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click on the image to enlarge Batajnica airbase video batajnica01.avi (226 Kb) This is one of the reinforced aircraft hangars at Batajnica airbase attacked by NATO aircraft during the war. The entrance to the hangar was closed by blast doors, which were penetrated by a laser-guided bomb. The two holes in the "roof" of the hangar are designed to dissipate the force of the explosion if a bomb hits the hangar. If you look closely, you will notice a tunnel inside the hangar leading to your right. This is where the planes are hidden. The T-shaped hangar directs the blast from the bomb hitting the entrance to the hangar away from the planes inside the tunnel. (photo Copyright © 1999 Aeromagazin) Batajnica airbase This is a photograph of the same hangar from inside the main tunnel. You can see a MiG-21 fighter in the foreground. This photo was taken one day before the end of the war, after the attack pictured in the photo above. No aircraft inside the tunnel was damaged. Photos on this page put in perspective Air Forces Monthly's lengthy and detailed but mostly erroneous analyses of NATO satellite and aerial reconnaissance photos picturing the results of attacks against Batajnica and other Yugoslav airbases. (photo Copyright © 1999 Aeromagazin) Batajnica airbase This MiG-21 line-up photo was taken at Batajnica airbase one day after the end of the war with NATO. These planes survived the conflict undamaged in the underground hangar that was attacked by NATO using laser-guided bombs. The strike against Batajnica base was reported by Aviation Week & Space Technology (June 14, 1999, page 73): "During one attack in early June, the US targeted an underground hangar with several aircraft inside. The facility was protected by blast doors and 90-deg. turn in the tunnel. The bombing was conducted so that the blast doors were broached and the bomb penetrated far enough that aircraft located around the bend in the tunnel were destroyed." Well, the photo to your left illustrates the outcome of this strike. (photo Copyright © 1999 Aeromagazin) Batajnica airbase This photo shows the remains of a MiG-21PfM destroyed during a bomb strike on Batajnica airbase. If you take a closer look at the tail fin of the aircraft you will see old Social Federative Republic of Yugoslavia Air Force markings. This plane and other old MiG-21s of this type were decommissioned in 1992-1993 and used during the war as decoys. Below you can find another photo of a MiG-21PfM being used as a decoy. (photo Copyright © 1999 Aeromagazin) NATO bombing of Yugoslavia - photos http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/082499/aviation/img001/tunneletc.htm (1 of 2) [2/17/2001 16:37:53] NATO bombing of Yugoslavia - photos http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/082499/aviation/img001/tunneletc.htm (2 of 2) [2/17/2001 16:37:53]