Milan Emil Uzelac

Milan Emil Uzelac (26 August 1867 – 7 January 1954) was a leading figure in the air forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Independent State of Croatia.

Early life and education Emil Uzelac was born in Komárom, at the time in Austria-Hungary, on 26 August 1867, to a Serbian Orthodox family from Lika.

In addition to flying in a plane, he also flew in an air balloon and was on 15 May 1914 awarded the diploma of the leader of free balloons by the Austrian aeroclub. On 7 November 1912, while performing his first looping, he had an accident and ended up in the hospital from which he came out as soon as he regained consciousness.

Service in the Independent State of Croatia In 1941, Uzelac joined the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia as an Honorary General. He worked on the construction of NDH's air force. On 25 November 1941, at the age of 74, he retired. On 21 and 22 August 1942, on the occasion of his 75th birthday and the 30th anniversary of service, a ceremony attended by numerous German, Hungarian and Croatian pilots from World War I, was held in Zagreb.

Uzelac was imprisoned following the end of World War II.

He died in Petrinja on 7 January 1954 and was buried at the Mirogoj cemetery.

Awards Military Merit Cross Saxe-Ernestine House Order House Order of Hohenzollern Order of the Iron Crown II class with war decoration Order of the Iron Crown III class Order of Leopold Order of the Medjidie II class Iron Cross I class Iron Cross II class Military Merit Medal(Austria-Hungary) Military Merit Cross with war decoration and swords