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storm - Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog ...

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Conclusion<br />

Th e Croatian Air Force and Air Defence participated in Operation Storm with “all<br />

their forces, and operated from all airports and air strips in the Republic of Croatia”. 457<br />

In its combat overview, the Air Force Command stated that “the Air Force had a decisive<br />

and in some parts of the theatre even a crucial impact on the outcome of operation by its<br />

actions against enemy communications centres, command posts and depots, and, later<br />

on, by fi re support of HV and police units”. 458<br />

Th e assessment may appear to be exaggerated, but the main mission was accomplished<br />

because the Air Force prevented all signifi cant action by Serbian aircraft from the air<br />

bases at Udbina and Mahovljani near Banja Luka.<br />

Both the Air Force and the Air Defence had no losses either in manpower or aircraft .<br />

Eleven planes were damaged, one of them heavily and disabled for a longer time. Th e<br />

other damage was slight and the aircraft soon resumed their mission. Planned fi re<br />

support was provided by twelve attack MiG-21s and one anti-armour Mi-24; the aircraft<br />

fl ew altogether 67 sorties and delivered 8.6 tons of weapons. Fift een MiG-21s fl ew fi re<br />

support missions on call with 55 sorties and 27.4 tons of weapons. Th e Mi-24 helicopter<br />

fl ew three sorties and delivered seven anti-armour guided rockets, 30 non-guided<br />

rockets and 400 machine-gun rounds. One Mi-24 helicopter, two MiG-21s and one<br />

An-2 fl ew seven air space reconnaissance sorties. Four fi ghter MiG-21s fl ew 50 sorties<br />

on air defence missions. Eleven transport Mi-8 helicopters fl ew 111 sorties, transporting<br />

84.7 tons of payload and 485 troops. 459<br />

MiG-21 of the Croatian Air Force<br />

457 MORH, GSHV: HRZ and PZO command, cl. 813-07/95-01/04, reg. no. 3044-14-95-192 of 17 August<br />

1995; Analysis.<br />

458 MORH, GSHV: HRZ and PZO command, cl. 813-07/95-01/04, reg. no. 3044-14-95-192 of 17 August<br />

1995; Analysis.<br />

459 Ibid.<br />

141

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