Rudolf Perešin

Rudolf Perešin
Rudolf Perešin
Born	25 March 1958; Jakšinec, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia (modern Croatia)
Died	2 May 1995 (aged 37); Stara Gradiška, Croatia
Burial place	Mirogoj Cemetery
Allegiance	Yugoslavia (1981–1991); Croatia (1991–1995)
Branch	Yugoslav Air Force; Croatian Air force
Service years	1981–1995
Rank	Staff Brigadier (Brigadier General posthumously)
Unit	21st Fighter Squadron
Conflicts	Croatian War of Independence Operation Flash;
Awards	Order of Duke Domagoj; Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski; Order of Ban Jelačić; Order of Stjepan Radić; Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan with silver Wattle; Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan with gold Wattle; Homeland War Memorial Medal; Homeland's Gratitude Medal; Medal Flash; Medal for Exceptional Undertakings;

Rudolf Perešin (25 March 1958 – 2 May 1995) was a Croatian fighter pilot serving in the Yugoslav Air Force (JRZ) during the 1991–95 Croatian War of Independence who defected to the Croatian side in October 1991, by flying his MiG-21 fighter jet from Željava Air Base to Klagenfurt, Austria, on a reconnaissance flight for the JRZ. He was the first pilot to desert from the Yugoslav Air Force. Following his defection he continued to fly missions for the Croatian Air Force and was shot down in May 1995 by Serb Krajina military forces, resulting in his death.