Slobodan Perić - the hero who survived the downing of a MiG-29 in 1999

Slobodan Perić was born on 15 January 1961 in Loznica. He was a Colonel and a pilot of the Air Force of the Yugoslav Army, one of the bravest defenders of the Serbian skies during the NATO aggression of 1999.

Combat flight - 26 March 1999

On the third day of the NATO bombing, Perić, together with Major Zoran Radosavljević, volunteered to take off from Batajnica Airport to intercept NATO aviation. Both flew MiG-29 aircraft, which were in a semi-serviceable condition with a radar range half that of the NATO fighters.

Both aircraft were hit by missiles from the American pilot Colonel Jeffrey Hwang from an F-15C Eagle fighter. Radosavljević was killed on the spot, but Perić successfully ejected from an altitude of about 7,000 meters and survived.

Decorations

For his heroic conduct in combat, Colonel Slobodan Perić was decorated with the Order for Bravery, which was presented to him by the President of the FRY, Slobodan Milošević. He was also a holder of the Golden Flying Badge, awarded to him by the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense, Colonel General Spasoje Smiljanić.

Life after the war

Perić retired in 2004 and lived in Belgrade from then on. On his estate in the village of Zavlaka near Krupanj he established an orchard and a distillery. He became known as an excellent producer of rakija and was awarded prizes at the Plum Fair in Osečina.

Tragic death - 29 May 2010

Colonel Slobodan Perić died on 29 May 2010 in a traffic accident on the Osečina-Gornje Crniljevo road - the road that leads toward the native village of his comrade-in-arms Milenko Pavlović. The accident occurred when the "Fiat Campagnola" jeep driven by Perić's friend ran off the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

Perić was in the passenger seat and died of his injuries. His friend who was driving the vehicle was left unharmed. He was buried on 2 June 2010 in the village of Zavlaka near Loznica.

Legacy

Slobodan Perić survived being shot down in aerial combat against an incomparably superior enemy, only to lose his life eleven years later in a civilian accident. He is remembered as one of the heroes who, without hesitation, took off into an unequal battle in defense of the homeland.