The biggest military underground airport in Europe, Zeljava air base | ABANDONED

I'm on a little roadtrip in Croatia with Eelco and visit abandoned military relics throughout the country.
On the last day we visit Zeljava air base, which was the largest underground airport of Europe. It's located right on the border of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This place became operational in 1968 and got destroyed by the Serbian military in 1991-1992.
Since then it's a dangerous abandoned place since there are still mines and unexploded ammunition scattered around. This place is also a smuggling route and a illegal way into the EU for illegal immigrants so there's a lot of police patrol. We also visit a "submarine" tunnel called "Hitler's eyes'.
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[@Baky6]

Memories memories. During my service in the Croatian army in 2000, I spent several weeks in that barracks. We were brought to work on the reconstruction of the barracks. The barracks are only a few hundred meters from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The army should not be stationed so close to the border, so it was decided to abandon the reconstruction project. It was said that the barracks would be taken over by the special police as part of the border patrol. That never happened. It's a shame because it's a beautiful place with beautiful nature. I could tell you many stories and adventures from that place. Even then, the place was surrounded by mines on 3 sides. You could see them outside the barbed wire because the rains and landslides brought many to the surface. We slept in that building in sleeping bags at 9:36 and I have never slept better in my life. 14:42 And it's actually not the biggest bunker in Croatia. As a soldier, I was in larger bunkers where ammunition and weapons were stored. But I am not allowed to tell you their locations because they are still in use and their location is considered a military secret

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks a lot for some of your stories! Must have been incredible. You have seen the planes in the bunker as well? Once these bunkers get abandoned, feel free to reach out to me haha :D

[@jokekopter2509]

​@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath 3:28 fun fact,in the first part of the video,there are more bunkers of coast of Šibenik,right by that fort at the entrance,only right way to acesse these bunkers is by walling across nice wooden bridges

[@LiamdGeo]

*_En secreto como lo fué la naturaleza a la cual dañaron para realízar dicha operación. Que ganan con guardarse tanto😎 Muchos ya ni en polvo existen. Arrogantes_*

[@Ryazan-Sugar]

It's crazy how much resources it took to build all those huge military bases, most of which are now abandoned

[@VigilantGuardian6750]

yes and bare in mind yugoslavia wasnt that rich of a country to afford all of this back then, even at it's peak

[@synth1002]

@@VigilantGuardian6750 It was leader of Non-Aligned Movement, it was rich enough.

[@VigilantGuardian6750]

@@synth1002 non aligned movement was mix of 3rd and 4th worlders

[@synth1002]

@@VigilantGuardian6750 Higher standard than Soviets, more order than in the west, what do you want more. You can't compare 3rd world countries then and now. Then was much more higher level before introducing NATO democracy to that countries.

[@VigilantGuardian6750]

@@synth1002 the reason why yugoslavia appears richer than it was is due to the fact that they went into massive debts just so they can start building proper relevant infrastructure, i wish it was richer cause I'm from there and my current country would be more developed now too but that was not the case

[@AmericanPatriot-he1ep]

I love seeing these old abandoned military bases, with everything that is going on in the world today places such as these could possibly still save lives....

[@noonehere1793]

…or take them…..

[@markbrisec3972]

Actually this base is on NATO's radar given that Croatia is a member of NATO and EU.

[@youtubebandme4382]

@@noonehere1793 depends on what game you are trying to play.

[@lelnub6912]

Not really the ion smoke detectors that have been on the roof in hundreds that have radioactive americium-241 can very easily be inhaled and the whole complex is full of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) compound that are very bad for health

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

@@noonehere1793 Unlikely, as they're likely not compatible with modern military tech, or they'd still be active.

[@bw2903]

This reminds me of visiting the Ostwall tunnel system located in Poland. It's a deep underground system built by Nazi Germany in 1934-44 as a fortified defence network. Some of the bits have tours but there's so much sectioned off parts, some collapsed, some flooded. I reckon you would love it.

[@TattooedTraveler]

Is that the 30km ones?

[@fladave99]

No, underground base in Star Wars

[@raymarkovich7295]

I was in those places 1985.Was member of JRM-JNA. Sailor.Torpdedo boat. There is several bunkers all over the Adriatic sea.

[@TattooedTraveler]

Ah nice bro, so what did they use it for exactly? And were the side tunnels ever complete?

