RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) broadcast on the 27.03 interview with Yugoslav Air Force pilot Major Nebojsa Nikolic. He take of with his Mig-29 to intercept NATO armada in the evening of 24.03.

When the radar screens of the YA Air Defense started blinking indicating the arrival of an airborne armada on March 24th, the first squadron that was sent up to counter the attack were the men of the King Lazar's Knights squadron. For their conduct in battle all of them have received the Medal for Courage and have been promoted to a higher rank.

As soon as I took off - says Maj. Nebojsa Nikolic - I noticed the glow of explosions on my left and on my right. - in the direction of Pancevo and Ruma. My MiG was climbing rapidly and soon I could see the same scene in the direction of Novi Sad. Flying above me were about two dozen state-of-the-art enemy planes. Cutting across the Panonian plane with their destination Belgrade they were unloading their deadly cargo. Astonished by my presence and my determination to cut them off, they quickly turned against me like a pack.

I had only just taken off and those are the most difficult conditions for a dogfight. "To be an effective means of defense a combat aircraft must reach adequate speed and altitude." Say all manuals.

After the take off I headed towards northern Vojvodina and evaded the first enemy missile. I switched my on-board radar on and armed my arsenal. Just as I did it I had to maneuver to avoid another enemy air-to air missile.

Then came a third one straight form a pack of 24 enemy planes. I wonder whether any well-paid and insured western pilot would take his chances with two of our planes let alone two dozen. Although they are denying their losses, it’s a known fact that the Yugoslav skies have become a graveyard for western planes and pilots. This is mostly due to the fact that we fight with our heart and with the determination to are defend our country, and they are doing it for money and a with life insurance.