Rudi Čajavec

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This article is about the Yugoslav pilot. For the electronics company, see Rudi Čajavec (company).
Rudi Čajavec

Rudi Čajavec (1 April 1911 – 2 July 1942) was a Yugoslav pilot (from Zgošća, Bosnia and Herzegovina), best known as the first airman of the Partisan air force..[1]

Rudi Čajavec was born in Zgošća, Kakanj municipality, Bosnia to a family that originally came from Hrvatsko Zagorje. Before the war he studied law at University of Belgrade where he participated in various left-wing groups and was arrested. He also finished school for reserve officers and was a trained pilot. After the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia and establishment of the Independent State of Croatia he came to Banja Luka where he joined the resistance movement. As a reserve lieutenant he was drafted into the Croatian Air Force of the NDH.[1]

On 21 May 1942 he flew his Breguet 19 biplane and defected with his gunner Dragutin Mišo Jazbec to Partisans.[2] He landed near Partisan-controlled Prijedor.[1] The date would later be marked as the Day of Yugoslav Air Force.[1]

Partisans immediately started to use their own plane. On 2 July 1942 Čajavec made an air raid on Banja Luka, which included strafing the local airfield, dropping bombs on important city buildings as well as leaflets on city streets.[1] The plane was damaged by anti-aircraft artillery, and Čajavec was forced to crashland on territory controlled by Chetniks. After they surrounded him, Čajavec committed suicide to avoid being captured.[1][2]

After the war Čajavec received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia. Rudi Čajavec, a consumer and military electronics company, was named after him.[1]

Legacy

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The street in Kakanj where Rudi Čajavec was born bears his name.[1] In the Kakanj Museum Čajavec's bust is kept.[1]

The plot of the 1979 film Partizanska eskadrila was partially inspired by his actions.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1. aprila 1911. godine rođen Rudi Čajavec, partizanski avijatičar i narodni heroj iz Kaknja". Općina Kakanj (in Bosnian). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b Kovacic, Davor (4 February 2019). "Tko je bio Rudi Čajavec?". Večernji list.
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