[@strigojemigoje2758]

@@TattooedTraveler JNA-RM was using those bunkers to store boats during training or any navy drill. I remember there was only one entrance. Idea to make bunkers was to protect boats during war time. Boats come out quick to the action and disappeare quick. Bunkers are invisible from the open sea. During my service 1985 we use bunkers like outside war base. Combat readiness or combat alert. Bunkers are mostly situated on islands all over Adriatic sea. There was two islands under full military control. Vis and Lastovo.

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@strigojemigoje2758 hvala puno za povijest brate

[@strigojemigoje2758]

@@TattooedTraveler Ja sam iz Beograda. Bio sam tada mornar u Puli pa Split Lora. Poznajem pola jadrana bolje nego Dalmatinci. Bilo je to jedno lepo iskustvo. To ne moze da se dozivi ovako.

[@mwayimchuchu6588]

Wish you a merry Christmas and blessed new year ahead patriot

[@crazyheadgideon]

This episode was for two reasons very very cool. First, An amazing place to show us around. Second, very nice to see you both finally making a VLOG together again. Like the old days. 👊🏻😊

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Yes, hope Eelco will join again soon :)

[@Lone-Wolf87]

This is what fear makes humans do. All that money wasted there for nothing. It is an impressive bunker forgotten for eternity.

[@AllThingsFlightSim]

I mean atleast I know where to go in a zombie apocalypse now haha

[@Golden-dog88]

Not forgotten or wouldnt b here

[@mizzo2006]

Never knows these days, somethime it will be in use..!

[@golfilloz]

No. It had a purpose.

[@kavehzakipour262]

خیلی عالی بود .دست شما درد نکنه

[@mihaelbitola3812]

I am from ex Yugoslavia, and every documentary about Yugoslavia makes me very sad.

[@hercg1967]

Why, nothing to miss about Yugoslavia

[@mihaelbitola3812]

@@hercg1967 nothing to miss?? 90% of the Yugoslavian people were living much, much better than now. Yugoslavia was real country, now we have 6 banana countries. Only Slovenia have the same Yugoslavian standard, the others have totally ruined economy, 40% of the young people escaped in to the rich EU countries.

[@hercg1967]

@@mihaelbitola3812 I was born there, I hated the communist aspect, it was poor, but I will agree with you on the young moving to EU countries, I’m not a fan of EU or NATO

[@dragonmartijn]

The US wanted Yugoslavia to split in regions. They would only be able to lend money if they were apart from each other. It is really insane to have so many small countries instead of one larger one, but of course the people should decide it democratically. Now some parts are within the EU, so they have some things in common.

[@leokaloper4132]

@@dragonmartijn On the 17. dec. 2023 Serbia is having supposedly democratic decisions.

[@wes11bravo]

My grandfather flew a C-47 like that in WWII over "The Hump" (China-Burma-India) at the age of 22!

[@TattooedTraveler]

Awesome

[@blah12345ism]

I’ve been to that bunker in 2019. I went in there alone and it was a crazy experience. What still haunts me today is that I didn’t find the ladder to the upper areas of the bunker where they had an observation point which was connected by a lift to the base. I have seen videos where people recorded this lift shaft but didn’t try to climb up. Maybe it is better that I didn’t find it, eventually I’d have tried it and who knows in what condition the rusty bars in the shaft are. But still I’m thinking what I would find going up there… I’m sure almost no one went up there after the base was left. Maybe one day I’ll go back there.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Well if you see the shape of the bunker it’s not worth the effort. I often risk my life, but only when I have found a “Holy grail” of which you can find a few of on this channel😬

[@TattooedTraveler]

Yeh that ladder is apparently completed blocked off. There is another base on top with more tunnels tho and a fake ski lodge on top of it. Looks pretty cool but also nothing left

[@Bojan5150]

You couldn't find the ladders because there are none. As you said, there was an elevator (lift) which was used to go the air traffic control tower from the inside of the object and there was a path to the control tower to access it from the outside... No ladders since it is about 40 meters above the base level of the object. The elevator was thoroughly destroyed, there was nothing left of the cabin which was pushed onto the ceiling by the explosion. The slope above the object was mined even before the Yugoslav war, so it is very risky to try to find the outside path to the control tower. Folks from Croatian LYBI Željava message board did manage to skim the minefield and find the path to visit the control tower, leaving solar lamps on the outside of the control tower to mark the occasion, only to find out on the next visit that the solar lamps were stolen. This whole complex is now, sadly, mostly used for gathering secondary raw materials and I believe that those poor people whose livelyhood depends on scavenging Željava Airfield surely know that path as many other related secrets but the path is, currently, unmarked and therefore it would not be very safe to try to find it without mine detecting equipment (which folks from LYBI Željava used on their first attempt of reaching the control tower). Also, control room of the air traffic control tower was sent into oblivion by the explosion, for a long time it stood filled to the brim with burnt and twisted metal which was eventually cleaned out by secondary raw materials gatherers...

