VIDEO - Zeljava, JNA's secret underground military facility & airfield

Il-28 · 09-17-2006, 03:02 PM

I know there was a thread about this secret facility but there's no more pictures so I've created a new one. Guy nicknamed FirewireHR created these most impressive vids(from whom I have permission to post them) so here they are:

Zeljava underground facility & airfield on the border of Croatia & Bosnia and has been built in great secrecy from year 1957 'till 1968. Facility was under constant surveillance by the guards who could open fire on anyone withoout warning who was trying to approach the facility. Overall length of underground facilities was 3500 meters. Complete object had 4 entrantes, 3 were for airplanes. Entrances have been opened and closed by 100 ton pressurized massive doors. It had 5 runways. Object was completely protected from nuclear explosions that were 20 kiloTons intense. Because of probable nuclear war facility had semicircular concrete shields that were arranged every 10 meters to amortize the impact. Facility had even a restaurant which had capacity of 1000 men. Object had enough food, fuel & arms reserves to 'survive' 30 days without an external influences. And fuel has been supplied to the object with 20 kilometers long underground pipes from military warehouse on Pokoj hill near Bihac city. On June 16th 1992, facility was blown up with 56 tons of explosives. Value of the facility was between 4-8 billions $. Detonations were so big that even nearby Bihac was shaking from them.

Map of the facility

First vid shows the satellite position of the base viewed with Landsat 7 program. Yellow line is border between Cro & BiH.

How the facility looked once before

Refrain of the propaganda song says: 'Hey soldiers, pilots, steel wings of our army...'

Another one

Interiors

Airfield today, recorded in 2005, 19 minutes

And for the end, Rudolf Peresin(1958-1995) tribute video from the same site. He escaped from Zeljava to Klagenfurt, Austria in 1991. His plane can be viewed in front of military museum in Vienna. He died during mission in operation Flash on may 2nd, 1995.

Pictures from Zeljava complex can be viewed here

Cheers

CyberSpec · 09-17-2006, 07:41 PM

Interesting material.

Zeljava was the centrepiece of a range of underground fortified airbases around the former-YU, around which the airdefence of the country was organised.....it seems such a waste of resources from the present perspective, although they (smaller bases in Serbia) probably saved a lot of lives and equipment during the Nato bombing in 1999

It was designed and built during the cold war and meant to allow the airforce to operate in a nuclear war environment. The experience gained in the consruction of Zeljava and it's smaller sibblings was what got Yugoslav firms the contracts to build similar objects in Iraq (in the 70's and 80's)

Lazarus · 09-17-2006, 08:31 PM

I got goosebumps watching it,watching it I could feel misterythat covered it.Pilots had to sign numerous papers prior to entry that they will not tell no one about it how it looks inside what is inside etc,..Many that may know something doesn't speak about it even today after 14 years it was destroyed.

cinoeye · 09-17-2006, 08:40 PM

Great post, thank you.
Damn, just in that base at least 40 jets.
And now X-yu Republics alltogether barley have 20 usefull jets.
What a tragic.

Is that JUre Stublic singing in that tribute video?
Check this topic-
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...hlight=Zeljava
Can I get links for thi vids to post them on airserbia?

Thank you

Il-28 · 09-18-2006, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinoeye

Is that JUre Stublic singing in that tribute video?
Check this topic-
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...hlight=Zeljava
Can I get links for thi vids to post them on airserbia?

Thank you

Song is from 'Prljavo Kazaliste - Lupi Petama'

As for the links, I guess author won't mind it since the vids are on YouTube opened for public.

1911-a1 · 09-18-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Il-28

How the facility looked once before

Refrain of the propaganda song says: 'Hey soldiers, pilots, steel wings of our army...'

I love propaganda songs like that

do you have more similar videos?

Il-28 · 09-18-2006, 02:12 PM

Nope, sorry, vids ain't mine...

enforcer · 09-18-2006, 04:18 PM

Here is my own video - Destroyed Underground Airbase Zeljava

http://rapidshare.de/files/31613475/..._0006.wmv.html

scream73 · 09-18-2006, 06:19 PM

Very interesting posts, tnx you all!!

Zlatko · 02-12-2007, 08:16 PM

Before today, i didnt even know places like this existed, im in absolite awe.

I wish the 2005 video was more extensive, and i wish they went in further to see things...what a waste

Reklamnet · 03-31-2007, 02:11 PM

we take a ride into the zeljava 2007

If you want to see more pictures go to
http://www.naj-naj.info/zeljava

There you can find some videos also

zeljava · 03-31-2007, 02:42 PM

I was in the second crew that day, you can find more photos and some video materials on http://www.kupoprodaja.com/zeljava

Zlatko · 05-23-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeljava

I was in the second crew that day, you can find more photos and some video materials on http://www.kupoprodaja.com/zeljava

Awesome!

The surrounding barracks and area around the underground look so surreal..all abandoned.

enforcer · 02-02-2008, 01:54 PM

some piccs of zeljava...

