23.09.2014.

Operation Halyard exhibition opened

Tonight, at the Guard House in Topcider, an exhibition of documents and archive photographs marking the seven decades since Operation Halyard was opened. The exhibition, which was prepared by the Euro-Atlantic Initiative from Belgrade, was attended officials of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, the Washington-based Halyard Foundation, family members of the American pilots and Serbian soldiers that participate in the Operation and various guests.

On this occasion, speeches were given by Oliver Antic, Special Advisor to President of Serbia, US Deputy Ambassador in Belgrade Gordon Duguid, President of the Foundation John Cappello and Daniel Sunter, Editor and Project Manager of the “Euro-Atlantic Review”, who said that the exhibition includes photographs had been made during the summer of 1944 by the American pilots in Serbia.

Oliver Antic mentioned the rescue of more than 500 American pilots and pointed out that the Halyard Mission should never be forgotten, and that the exhibition is homage to the pilots and the brave Serbian people that rescued them.

According to Gordon Duguid, the exhibition shows that the struggle and the bravery of the Serbian military that saved the American pilots are note forgotten. He conveyed great pleasure for being in the country of such heroes.

- Yesterday, I attended the marking of the Pranjani jubilee, today, I am in Belgrade. What made the greatest impression on me was the cooperation between our two militaries. Those relations represent the strongest cooperation between Serbia and US, which shows on several levels – cooperation with the National Guard of Ohio, and the cooperation in the scope of the Partnership for Peace. Other countries should follow the example of our relations – Duguid said.

The President of the Halyard Foundation spoke about the seven years of research which resulted in tonight’s exhibition, thanking all participants – authors and successors of the American pilots and Serbian soldiers.

The exhibition will be open to the public from September 29, at the Military Museum in Belgrade.

During the Operation Halyard, executed at a field in the village of Pranjani near Cacak, several hundred American airmen and other Allied pilots were evacuated with the help of the Yugoslavian military under guidance of Dragoljub Mihailovic and the US Office of Strategic Services.