I waited a few seconds to sanitize and turned west as well. During the turn, I immediately pulled into double beeper due to airspeed and Gs (looking back, I should've over G so the mission would've been more impressive...). 

Rolling out, I was 3nm in trail of Boomer, so I had him shackle to the south to pick up line abreast. The fun wasn't over yet. Boomer got an AUTOGUN snap lock less than 10 nm south of us, low alt, with no ID. I told him to press for VID while I followed him 3 nm in trail. We were diving back down to the low teens and I saw ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on my radar! Boomer all of a sudden pulls up and yells "Dirk 2, unable ID!" That's BAD!!! 

I just about @#%$ in my pants! I saw nothing and after a few seconds I asked Boomer if he saw ANYTHING at all. Boomer said he didn't see anything, so we just stroke it up and separate to the northwest for a while, then came back for a second look. Nobody home! Boomer thought it may have been a bad radar lock. I sure hope so! The rest of the sortie was one excitement after another. 

While on the boom, AWACS controller started calling out every single ground traffic as possible contact crossing the border into Bosnia. For a while it sounded like amass attack on Tuzla! By now it was night time, and Boomer (in an offset3~5 nm trail) and I were still running around with our hair on fire! One time AWACS called out contacts very low alt moving towards Tuzla westbound. I didn't see squat on my tube, neither did Boomer. As the position of group started getting closer to Tuzla, I expected to see a burst of explosion from the airfield underneath! Boomer and I were gonna go from "heros to zeros" real soon! Finally I turned the GMTR setting on my trusty APG-70 to low and immediately saw the targets. Locked them up and show 80 kts ground speed! I wanted to reach through the mic and strangle the @#%$ out the controller! [vehicles] 

AWACS later called out MiG CAPs just 15 nm northeast of the border! Boomer and I were ready to "Pop a cap in their ass" across the border as soon as we got contact and ID! Again, nothing on the radar. We even did two iterations of grinder with a two ship of Vipers and no one got a solid radar hit. That night we committed and armed hot THREE MORE TIMES AFTER the MiG kills based on ridiculous AWACS calls! No kidding, by the time our replacement showed up (4 hours of vul time later), I was totally exhausted and drained! 

The flight across Adriatic was uneventful, and Boomer and I finally had a moment to think about what happened. After I landed and pulled into de-arm, I saw a freak in flight suit and wearing a reflective belt, jumping up and down. Sure enough, it was "Freak" O'Laughlin welcoming us back! Taxi back to the chocks was like having a bunch of kids following an ice cream truck! Everyone came running out and waited at the parking spot for Boomer and I. Boomer taxied in front of me as I pulled into my spot. Losing all professionalism and radio discipline (yada yada...), I called out on Ops freq: "Boomer, YOU'RE the @#%$!!!" 

Getting out of the jet and greeting all the bros and maintainers was THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY CAREER!!! Our Ops Group commander "Wilbur" Eddy was first to shake my hand, followed by the mob! We were laughing, shouting, hooting, high-fiving, and hugging! It was awesome! Couldn't wait to review the tapes, we all piled into the "Turtle" and watched my HUD tapes. Thank God it recorded everything clearly, including the fireball from the trailer. "Homer" Samuel and "Bull" Mitchum almost knocked me over when they came storming into the Turtle! We were all screaming and jumping so hard in the Turtle I though it was going to tip over! Too bad Boomer's VSD tape did not run, and his HUD tape was washed out due to high aperature setting. Boomer and I were laughing and high-fiving entire car ride home! We weren't even suppose to fly that day! 

Some afterthoughts: 

It no kidding took over a day for this to finally sink in. It felt almost surreal that day/night. "Fish" Bonita, our MX officer, said it best when he saw me hours after I shut down engines: "So, Claw, have you landed yet?" Only one word can describe this event: @#%$_UNBELIEVABLY_LUCKY!!! Not the fact we shot them down, but that they were airborne during our watch. Any Eagle driver could've easily done what Boomer and I did, but as "Heater" Griffin said: "You guys won the lottery!" 

The sequence of events happened in our favor like the planets lining up. The jets, the missiles, the radar (well, at least mine) performed marvelously! Our MX dudes deserve the bulk of the credit. We had no spares that day. The crew chiefs and the Pro Super, Jim Snyder, absolutely BUSTED THEIR ASS working red balls and launched us on time! Boomer, my wingman, what can I say? Regardless of whose missile hit which MiG, WE shot down two Fulcrums that afternoon. We succeed as a team, and fail as a team (good thing it was the former)! Boomer did an OUTSTANDING job of finding the group, working the ID matrix, and target according to plan. If I didn't have faith in him, I would not have broken lock to break out the lead trail formation. 

Of course I'm proud of what we did, but there's one thing I'll really stick out my chest for: To everyone who taught me and influenced me on my tactical flying and gave me long debriefs (though painful at times), especially "Razor" Johnson, "Elwood" Amidon, "Heater" Griffin (even though he's a meat gazer...), "Homer" Samuel, "Dozer" Shower, "Nuts" Destasio, and "Bear" Gibbs, I DID NOT LETYOU GUYS DOWN!!! It doesn't get much better than this guys! Well, maybe two more kills would be pretty cool...That's all I have to say about that! 

Claw out...

Hwangove fotografije iz ovog posta su nastale nakon njegovog poslednjeg leta pre penzionisanja iz 142. lovačkog vinga Nacionalne garde Oregona američkog RV, 19. septembra 2014. godine. 

Pukovnik u penziji Hwang je danas vođa posade na lajnerima Aljaska Erlajnza. Major Zoran Radosavljević je u nebeskoj eskadrili besmrtnika.

 

[Милан Ракић]

ДА СПАСЕМО БАР НЕКО ДИЈЕТЕ У ОВОЈ ЗЕМЉИ

Шта је човјек ако изгуби своју домовину? Ми пилоти морамо да преузмемо први удар на себе и тако спасемо бар неко дијете у овој земљи. 

Свештенослужитељи Епархије зворничко-тузланске су 26. марта 2019. године походили мјесто изнад мајевичког села Горња Трнова на којем је прије двије деценије пронађено тијело Зорана Радосављевића, српског пилота који је живот положио за ближње своје у току агресије НАТО пакта на нашу отаџбину.

Испред споменика Зорану Радосављевићу служен је парастос. Црква је узнијела молитве за човјека који се борио са 24 непријатељска авиона и у тој борби положио свој живот.

Тога дана прије двадесет година Зоран Радосављевић и његов колега пилот Слободан Перић узлетили су са аеродрома у Батајници. Иако знатно ослабљени, због неисправних система на њиховим авионима, ова два хероја су свјесно ишли да бране свој народ и отаџбину. Зоран је у то вријеме био најмлађи пилот ловац 204. aвијацијског пука РВ Војске Југославије.

 

Данас још увијек громко одјекују његове ријечи упућене мајци непосредно пред погибију: Мама, морам - рекао је тада Зоран мајци. - Шта је човјек ако изгуби своју домовину? Ми пилоти морамо да преузмемо први удар на себе и тако спасемо бар неко дијете у овој земљи. Својим свједочанством приносећи себе као жртву живу уткао се у ријечи Благо оном ко довијека живи, имао се рашта и родити.

 

Чувајући од заборава Зорана и његову жртву сваког марта ћемо се сабирати око мјеста његовог страдања, снажећи се његовом храброшћу, дивећи се његовом подвигу и исповиједајући вјеру да ће Господ свима дати по дјелима њиховим у Последњи Дан.