01.08.2014.
Celebration of the Day of the Air Force
Today, at the Batajnica Airport and at the Airforce and Air Defence Command in Zemun, August 2 – Day of the Air Force was ceremonially celebrated today, to commemorate this day in 1893 when the term “military air force” was officially mentioned for the first time on our territory.Congratulating the holiday to all members of this force, Major General Ranko Zivak, Commander of the Air Force and Air defence, reminded of the rich tradition of the air force that our country has made, but also of the history of military air force, giving particular notice, in the year of marking the centenary of the beginning of the Great War, to the significant contribution that the air force has given during the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front and final liberation of Serbia.
- All of them put defending their country, their people and their military honor above their lives. A lot of enthusiasm, knowledge, youth, and, unfortunately, many lives were built in defending freedom and developing the air force. Numerous generations of pilots, technicians and other professions have and still give their maximum in order to be apt for their tasks – General Zivak pointed out.According to him, the same was confirmed this year during the snowstorms and floods in May, when it was necessary to provide help for the affected citizens.
- Pilots often conducted their tasks in complex, and sometimes impossible conditions, at the very limit of their own possibilities and those of their aircrafts, while air force technicians provided the greatest percentage of operability of helicopters this year – General Zivak stressed, adding that tons of transported medications and humanitarian aid, and the number of rescued and evacuated people and the joy on their faces are the greatest reward for the lasting, devoted and dedicated work on their assigned tasks.
He reminded of the fact that, on May 17, in the midst of the floods that had hit our country, with the deployment of all available helicopters, 2,454 people were evacuated, from newborns to the elderly.- That was a heroic mission. Meeting people who were going home that night from the assignment at the Batajnica Airport, I learnt that the crews flew from 6 to 8 hours, some individuals up to 10 hours – General Zivak pointed out, adding that, at nighttime, the helicopters underwent occasional checkups, and were placed in service the next morning, which is the best indicator of the knowledge, capability and motivation of our aviation members.
The Day of the Air Force, as General Zivak pointed out, aside from the contentment with what had been done, was also met with the awareness of its possibilities, limitations and many unsolved issues, but with dedication and capability to get the maximum out of the current aircrafts and technical equipment, and to conduct each task within the possible limits safely and professionally.
At today’s ceremony, the deserving members of the Air Force and Air Defence were awarded golden aviation badges, the highest decoration of the air force, and the rank of flying instructors.The Day of the Air Force is celebrated on August 2 to commemorate the day when, in 1893, by the order of King Aleksandar Obrenovic, it was provided that in each division an aviation department should be established. Until 1941, this day had been traditionally celebrated as the patron saint’s day of all pilots.
