Tito među vazduhoplovcima

The monograph Tito Among the Airmen (Tito među vazduhoplovcima), by author Predrag Pejčić, presents accounts and a documentary overview of the special relationship that Josip Broz Tito—throughout his career as a statesman and military leader—maintained with the air force and air defense. The book’s literary and documentary material traces in detail the origins, modernization, and development of the Yugoslav air forces, from their modest wartime beginnings in Partisan squadrons to their evolution into a modern, high-tech branch of the armed forces in post-war Yugoslavia. Through numerous photographs, field records, speeches, and personal encounters, the author portrays Tito not only as commander-in-chief but also as a statesman who personally fostered the development of the aviation industry, the training of flight personnel, and the procurement—as well as domestic production—of aircraft. Special attention is given to Tito’s visits to air bases, airports, technical facilities, and units, where pilots and aviation technicians had the opportunity to speak with him directly. The work serves as a valuable document and testament to a specific aspect of the development of defense capabilities and technological progress in socialist Yugoslavia, capturing the enthusiasm of the post-war generations of airmen.