Ceremony on the Day of the 204th Air Force Brigade
Friday, 2.12.2016 | Culture and traditions
The Batajnica Air Base has officially marked today the 2nd December – Day of the 204th Air Force Brigade and the jubilee of the formation of that AF&AD unit.
The ceremony was attended by Milorad Simić, Advisor to the President of the Republic, General Ljubisa Diković, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, with members of the collegium, members of the collegium of the Minister of Defence, Major General Ranko Živak, AF&AD Commander, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, local authorities, religious communities, retired members of the unit as well as families of the killed and deceased members of the brigade.
For above average, honourable and exemplary performance of duties and tasks in the field of defence and security, and on the occasion of the jubilee of a decade since its formation, Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia, awarded the 204th Aviation Brigade with Order of Merit for Defence and Security of the third degree, which has been presented at today's ceremony by advisor Simić to Colonel Zeljko Bilic, Deputy Commander of the 204th Air Force Brigade.
Conveying the greetings of the President of the Republic to the assembled members of the 204th Brigade, as they celebrate their holiday and the jubilee, Simić said that the Order, which has been presented today, is a result of hard, selfless work and dedication to the job, unit, the Armed Forces and the Fatherland.
– You are expected to continue the successful implementation of the assigned tasks and, through training and education, to enhance the capability of protecting the airspace of the Republic of Serbia, and the state, in turn, in accordance with its possibilities, will provide support to you ensuring better conditions for your successful work – Milorad Simić, Advisor to the President, said, expressing confidence that the Medal of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces will give an incentive for better performance for all members of the brigade and, for other units, an example that should be followed.
Congratulating the gathered members of their holiday, Colonel Željko Bilić, deputy commander of the 204th Air Force Brigade, reminded of the rich historical heritage and glorious tradition of this unit, which is the successor to the "deadly aircraft formations" of the last century, which were steel bastion of the free sky of the fatherland.
– Today, as always, we share the fate of the economic moment of our people and the state. Objectively difficult conditions and restrictions in which we have worked in recent years, have not reduced our contribution to the overall power of the AF&AD of the Serbian Armed Forces. Waiting for the purchase and equipping the unit with fighter aircraft, we maintained the capability of the continuous control and protection of the sovereignty of air space of the Republic of Serbia with the existing capacity, creating a new generation of fighter pilots – Colonel Bilić said, adding that these days the members of the AF&AD are expected to return from the Russian Federation with overhauled aircraft.
Looking back at the year behind us, the deputy commander of the 204th Air Force Brigade pointed out that this brigade, after a long time, was equipped with multi-purpose helicopters of the new generation, which, as he pointed out, will certainly contribute to more successful execution of tasks and increasing the operational capabilities of the unit. The training of young pilots was completed, and remarkable results in international exercises were also achieved, Colonel Bilić recalled, concluding that at the end of the year was successful because, once again, the knowledge and skills, strength and power of the collective, but also the professionalism of members were confirmed.
On today's holiday and the anniversary, Colonel Bilić presented the models of the aircraft to the Advisor of the President of the Republic Simic, Chief of General Staff, General Diković, and Major General Živak, AF&AD Commander, while the members of the 204th Brigade were traditionally, awarded letters of gratitude in memory of Major Zoran Radosavljevic.
The Day of 204th Air Force Brigade is marked on 2nd December to commemorate the same date in 1949, when 204th Fighter Aviation Wing was formed.
