Pilot shot down over Serbia nominated to head USAF

Pilot shot down over Serbia nominated to head USAF

Goldfein, who said he was "extremely humbled by the nomination," has enjoyed "a swift ascent," the website said, noting he previously served as director of the Joint Staff as commander of Air Forces Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East.

But, continued the article, Goldfein is "still known for his experiences flying in combat." The officer "has often recounted the night a surface-to-air missile exploded near his fighter jet over Belgrade on May 2, 1999, as the United States and NATO allies carried out Operation Allied Force, an air war against Slobodan Milosevic and his Serbian forces after numerous atrocities in the Balkans."

According to "Stars and Stripes" -"Goldfein ejected from his F-16C that night and parachuted into an open field in Kosovo. He was recovered two hours later by a combat search-and-rescue team in a helicopter."

However, according to available information, the events, and Goldfein's evacuation, unfolded differently that night.

The U.S. pilot took off from Aviano in Italy and was shot on May 2, 1999 by members of the 250th Missile Brigade of the Yugoslav Army's Air Defense (PVO), who used an S-125 Neva missile. The F-16 was shot above the village of Karlovcic, in the Srem District , Northwestern Serbia.

Goldfein then attempted to fly to Bosnia-Herzegovina, but had to eject and landed in the village of Sinosevic, while the aircraft crashed south from that location, near the town of Sabac.

A rescue team then arrived to collect him in two helicopters, taking him first to the Tuzla airport in eastern Bosnia, and then to Aviano.

Goldfien also took part in war operations in Iraq during the Gulf War and in Afghanistan, and has over 4,200 hours flying various aircraft, including F-16, and F-117 - one of which was also shot down over Serbia in 1999.