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Profile Picture of Colonel Milenko Pavlović
Colonel Milenko Pavlović (1959–1999) was a distinguished pilot in the Air Force of Yugoslavia, best known for his valor during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.
Biography
Milenko Pavlović was born on October 5, 1959, in the village of Gornji Crniljevo, SFR Yugoslavia. He completed the first four years of elementary school in his hometown and continued his education in the nearby town of Osečina. He later attended and graduated from the Secondary Military School in Mostar. Although he initially dismissed the idea of becoming a pilot, he ultimately chose to pursue a career in military aviation—a decision that would define his life and legacy.
By 1999, Pavlović had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was serving as the commander of the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Amid NATO’s bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, his unit had been relocated to Stara Pazova. The situation was dire: the regiment’s MiG-29 fighter jets were suffering from years of poor maintenance, with many aircraft barely airworthy. Several jets had already been lost to malfunctions, often just after takeoff.
On May 4, 1999, around noon, a large NATO air formation was detected in the direction of Valjevo, targeting the Krušik ammunition factory and nearby military depots in Pričević. A junior officer was initially ordered to intercept the incoming aircraft. However, Pavlović intervened. Over the phone, he ordered the younger pilot to stand down, insisting on taking the mission himself. He then took off from Batajnica Air Base in MiG-29 number 18109. Shortly after takeoff, Pavlović experienced a critical systems failure—his AC generator malfunctioned, disabling the radar and leaving him effectively blind in combat. Despite this, he pressed on and engaged in a severely outmatched confrontation with 16 NATO aircraft. Through bold maneuvering, he managed to disrupt their formation and reportedly caused temporary confusion among the enemy pilots. At approximately 12:45 p.m., his aircraft was struck by three AIM-120 air-to-air missiles launched from Dutch F-16AM Fighting Falcons. Without radar, he never saw them coming. Pavlović was killed instantly, never ejecting from the jet. His body was later found near the village of Petnica. This was the last flight of the Air Force of Yugoslavia until the end of NATO’s bombing campaign.
In recognition of his extraordinary bravery, Milenko Pavlović was posthumously promoted and awarded the Order of Bravery. Today, his name is remembered throughout Serbia, with streets, memorials, and even the Batajnica Air Base renamed in his honor.
Sources
Milenko Pavlović - Wikipedia
Da bi rešil življenje mlajšega kolega, je v smrt zakorakal sam - Svet24.si
Memorial service honouring Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović held | Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
https://serbiantimes.info/en/you-young-men-wont-die-i-will-milenko-pavlovic-the-pilot-who-flew-to-his-death-and-into-eternity/
https://www.kosovo-online.com/vesti/drustvo/na-danasnji-dan-pre-23-godine-herojski-poginuo-pilot-milenko-pavlovic-4-5-2022