SERBIA: First U.S. flight to Serb military airstrip since NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999

Record ID: 375703

  • Title: SERBIA: First U.S. flight to Serb military airstrip since NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999
  • Date: 24th June 2006
  • Summary: PILOTS WALKING ON TARMAC
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VO5RCWO6LH7WFJFVVQANK8K1
  • Story Text: Two U.S. Air Force F-16s from a squadron that lost a plane to Serbian ground fire seven years ago landed near Belgrade on Thursday (June 22), the first U.S. aircraft to visit a Serb military airstrip.
    Serbia's Defence Ministry said the historic visit, to an airfield attacked frequently during NATO's 1999 air war over Kosovo, was part of improving military cooperation between the two countries.
    "Their visit is aiming at healing the wounds and if that visit would have been delayed interminably, we would never solve some problems,"said Serbian airforce Captain Novak Djordijevic.
    "The operation we did back in 1999 is well in the past. This is a great opportunity for friendship between the countries and I've seen nothing but friendship amongst everybody here,"said U.S. airforce Major Andrew Wiles said.
    The fighters from 555th Squadron, known as the Red Horse, were responding to an invitation Serbia made in March to European Command (EUCOM) deputy commander General Charles Wald during his visit to Belgrade, a statement said.
    They touched down at Batajnica field outside the Serbian capital, one of the most frequent targets of the 78-day bombing campaign by the Atlantic alliance from March to June 1999, intended to compel then President Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw Serb forces from Kosovo.
    On May 2, 1999, an F-16 from the 555th was shot down near the west Serbian town of Sabac. Its engine and tail are on display at the Belgrade airforce museum, alongside the wing of a USAF F-111 'Stealth' fighter-bomber, also downed by the Serbs.
    The crews of both aircraft were rescued alive.

    MILITARY CEREMONIES WARS
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