[@blah12345ism]

@@Bojan5150 thank you for explaining!

[@Bojan5150]

@@blah12345ism You're welcome. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

[@-TheRealChris]

Saving a dog is always the correct choice, glad you made it back for a second try though, great video as always, thank you for bringing us these amazing places!

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks a million Chris! Glad we went back :)

[@fredericcolombier5380]

What is incredible is that the Douglas DC3 still has its two Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp S1C3G star engines with 14 double star cylinders which develop a maximum power of 1,350 hp each, these engines date from 1942 for this which is of the design, this plane deserves to be moved and restored either to fly again because they are very reliable or to embellish the interior of a museum. And even if the general condition appears hopeless, it is quite possible by committing large financial means to make it fly again one day, do not doubt it.

[@johannesmuller5653]

🤗thats DC3 military DC-47 Dakotta, Original Name from USS Army was "avenger of heaven" baised in Italy, abandopned to yugoslav Army 1946. It was older Model with Prat&Whitney engines R-1830-80C Twin, AIr cooled 7+7 Cylinder, 1190Hp. I was there When this beauty was placed there.

[@mtrgv]

@@johannesmuller5653Wow! Amazing. She should be restored right there at the base.

[@Tillerman56]

Some aircraft have to stay where they belong. This one adds to the atmosphere of the airbase. Earlier there were to F-84's, they were brought to museums.

[@ludo9234]

All i can say is thank you for showing me places i could never afford to visit. Goodluck and keep safe.

[@Renard380]

This channel is on a whole other level... you guys are awesome, both because of the incredible locations and because of the lack of "scary" BS. Just the raw exploration as it should be!

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks, did you already see some other adventures? We snuck inside a space shuttle hangar, submarines, warships and many bunkers. Even got charged for espionage for documenting these places🫣 so nothing is faked.

[@xanderesparas6793]

❤❤🎉😮

[@jokekopter2509]

​@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPathif at least Croatian goverment rebuilt it,at least as museum,or at moste new base

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

@@jokekopter2509 It's already a tourist destination and close to the most popular tourist destination, so that would be interesting!

[@jokekopter2509]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath I agree,Also as you already know Croatia is filld whit historical sites due to its long history. Did you ever visit island calld Vis? It hase old abondend military comples,its like an naval base. There are also naval tunels on Brač,and Italian bunkers on the hill over the split

[@djhaloeight]

Bob and Eelco. You guys make a great urbex team 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@VisionaryGardener]

They really do. They're so on the same page and have such an easy rapport - they're like old friends. Very enjoyable to watch.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks ! We soon go on a really cool roadtrip to the 'Stans'

[@riborickertt]

I was here a week ago. The stickered plane now has wooden floors and a little restaurant beside it. The whole base was much cleaner than it looked in this video.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Things go fast there! 😅damn.

[@davidtyndall8880]

Been in some of the underground fortifications in Germany, 19 years after the end of the war. The curved and zigzag tunnels shapes were to prevent gunfire from going all the way down the tunnel.

[@Bryanscott88]

What an amazing video guys! Love seeing these underground bunker bases! We have a few of them here in America, but they are not accessible to civilians, only those with the proper clearance!

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks mate! Currently exploring in the US. I did a Titan Silo in the past. Hope to visit some more stuff soon😁

[@jbgood7694]

I lived in Bosnia and visit Croatia when I was a advisor for NATO. Even 20 years after the war the scars run deep. Those are such beautiful countries. Conflict has been part of their history for thousands of years. Thank you for making this video.

[@fladave99]

They were going to take over the world and tell everyone what to do Yea, like they are trying right now we will be visiting their ashes again in 50 years

[@Orkan-mf8pl]

Come on like there were no conflicts in other parts of europe for thousands of years hahha

[@impertinen0]

Conflict thousands of years, come on man, we are not savages

[@Orkan-mf8pl]

@@impertinen0 historical facts are there for those who want to read

[@thatguyisbackagain]

@@impertinen0in fact, it would appear that we are. It’s built in.

