Predrag Milutinović "Grof" (the Count) - experienced pilot who survived the downing of a MiG-29

Predrag Milutinović, known among his colleagues as "Pera Grof", was a lieutenant colonel and a pilot of the Air Force of the Yugoslav Army. He earned the nickname "Grof" (the Count, a nobleman) because of his experience and composure.

Training in the USSR

Milutinović was part of the original group of Yugoslav pilots who were trained to fly the MiG-29 in the Soviet Union in 1987. Alongside him, other pilots of the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment also completed the training, including Ljubiša Kulačin.

Combat flight - 24 March 1999

On the first day of the NATO aggression, Lieutenant Colonel Milutinović took off on his first combat mission in the MiG-29. After successfully completing the task, he was returning to base at an altitude of only 600 metres.

At that moment the generator failed and the aircraft was hit. According to some sources, it is possible that it was hit by friendly fire due to problems in the coordination of the air defence system.

Milutinović ejected successfully and survived. On that first night of the bombing, of the pilots who took off, Major Nebojša Nikolić, Major Dragan Ilić and Lieutenant Colonel Predrag Milutinović survived.

Comrades-in-arms

Milutinović proudly mentions his fellow MiG-29 pilots from 1999: Milenko Pavlović and Zoran Radosavljević (who gave their lives for the homeland), as well as Ilja Arizanov, Nebojša Nikolić, Slobodan Perić, Dragan Ilić, Abdul Emeti, Ljubiša Kulačin and Bora Zoraja.

Legacy

Lieutenant Colonel Predrag Milutinović is one of the pilots who survived the unequal battle against NATO aviation. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he showed exceptional patriotism and courage, taking off into battle despite technical inferiority and the enemy's overwhelming superiority.