Spread across the former Yugoslavia are various airbases built by Tito to house fighter jets, house early warning radar stations and other military functions. On a recent trip to Bosnia and Croatia we visited a couple. Unfortunately, due to travelling super light, we only had the flashlights on our phones, so our exploration and photography options inside the bases were pretty limited, but hopefully these photos give you some idea of the sites.
Gnojnice, Mostar
Close to Mostar airport this site comprises a huge curved tunnel with some small side rooms accessible from inside the tunnel. Much of the interior has been scavenged in the past, but the massive metal blast doors remain in place.
One of the two tunnel entrances
Blast doors are still intact - probably worth a few quid at the local scrapyard if you could get them in the back of your hire car though!
Terrible quality GIF of some terrible quality video from inside!
Željava Air Base
Located mainly in Croatia, but with portions over the border in Bosnia, Objekat 505 was once Yugoslavia's largest underground base and was built to house an early warning RADAR system as well as to provide strategic command for the country in the event of war. It could house over 1000 workers, covers an area of 3.5 square kilometres and had its own underground water supply.
During the conflict in the 90s the base was purposely destroyed by the Yugoslav People's Army to prevent it being used by opposition forces.
The area around the base is still heavily mined and it seems that the Croatian Police still use the area for training dogs in detecting explosives.
More information at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Željava_Air_Base
A Douglas C47 Dakota sits at the entrance to the site, making an easy landmark to navigate by!
Best not to wander too far off the main paths
One of the entrances on the Croatian side - shaped to allow planes through
Another of the Croatian entrances - remnants of the blast doors visible on the right
Blast doors
Most of the runway still exists - a perfect place to test out the hire car!
Gnojnice, Mostar
Close to Mostar airport this site comprises a huge curved tunnel with some small side rooms accessible from inside the tunnel. Much of the interior has been scavenged in the past, but the massive metal blast doors remain in place.
One of the two tunnel entrances
Blast doors are still intact - probably worth a few quid at the local scrapyard if you could get them in the back of your hire car though!
Terrible quality GIF of some terrible quality video from inside!
Željava Air Base
Located mainly in Croatia, but with portions over the border in Bosnia, Objekat 505 was once Yugoslavia's largest underground base and was built to house an early warning RADAR system as well as to provide strategic command for the country in the event of war. It could house over 1000 workers, covers an area of 3.5 square kilometres and had its own underground water supply.
During the conflict in the 90s the base was purposely destroyed by the Yugoslav People's Army to prevent it being used by opposition forces.
The area around the base is still heavily mined and it seems that the Croatian Police still use the area for training dogs in detecting explosives.
More information at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Željava_Air_Base
A Douglas C47 Dakota sits at the entrance to the site, making an easy landmark to navigate by!
Best not to wander too far off the main paths
One of the entrances on the Croatian side - shaped to allow planes through
Another of the Croatian entrances - remnants of the blast doors visible on the right
Blast doors
Most of the runway still exists - a perfect place to test out the hire car!
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