President Milanović at the Commemoration of the Fallen Croatian Pilots in Otok: This was courage of a special kind
“These four heroes deserve a special chapter in the great story that has been written and retold for years. They died 34 years ago, and as long as we remember them, something continues to flow among us – in a way, they remain alive. Alive just like the small number of people who defended Croatia in 1991, because we often say that Croatia was defended by a few good people. Later, it was liberated by a somewhat larger number of good people, but those who were here at the very beginning were a small and rare group,” said the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović at today’s commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the deaths of Croatian Air Force pilots Marko Živković and Mirko Vukušić, paratroopers Rade Griva and Ante Plazibat, as well as 27 Croatian defenders and civilians from Otok.
“Živković, a MiG-21 pilot with a great flying career ahead of him, and Vukušić, who flew another supersonic aircraft – these were men who placed themselves in heroic service and loyalty to the Croatian state. Their chances of survival were small. With full respect for all fighters, pilots are solitary figures – a special kind of people. Anyone who had the courage and audacity to fly for Croatia, for his family and his country, in agricultural planes made of canvas and wood, with a target drawn on his forehead the entire time – that is courage of a special category. And for that, glory to them; we will never forget them. Faithful to the homeland,” President Milanović said in his address.
The commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the deaths of pilots Marko Živković and Mirko Vukušić and paratroopers Rade Griva and Ante Plazibat began with the laying of wreaths and the lighting of candles at the monument in the centre of Otok near Vinkovci. They were the first Croatian airmen to fall in the Homeland War. The four members of the First Independent Air Platoon from Osijek were killed while carrying out a combat mission on the night of 2 December 1991, near Otok, when their aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by the air defences of the former JNA.
Alongside President Milanović, wreaths were laid and candles lit by family members and relatives, their comrades, and numerous delegations. Tribute was also paid to the 27 Croatian defenders and civilians from Otok who were killed or went missing in the Homeland War.
President Milanović was accompanied by Marijan Mareković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas