Željava Airbase

Construction of Airbase, code-named “Objekat 505”, began in 1956 and was completed in 1968. During construction SFRJ spent approximately 8,5 billion $ (today about 55 billion $).


Bunker had four entrances protected by 100-ton 60-80 cm wide pressurized doors.

The complex was designed and built to sustain a direct hit from a 20-kiloton nuclear bomb, equivalent to the one dropped on Nagasaki.

The complex included an underground water source, power generators, crew quarters and other strategic military facilities. It also housed a mess hall that could feed 1.000 people, along with enough food, fuel and arms to last 30 days without resupply.


Fuel was supplied by a 20-kilometer underground pipe network that ran from a military warehouse on Pokoj Hill near Bihać.



At Željava were based three Squadrons with 58 MiG-21.





Burned smuggling car.




The airbase was used from 1968 till 1992. During JNA withdrawal they destroyed the runway by filling pre-built spaces (explicitly designed for the purpose) with explosives and detonating them. To prevent any possible further use of the complex, the Military of Serbian Krajina completed the destruction on 16.5.1992 by setting off an additional 50 tons of explosives. The ensuing explosion was so powerful that it shook the nearby city of Bihać and smoke continued to rise from the tunnels for six months after the explosion.


Airbase map – download original, bigger version

Douglas C-47 at the entrance








F-84






Nature took the pistes back.

Area is still heavily mined.