Incident of Mrkonjić Grad

The incident of Mrkonjić Grad implied the Serb army of Bosnia (VRS) and the American air force (USAF) on June 2nd, 1995. This day, the American F-16 controlled by Scott O' Grady is cut down, whereas it patrolled with the top of the Bosnia Herzégovine within the framework of the operation “Deny flight”, by a Serb missile SA-6. It succeeds in being ejected and was recovered 6 days later.

The film In enemy territory (Behind Enemy Lines) turned in 2001 is a Hollywood interpretation of this event.

The incident

Pilots, the captain Scott " Zulu" O' Grady (indicative “Basher 52”) and the captain Robert G. " Wilbur" Wright (indicative “Basher 51”) took off with their F16C, the morning of June 2nd, 1995 of the Italian base of Aviano (AFB Aviano) for a mission of routine above the sky of the Bosnia Herzégovine within the framework of the operation “Deny flight”.

Their flight was announced without incidents, they flew over several times without fear Bihać, Banja Luka, Bosanski Petrovac, at an altitude of 26.000 feet while knowing the site of ground-to-air missiles Serb SA-6. But the Serbes, which discreetly moved during the night before a battery of SA-6 of the area of Bihać towards the interior of the country, in the neighborhoods of the town of Mrkonjić Grad, awaited patiently the passage of the F-16.

Knowing the weak point of the F16 when they are with the vertical of the battery of missiles, they engaged the radars of continuation and made fire with two missiles on the American planes. The first missile exploded between the two planes and the impact of the second missile cut the plane of the capitane O' Grady into two. It succeeds in being ejected and lands in the surroundings of the town of Mrkonjić Grad.

It hid in the forests, organized its survival, avoiding displacements during the day, as well as the use of its radio station to announce its position knowing that it could be easily located.

Four days later, on June 6th, it announced its position and, on June 8th, 1995, it was helped by the marine American of the 24th marine unit expeditionary of based on the door plane USS Kearsarge.

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