RWR · 07-02-2008, 01:13 PM

Reconnaissance mission by ARBiH troops, 5 months after the destruction of facility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHGs7bE0VqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVr_ie9dgvo

09-17-2006, 03:02 PM	#1
Il-28 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Posts: 1,532	VIDEO - Zeljava, JNA's secret underground military facility & airfield I know there was a thread about this secret facility but there's no more pictures so I've created a new one. Guy nicknamed FirewireHR created these most impressive vids(from whom I have permission to post them) so here they are: Zeljava underground facility & airfield on the border of Croatia & Bosnia and has been built in great secrecy from year 1957 'till 1968. Facility was under constant surveillance by the guards who could open fire on anyone withoout warning who was trying to approach the facility. Overall length of underground facilities was 3500 meters. Complete object had 4 entrantes, 3 were for airplanes. Entrances have been opened and closed by 100 ton pressurized massive doors. It had 5 runways. Object was completely protected from nuclear explosions that were 20 kiloTons intense. Because of probable nuclear war facility had semicircular concrete shields that were arranged every 10 meters to amortize the impact. Facility had even a restaurant which had capacity of 1000 men. Object had enough food, fuel & arms reserves to 'survive' 30 days without an external influences. And fuel has been supplied to the object with 20 kilometers long underground pipes from military warehouse on Pokoj hill near Bihac city. On June 16th 1992, facility was blown up with 56 tons of explosives. Value of the facility was between 4-8 billions $. Detonations were so big that even nearby Bihac was shaking from them. Map of the facility First vid shows the satellite position of the base viewed with Landsat 7 program. Yellow line is border between Cro & BiH. How the facility looked once before Refrain of the propaganda song says: 'Hey soldiers, pilots, steel wings of our army...' Another one Interiors Airfield today, recorded in 2005, 19 minutes And for the end, Rudolf Peresin(1958-1995) tribute video from the same site. He escaped from Zeljava to Klagenfurt, Austria in 1991. His plane can be viewed in front of military museum in Vienna. He died during mission in operation Flash on may 2nd, 1995. Pictures from Zeljava complex can be viewed here Cheers

09-17-2006, 08:40 PM	#4
cinoeye Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: www.mycity-military.com Posts: 2,765	Great post, thank you. Damn, just in that base at least 40 jets. And now X-yu Republics alltogether barley have 20 usefull jets. What a tragic. Is that JUre Stublic singing in that tribute video? Check this topic- http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...hlight=Zeljava Can I get links for thi vids to post them on airserbia? Thank you Last edited by cinoeye; 09-17-2006 at 09:17 PM.

03-31-2007, 02:11 PM	#11
Reklamnet Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1	Fresh Stuff we take a ride into the zeljava 2007 If you want to see more pictures go to http://www.naj-naj.info/zeljava There you can find some videos also

03-31-2007, 02:42 PM	#12
zeljava Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1	Zeljava 03 2007 I was in the second crew that day, you can find more photos and some video materials on http://www.kupoprodaja.com/zeljava

09-17-2006, 07:41 PM	#2
CyberSpec Banned user Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South of the Equator Posts: 882	Interesting material. Zeljava was the centrepiece of a range of underground fortified airbases around the former-YU, around which the airdefence of the country was organised.....it seems such a waste of resources from the present perspective, although they (smaller bases in Serbia) probably saved a lot of lives and equipment during the Nato bombing in 1999 It was designed and built during the cold war and meant to allow the airforce to operate in a nuclear war environment. The experience gained in the consruction of Zeljava and it's smaller sibblings was what got Yugoslav firms the contracts to build similar objects in Iraq (in the 70's and 80's)

09-17-2006, 08:31 PM	#3
Lazarus Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: world wide Posts: 154	I got goosebumps watching it,watching it I could feel misterythat covered it.Pilots had to sign numerous papers prior to entry that they will not tell no one about it how it looks inside what is inside etc,..Many that may know something doesn't speak about it even today after 14 years it was destroyed.

09-18-2006, 02:12 PM	#7
Il-28 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Posts: 1,532	Nope, sorry, vids ain't mine...

09-18-2006, 04:18 PM	#8
enforcer Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: insanity planet stupidstan Posts: 404	Here is my own video - Destroyed Underground Airbase Zeljava http://rapidshare.de/files/31613475/..._0006.wmv.html

09-18-2006, 06:19 PM	#9
scream73 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cane Nero Magna Bella Persica Posts: 125	Very interesting posts, tnx you all!!

02-12-2007, 08:16 PM	#10
Zlatko Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Age: 26 Posts: 234	Before today, i didnt even know places like this existed, im in absolite awe. I wish the 2005 video was more extensive, and i wish they went in further to see things...what a waste

02-02-2008, 01:54 PM	#14
enforcer Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: insanity planet stupidstan Posts: 404	some piccs of zeljava...

07-02-2008, 01:13 PM	#15
RWR Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sarajevo Posts: 126	Reconnaissance mission by ARBiH troops, 5 months after the destruction of facility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHGs7bE0VqQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVr_ie9dgvo