Rapid growth of nuclear physics in fifties attracted attention of numerous scientists, mainly physicists. At the same time, governments become interested in the field, expecting various advantages, and to be honest, in the first place the nuclear weapons. As a result, also in the country at that time called Yugoslavia, the Federal Nuclear Agency has been formed, and generously funds have been given to support the research. In Yugoslavia three nuclear centers have been founded: in Belgrade (Serbia), Zagreb (Croatia) and Ljubljana (Slovenia). The nuclear research and applications to related fields, inevitably was related to the physics of ionized gases. Just to mention electro-magnetic separation of isotopes, mass spectrometry, gas filled nuclear radiation detectors, accelerator ion sources, sources for analytical spectroscopy and others. Right from the beginning a common problem has been met: lack of basic knowledge on elementary collision processes and in general on the matter in ionized state. Groups of physicists in the mentioned institutes have started paying full attention to these problems. They found it of interest to exchange the results and cooperate not only between themselves but also with research centers in other countries. It was felt that at least one national meeting should be organized, where an overview of activities in the field of ionized gases could be presented. Thanks to extraordinary efforts of prof. B. Perovic, supported, backed and simulated by prof. A. Milojevic, prof. Z. Sternberg, prof. Dj. Bosan and prof. A. Moljk first such meeting was prepared. In 1962 the “Ist Yugoslav Symposium an the Physics of Ionized Gases” was organized in Belgrade. Six invited lectures and 26 original contributions were presented. Two years later, in 1964, the second meeting of the same title was held in Zagreb (Croatia). The large number of participants and unexpected interest in field has initiated an idea that the study of different fields related to the physics of ionized gases should be done in a more organized manner. Already in the summer of 1964 the ”Summer School on the Physics of Ionized Gases” has been held in Herceg Novi, small town on the Adriatic coast. Six internationally recognized lecturers were invited to give a series of lectures in various fields. These were: prof. J. D. Craggs (Univ. of Liverpool, UK, 3 lectures) prof. A. L. Cullen (Univ. of Sheffield, UK, 3 lectures), prof. Yu. H. Demkov (Univ. of Leningrad, 3 lectures), prof. A. von Engel (Univ. of Oxford, UK, 8 lectures), dr. R. Herman (Obs. de Paris, France, 2 lectures), prof. J. B. Hasted (Univ. College, London, UK, 6 lectures). They were actually the first real teachers for the young and growing generation of Yugoslav scientists working in the field of ionized gases, and their names should be praised with dignity and gratitude.