[@justfly7730]

What does you need in your underground bunker? Halls, toilets, blast doors, airport, hangars? Yes

[@bostjanko]

Spent a year at Željava while serving military in1988/89. Nice to see some remains. It's amazing how magical/mystical places like this look now. While I was there, there was no magic, just day to day operations on at the time already aged infrastructure.

[@bostjanko]

Just a comment... inside we only had MIG-21. Mig 29 could not enter, they were to big and had two tails :-)

[@DinkoPerisic]

The hotel is on the A1 Zagreb-Split highway. Under the mountain Velebit. It was built as a viewpoint because by passing through a long tunnel (5..6 km) you can reach the Mediterranean...Adriatic Sea from the interior of Croatia! Most of the year there is a strong wind blowing near the Hotel and it was impossible to do business.. The failed hotel became a mockery...unfortunately. greetings from Croatia

[@dinokejs9665]

The airbase was effectively destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95). Croatia had decided to follow Slovenia’s lead and break away from Yugoslavia. However it was not an amicable split. Enclaves of ethnic Serbs lived scattered throughout Croatia, making it impossible to draw any kind of mutually-satisfactory border between the two countries; and Slobodan Milošević, Yugoslavia’s new Serb leader in Belgrade, quickly mobilised the JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army) against Croatia in an attempt to maintain his power. From Željava Airbase, the JNA sent fighter jets against their former compatriots. Croatia and Slovenia. In April 1992 the tide of war turned however, and the JNA was forced to pull back from Croatia. Rather than abandon a fully operational airbase to the Croatian Army, they destroyed the runways with explosive charges as they left. The airbase fell under the control of the short-lived state of Serbian Krajina military who, on 16 May 1992, resolved to completely destroy Željava Airbase. More than 56 tons of explosives were used and the six-billion-dollar airbase was devastated by the blasts, consumed with internal fires. It was reported that locals living in the nearby city of Bihać felt the earth shake, and could still see plumes of smoke coming out of the tunnels six months later.

[@northernstar4811]

"Enclaves of ethnic Serbs lived scattered throughout Croatia, making it impossible to draw any kind of mutually-satisfactory border between the two countries" The socialist internal borders (six Yugoslav Republics & two Yugoslav autonomous regions) were already established after WW2 in Yugoslavia. Serbia just wanted more territory from its neighbours after Yugoslavia collapsed. So, it wasn`t impossible to draw the borders. The internal borders were already drawn up by the Yugoslav communist party after 1945 and were confirmed in the 1974 Yugoslav constitution.

[@dirreeN]

I'm from Sweden and i know we have a bunch of stuff like this all around our country aswell, some are even in use to this day.. I've even heard rumors about a secret gunpowder factory underground so we could keep making ammo even if our factories got taken out.. It's kinda insane to think about

[@biohazard8295]

I'm also sure every country has undergrond facilities to store food, water and medicine etc in case of a natural disaster/war

[@sancheskix]

Finally this episode, I have personally been there and the atmosphere is unique, thank you guys for this content!!

[@tom_123]

All those rebar prongs sticking out from the ceiling look lethal! Have to be super careful wandering around that place in the dark. Great video, Bob!

[@croquest8749]

There are many abandoned places like this throughout ex Yugoslavia. From atomic shelters to ex JNA army weapons and munitions storage places. Unless you talk to the locals who know where they are it's hard to find them . Especially in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Bunch of things like this where built with concrete and covered with grass and vegetation. As a kid during the war our school was inside atomic shelter with big 3' thick steel doors.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

I've been to some, hopefully there are still some in pristine condition where a lot of artifacts are left!

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath definitely in BiH bro but also we might get blown up

[@shhs1791]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath YOU HAVE TITOS bunker in Konjic... Bosnia and Herzegovina...

[@shhs1791]

..... in perfect condicion... You can see first automatic fuses in the world...

[@darrincassidy9045]

The locals know best

[@KristianK9755]

Hi Bob,glad to see a new work of you! Monstruos big tunnels...and Kozel is the exact beer i've just drink it!Cheers boys. 🍻🍻

[@brankoarnus]

In Yugoslavia, we could be proud of what was built regarding the defense of the country itself!❗🛣🗻⛰🪝🏗✈🚛 Also, the industry itself was built on the very supply of the country and very strong! ❗✈🏗💺🚈🚍🛳🏢🏭🚛🚁🏠🏬💪

[@leokaloper4132]

during the video I poused to see the tag on the uniform lifted, and that is (rather was) a factory in the midst of Bosnia and Herzegovina, town of Travnik, birthplace of a writer who got a Nobel prize, named Ivo Andric) ocalled Borac (meaning fighter). Like most good producers of anything in ex YU, the factory is long gone, only people around 50 can remember its name.

[@ReginaldVandeVelde]

Great to see the full picture of this base!

[@onnokrabshuis0555]

I was there during my SFOR and EUFOR missions between 2002 and 2005

[@-T90Vladimir]

Man, if I'd known you were coming to Hungary next, I know some pretty interesting locations to explore. Could've sent some ideas your way.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Always welcome! Reach out to me at Instagram or Facebook :)

[@-T90Vladimir]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath Will do! Still need to make a proper list, expect a message on Facebook in a few days :)

[@darrenforest1492]

Wow!! I just found this Channel and really enjoyed the tour. Keep up the great work and cheers from Australia

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Hey Darren, cool to hear. If you like this... you'll be AMAZED by all other explores on our channel :) This is just an empty bunker, but I have pioneered inside amazing holy grails in which everything is still intact :)

[@darrenforest1492]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath can't wait to work my way through them. Cheers from Australia

[@SybrenOerlemans]

I was here a few weeks ago and will drop my own video soon. But I really liked the blueprint of the bunker that you included. Well done! Videos don't do the place justice as to how massive it is.

[@shpellariking4943]

I suggest to visit military base of Gjader in Albania... The planes are hidden inside a mountain and the can take over from inside. Crazy....

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Yes, I know this place.. crazy :)

[@haywoodjay385]

With a bit of effort, that base could be rebuilt no problem. There's barely any damage.

[@freudenberg101]

Same as in the US; they save money on the roof. If the roof is solid, you won't have birches growing in your bedroom for 300 years.

[@mysticalmisty9772]

I don’t know what it is but I’m fascinated with underground places, this was a amazing explore Thank you for taking us along 😀

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Ooo, you should check out this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWTdgJ-chtuVis0 this was a crazy discovery. Thanks for checking out😇

[@mysticalmisty9772]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath I will do I'm new to your channel and will be catching up with your exploring 😀

[@yousifmusa98]

مرحبا.. كانت جوله رائعه ونادره لمكان مثل هذا.. شكرا على هذا الاستطلاع.. تحياتي لكم من العراق 🇮🇶

[@Bojan5150]

At 5:16 you passed by the gate of the former air base Udbina, built in the 1980s as an alternative to Željava. It was not fully finished (it used a mobile air traffic control tower and only one HAS was completed) and it was used by the Serbs in the Yugoslav war up until Operation Storm (August 1995). Croatian Army did not use it as an air base apart from some military exercises, no aircraft are stationed there.

[@RwingDsquad]

My favorite videos of yours is the ones with you two.

[@sampointau]

The "U boat bunker" was most likely either an "S boot " (torpedo boat) or "E Boot" (Fast attack boat) shelter and re arming point.

[@chrismac3684]

@what place is that "boat"-Tunnel ?

[@DIGGER19860]

My dad went to yugoslavia in the 80s and he filmed jets coming in amd out of that base. I always remember being awstruck by a undergroumd jet base. Crazy its totally destroyed now.

[@TattooedTraveler]

Best Video of Željava out there.

[@zoranjovanovic0505]

Hello TT ✌️😁 i saw later your questions in LC on which i didnt answer because I was looking video more & details... 👍

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@zoranjovanovic0505 nema problema brate. So those films were aerial recon photos?

[@zoranjovanovic0505]

@@TattooedTraveler mostly yes & who knows from which place of recon are they .... Pričaš i razumiješ latinicu?!

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@zoranjovanovic0505 awesome, hvala, rezumis I prica malo ali ja sam jos ucim... tecko jezerik

[@zoranjovanovic0505]

@@TattooedTraveler thats awesome / to je super, just take it slowly & you'll learn it for sure, if you want to / samo polako, naučit ćeš svakako ako želiš. 🙃😉😁 You explore also this kind of history??

[@clyde1406]

The u boat bunkers would be a great place to magnet fish !

