Military Model Scene

Title: Silver Wings over the Estuary
Author: Bojan Dimitrijevic & Milan Micevski
Publisher: Helion & Company
ISBN: 978-1-913118-69-3

Number 6 in the Europe @ War series from Helion & Company, detailing the Mig-21 in Yugoslav and Serbian Air Force service, 1962-2019. A 72-page soft-cover book and an ideal companion to No4 in the series, on Tito's Underground Air Base, near Bihac.
The book is split over 7 chapters and tells the story in a straightforward chronological sequence. It starts in the early 1960s with Plan Grom, when rather than using F-86 Sabres supplied by the USA, it explains how in the Cold War, Yugoslavia looked to the Soviet Union and the potential for licenced production of the Mig-21 in both single and two-seater formats. Used primarily as fighters, they did also make use of the reconnaissance variant. It does include the operational use of the underground base of Object Klek near Bihac, where 3 complete squadrons could be housed in the tunnels. It also talks about how Tito felt Yugoslavian independence was threatened after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. It moves on to the Mig-21 being established in Yugoslav service during the 1970s and being the Backbone of the Air Force. After that of course it gets to being At War, as Yugoslavia tore up after the death of Tito, and break up into a series of smaller states in a tragic Civil War. That created a Shortened Yugoslavia which is followed by the Kosovo Crisis, when many Migs were lost. Finally there is Serbian Air Force service, where they have remained in service until relatively recently, even outlasting the newer Mig-29. The last single seaters only being finally retired in 2015, leaving a few 2-seaters in service.
With lots of archive image, most not published before, there are also some fine colour artwork profiles along with a helpful map and a set of colour photos as well. I found it fascinating to read more about an aircraft in service with a country that was once largely shrouded in secrecy thanks to the Cold War and then ripped apart by Civil War. An interesting read for the aviation enthusiast and lots of useful content for modellers as well.
Thanks to Casemate for our review copy, the distributors for Helion & Co.

Robin