VASKRSIJA JANKOVIĆ, ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVING WITNESSES OF OPERATION HALYARD, DIES

DOBOJ, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA/ – Vaskrsija Janković /87/, from Boljanić, one of the last surviving witnesses of Operation Halyard, during which Allied airmen were rescued from Mount Ozren during the Second World War, has passed away in Doboj.

Janković will be laid to rest today at 12:30 p.m. in Boljanić.

The Doboj City Administration confirmed that Janković passed away two days ago.

Doboj Mayor Boris Jerinić said that Janković would be remembered as a precious guardian of history, whose testimonies will remain a lasting testament to the courage, humanity and nobility of the Serb people.

"On my own behalf and on behalf of Doboj City, I extend my sincerest condolences to the Janković family, relatives and friends," Jerinić stated.

Vaskrsija Janković was born on April 9, 1939.

As a boy, he witnessed the historic events that took place in Boljanić in 1944, which he later documented as a co-author of the monograph Rescue of Allied Airmen, thus making a significant contribution to preserving the memory of Operation Halyard and the courage of the Serb people of the Ozren region.

During Operation Halyard – the Air Bridge, carried out by the forces of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland under the command of General Dragoljub Draža Mihailović, more than 500 pilots were rescued, including 60 Allied airmen in Boljanić.

This operation was the largest rescue mission involving American soldiers behind enemy lines in 1944 and 1945.