[@randyneil6161]

Very nice video, the history is amazing those bunkers should be kept in better condition so it would last a lifetime. Nice place for camping. My country Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 has the abandoned U.S. 🇺🇸Naval Operating Base from World War 2, many underground weapon bunkers on secret islands and airport runways for world war 2 fighter airplanes but nobody knows where the airplanes went, and the most important and historical tracking station satellite its the first wireless communication signal from Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 to the USA🇺🇸 during the World War 2. Wireless Communication Technology started right here in my country Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹. Anybody can visit my country for vacation everybody is invited you would love it here because we do not have winter everyday of the year its like summer.

[@TwoFourCharlie007]

I love Zeljava, that’s the most in depth video I’ve seen about the place, superb! Well done guys, I’m returning there myself next year,riding from U.K. to Montenegro via Zeljava

[@LostBuildings]

cool! Really looking forward to this episode looks very impressive

[@samuelgilbert9734]

Once again, thank you for sharing it with us!

[@EricBunkerHunter]

What an awesome video 'urbex-vrienden' thanks for sharing! It was an awesome trip!🙏🏻❤

[@xFlow150]

Thank you for all the wonderful content!

[@Ganiscol]

The former Yugoslavia built some bold and excessive stuff during the cold war - driven by paranoia. That bunker surely has a creepy vibe going with its size and all that demolition damage, lumps of concrete dangling from above and crumbling pillars holding upper floors with huge holes in it. I'm glad you went in there so I dont have to. 😅 Also: I wonder what flipped that bus on its side... 🤔

[@spannaspinna]

Pure rage tipped that bus over

[@___Me_]

Probably someone pulled it over with a truck or something. Probably to scrap the engine and transmission from below

[@MAG-Crew]

Yugoslavia spend 40Bilion on Military base

[@richardderosset6960]

The bus was flipped over on its side by Zindongabobobabwe , a giant 40' foot catapiller, that was the base mascot 😳 it was jealous because the bus was faster !

[@djpsy9538]

@@MAG-Crew true it was 1 of greatest bases in Eu but its god dnm shame it got destroyd by Mladic Četnik troops think of it if elon mask or any bilioners made space port there

[@alimtimm7355]

Seeing a DC-3 in that delapitaded condition makes me very sad, having a relative who is a veteran and would fly on those to Alaska. Why didn’t they put it in a museum and restore it?

[@MrL4t3]

This place is creepy as hell but so amazing.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

the size makes it impressive.

[@DinkoPerisic]

I had a neighbor... who served military service at the Željava airport. 35 years ago. He told us about that big underground complex in the mountain. There were about 60 aircraft at that time..MiG21. He was a support staff inside... At the time we had no idea what he was talking about, but later and today we can see what a top facility of the Army of Yugoslavia it was!

[@jindrab7312]

it's amazing how you managed to map this place after leaving the army. Thanks for that and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more interesting things like this. 🙂

[@allanbaldoque2055]

Trillion worth?

[@cfriedel123]

Amazing that hotel/restaurant was abandoned. It looked like it may have been left recently as things were pretty clean.

[@maricallo6143]

It was built the same time as the motorway...I used to stop there for a coffee and the view...but haven't stopped there for some time, severeal years...it kinda went derelict in the meantime...

[@Metalstacker]

Wauw Bob wat een enorme bunker! Mooi avontuur weer en wederom mooie herinneringen gemaakt samen met Eelco 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@doctorno0070]

I find it fascinating you found original pictures of the underground fascility (at 19:15 ) to compare it to it's current condition. It was very impressive to see a line of jets, and a bustle of activity, compared to the current derelict condition. Great video. Thanks for the upload.

[@morgothbauglirthemasteroft4354]

there are also videos from airbase when it was operational. I think u could find them on youtube

[@zatrusofnietzche2281]

It's a tourist site, faked and filled with old crap to make it look ooohhh. Go to your travel agent and book a shooting weekend there

[@gustavocrovetto4638]

Un viejo vecino nacido en Croacia y combatió de muy jovencito me contaba de esa base donde entraban los U bot . Nunca pensé en verla . Don Drago Q.E.P.D . Excelente video saludos 🇦🇷

[@vickoslavkovic2593]

He was croazian nazi ustasha.

[@OFCbigduke613]

You guys are the best in the business.

[@Robert-ff9wf]

Isn't that airplane they investigated an old American C47 or DC3 from WW2? Funny how the greatest aircraft ever built turns up almost everywhere in the world 70 years after being built and is still in use even now because of how well they were built!

[@cincyjohn69]

I can’t stop watching these trying to get caught up! Absolutely amazing job guys !

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

You want to get some tips on some good ones?

