Mig-21 defection Stories

by Igor Petrovic

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Regarding article about the KP 1/72  YAF Mig-21R with the defecting Croatian Pilot, I would like to add, that this remarkable story has indeed happened  when a pilot of the JRViPVO,  Capt. Rudolf Peresin defected on 25 October 1991 with his  MiG-21R "26212" to Graz-Tallerhof, in Austria, requesting political asylum.  The aircraft - the serial of which was overpainted by Austrian authorities immediately after the landing - was eventually impounded and remains in Austrian hands, but Peresin was permitted to return to Croatia, where he joined the HRZ.  The aircraft is still in Austria and after Capt. Peresin, note worthy three more Croatian pilots defected with their Mig-21Bis fighters to Croatia in 1992 to  Pula AFB, Zagreb AFB and Split AFB respectively.  During Croatian Offensive “Flash”, again rebel Serbian terorists, MiG-21bis, reportedly serialled "119" in HRZ, and flown by Maj. Rudolf Peresin (the same pilot who flew his MiG-21R to Austria, in October 1991) was shot down and pilot was KIA. 

Igor