06.04.2022.
Minister Stefanović: Today when we remember the heroic death of the 6th Fighter Air Wing pilots, I want to pay tribute to these great people
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has visited today members of the 204th Air Brigade, Air Force and Air Defence, at the "Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović" military airfield. He feels proud, he said, today when we remember members of the 6th Fighter Air Wing, who died heroically defending Belgrade in 1941, knowing that members of the 204th Air Brigade are not just the followers of their tradition, but would not hesitate to do the same.
- Today, when we remember the fallen heroes of the 6th Fighter Air Wing, who defended their country in April 1941, I wanted to come here to the home of our 204th Air Brigade, which continues their tradition, and to show respect to our pilots and our Air Force. I want to thank these people for having chosen this profession, for having chosen to always be the defenders of their homeland, to protect our sky - said Minister Stefanović.
According to him, only they and members of their families know all the sacrifices they have made in their lives, not only during their education and training, but during their entire military career.- That is why I want to draw attention to them today, to everything they have been doing to make our country safe and secure, and to remind everyone that we can rely at all times on the “steel wings” of our Armed Forces that defend our country and our freedom - said Minister Stefanović.
He noted that the heroes from the 6th Fighter Air Wing had taken off on April 6, 1941 to defend the Belgrade sky, not worrying about themselves and their lives and knowing that a much stronger enemy was attacking them.- They knew their ultimate fate. Nevertheless, they took off and defended their country. I am absolutely sure that these great men and women serving in the 204th Air Brigade are not just tradition followers, I know that they are equally ready to defend our sky, our country at any moment, not fearing for their lives, and that is why I am extremely proud of them and I know that the whole of Serbia is proud. It is, therefore, our task to continue investing in them in the future and to show that we really appreciate their work and thus thank them for their great sacrifice and everything they have done for Serbia - said Minister Stefanović.
Minister Stefanović was welcomed at Batajnica airfield by Air Force and Air Defence Commander, Lieutenant General Duško Žarković, and Commander of the 204th Air Brigade, Brigadier General Brane Krnjajić, who briefed the Minister on the unit’s history, role and tasks.Minister Stefanović also attended the pilots’ and technical staff’s "Mig-29" flight training, and today's tour was an opportunity for him to talk to members of the 101st Fighter Squadron who guard our skies day and night, every day of the year.