[@nyrat100]

Hi Bob what an amazing place to find and it was so massive inside the bunker Thanks again Bob from little New Zealand keep up the great videos!!!!

[@jackmiller8851]

i think the little cutouts in the tunnel were for equipment storage, muster stations, perhaps some tooling or a workbench for basic maintenence tasks. Not really large enough for avoiding any kind of blast but i suppose it would be better than nothing.

[@zagrepcanin82]

3 of such bases are in Slovenia,4 here in Croatia,5 in Bosnia and Serbia and Macedonia and Montenegro has 2. I think i got it right. During ex country not only military bases were built but also civilian nuclear shelters. Company couldnt get building permit if there was no nuclear shelter. My neighbourhood in Zagreb has 6 and in entire city there are 140 i think. So in this times we are living and witnesing brutality and war crimes they can become handy.lets just hope we will not have to use them

[@guilherme.vailatti]

Always very curious and fun to watch your videos. Thank you!

[@michaelgrimes1131]

Wow ... What an awesome adventure! My Dad was military and we were stationed on Okinawa Japan during the Vietnam war. There was some left over Japanese building's at Kadena Air Force Base. It was nothing like this! Thanks for the tour!

[@CaptRich-bi3gp]

Cool Beans! I was stationed at Camp Foster in the early 80s. A Marine buddy and I used to run over to Kadena about once a week for some much better chow than we typically were served. In explorations of the island on weekends we encountered several old Japanese tunnels and caves. They all had signs at the entrances in Japanese, I'm fairly certain they said danger keep out. We most certainly abided by that. ✌️

[@alfwedarf7764]

Surreal and wonderful video, thanks guys.

[@thomasweber8733]

The airbase is also featured in the Slovenian film "Houston, We Have a Problem!" from 2016. A mockumentary about the Yugoslavian space program.

[@Electronzap]

Very cool you got to explore it. I've only seen it mentioned in a documentary,

[@deltan42]

Do you guys get checked every so often for things like asbestosis? I really fear for your health with the amount of decaying asbestos and other old building materials that you guys walk through etc. I know you've been doing it for a bit, but I'd hate for you to catch something from your passion :)

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

I should. Doing this for 20 years now.. 99,9% has been explored without making episodes😔

[@deltan42]

@@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath We love you and your work, we'd hate for something to happen because of it :) Thanks for the amazing content, I'd recommend some simple face masks, like the n95 medical style that should keep the worst of the particles out. Even if you pull them down when you talk to the camera it would keep you safer when you're doing the majority of your exploring.

[@maricallo6143]

@@deltan42 I used my surgical corona mask as soon as I saw the fine particles in the air under the flashlight when I visited there with a guide (we salvaged a couple of CRT monitor chassis). Thought it was stirred-up dust but it seems it's just water particles suspended in the air. I wander why the guys don't use gloves when they handle the equipment.

[@robrob9050]

@deltan42 How they can get checked for Asbestosis?

[@domagojkaticic2446]

i live in croatia i know the bunker is crazy

[@sbdiaries]

Such an amazing place 😍 to explore, one tries to imagine what it would have like during operating time. Thanks Bob for showing us around, greetings from England 🇬🇧 Simon and Beth ❤️ 🙋

[@Fran_SG]

Amazing place that should be preserved ir something. Thanks!!

[@pastandpresentwithpaul]

Nice video again Bob!! Such nice locations

[@leandrojunior872]

Amazing documentary, a trip back in time, thank you so much for the images

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks a lot Leandro!😇

[@benfoot4212]

That was cool to see the heel irons from the German WWII boots pressed into the cement

[@km0e69]

So very interesting to watch. Thank You! And thank you for the quiet, pleasing music during the vlog. Something that Americans can't seem to accomplish. I usually hate and don't give a thumbs up to loud, blow your hair back music at the beginning of a vlog. Looking forward to your next one.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks a lot Jim! We just register our adventure instead of faking/dramatize things.

[@dougheisenberch8152]

Tank you so much for this amazing video

[@actionmike2506]

Your Engish is amazing, for me it make watching this video very enjoyable to watch thank you.

[@EdenValleyAdventuresUK]

A great explore loved it very much.👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ReinaldsTV]

Fantastic! What a trip, dears! Greetings from São Paulo, Brazil!

