Božidar Mihalić
Božidar Mihalić | |
|---|---|
 Mihalić in 2010 | |
| Born | 9 December 1971 Shklohichyn, Scitaria |
| Allegiance |  Syara |
| Service/ | Commonality Air Force |
| Years of service | 1995-2010 |
| Rank | Lt. Colonel |
| Unit | 16th Figther Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Zemplen War |
| Awards | see below |
Božidar Mihalić is a Syaran former pilot and flying ace of the Zemplen War.
An ethnic Scitarian, Mihalić joined the Commonality Air Force in 1995 and was among the first Syaran pilots to fly the Zephyr. By the time of the Zemplen War Mihalić was a Major in the 16th Figther Squadron, and saw extensive service in the first half the war, fighting in Operation Aspis, the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive, and Operation Harpe and Polyandreion. Mihalić recorded his first kill in September 2008 when he downed a Ruvelkan AFASF-12 Drago Air Superiority Fighter. In December the same year Mihalić shot down another Drago, though his own craft suffered serious damage from an air-to-air missile. In April 2009 he scored another kill by downing a AFASF-10 Donnola Air Superiority Fighter, and scored a fourth in Operation Overshadow by shooting down an AFSF-8 Folivori. During Operation Homefront Mihalić became an ace by shooting down another Folivori, the last Syaran ace of the war.
Mihalić retired from military service just four months after the war ended, and later published a series of works on his experience during the war. Since then he has frequently toured in support of veteran groups, becoming a keynote speaker at a number of public events related to Zemplen veterans and their families.