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks for checking! We have way better locations on this channel! Check the military section 😊😊

[@nuancematters]

As a Scottish person, I am always amazed at how many people fall for this Established Titles scam. It's not real...you will not be given a legitimate title of Lord or Lady. Also...there's a difference between a Laird and a Lord, they're not the same thing. One can hold both titles (Lord normally is a given title, awarded to an individual) but anyone who owns land can be considered a Laird as it is not a title one is given, it is merely a title expressing that one may be a landowner of a large estate or something like that. Either way, the Established Titles thing is an absolute scam.

[@puckluck2357]

I was there during the war with SFOR. Patrolling… We poked around a bit, but it’s was too dangerous. It was very common to have mines placed around interesting items like money, magazines, or anything that a soldier might pick up… the inside has since been cleaned up a lot. At the time in the late 90’s all the tunnels were filled with rubble and damaged equipment. We would only walk on the hard concrete and would not take a chance climbing over the rubble piles. We didn’t go far in. The place was not as overgrown. There are observation posts further up the hill. I expect that the tunnels were cleaned out after the war. So many mines at the time I would be shocked if there were not any mines placed in there. We were in the area doing presence patrols. Mostly just driving around making sure that there was no destabilizing activities going on. This was in the Croatian area in Bosnia. In this area we were looking to see if there were any weapons being hidden in the tunnels. Our take was that it was improbable because of the amount of rubble blocking the way inside would prevent any heavy equipment. As far as small arms they were everywhere, mostly under people’s beds, so it was not worth our lives poking around in dark tunnels looking for stashes of items that would have been hand carried in. It is surreal to see this area again. I can’t imagine going back.

[@tomjotley7775]

It could been for for torpedo boats. Makarska town also has 2 torpedo boat hanger, one was converted in restaurant .

[@adrianw.5072]

Thank you alot for that Video, i saw it just a day before a short croatia Trip, and this was perfekt for the last free day of the trip. Really cool experience

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

A cool you were just on time to see this! Cool you went😬😎

[@colddarkness1798]

Željava Bihać to be rebuild it would be special. Maybe today Bosnian military can use it for air training for military pilots but country is corrupted... Or to be rebuild for like museum. Željava Bihać is reason how brotherhood and unity of Yugoslavia is rusted over the years. Željava Bihać is like brother hood and unity rusted frozen in time.

[@alexkore5127]

Пивка хлебнуть-милое дело,после такого путешествия в прошлое... Атмосферно,как никогда! Заранее благодарю за твои видосы! Круто!!!

[@seanz6397]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video. Look forward to watching of your trips. Cheers & Safe travels.

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks! A new Fukushima series just started which will be a good one!

[@dandesjardins2552]

Awesome guys you should camp out inside there to explore every part

[@enmeterdumheter]

Found this channel today, such great edit, audio and music. Subscribed! Love from Sweden. (I feel good when watching the videos with this calm energy).❤️❤️❤️🇸🇪🇸🇪💯💯💯💯

[@ExploringtheUnbeatenPath]

Thanks for subscribing, you won’t regret😌 We also have some bold adventures in the playlist “coolest adventures” Enjoy watching! Cheers from The Netherlands

[@STB-1]

Another epic location 👍

[@mjmcomputers]

Such an amazing place, thanks for sharing it with us.

[@HobbyMoose79]

Amazing. Sad to see this stuff not being used. There is a need for shelter in the world. We will need these one day. Just amazing what you all are finding and filming. Amazing.

[@OUSSAMA10815]

the runways are divised by the border !! you can't use an under mountain base a few hundered meters with neighboring country and parts of two runways located in them that's why it got abondan .

[@dzonikg]

@@OUSSAMA10815 ITs abonded becase it was mined and blown up with 100 tons off explosives .Also not Croatia nor Bosnia would have money for reconstruction or enough fighter planes to fill it

[@killtheorangeclown7883]

This was a really fun expedition. Thanks for sharing. Liked and subscribed.

[@almiralagic4689]

It was detonated by the Serbs in early 1992, the shockwave rocked my hometown of Bihac (Bosnia) causing a mini earthquake.

[@HandsomeMoose]

So much work. So much money. What a waist. Great video as always.Thank you.

[@143sietze]

Great location and video again!

[@simulationsrealconflicts1586]

I feel that unraveling the places and the Soviet culture, brings an air of mystery and suspense, because it was a world unknown to Westerners, but that still brings fascination and admiration!

[@Dont_Tread_on_Me448]

Just the thought that a few decades ago you'd be shot for even being in close proximity to the perimeter of these places gives me chills and it's also kinda sad to see these magnificent military installations just laying abandoned