U.S. Air Force officer shot down in Iran says he prayed while "free-falling" to the ground behind enemy lines
- On Sunday, a U.S. Air Force weapons systems officer identified as "Bravo" detailed his survival after his F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran in April, describing a harrowing parachute failure that left him stranded behind enemy lines for two days.
- The aircrew, call sign "Dude 44," was conducting an April 2 strike mission near Isfahan against facilities linked to Iran's drone and missile program when a shoulder-fired missile forced them to eject.
- Bravo sustained a broken back, arm, and shoulder after hitting the ground at high speed, yet hiked a 7,000-foot ridgeline to evade detection by Iranian forces before U.S. special operations personnel rescued him 50 hours later.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the complex rescue operation, which involved hundreds of personnel from Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six, as a "gun fight all the way in and all the way out."
- CNN reported Saturday that Defense Secretary Hegseth and political appointees pushed for the crew's participation in the interview despite reservations from the military's chain of command regarding classified rescue details.
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US colonel survived 50 hours after jet downed in Iran
A US Air Force colonel, identified by his call sign 'Bravo', survived nearly 50 hours behind Iranian lines after his F-15E fighter jet was shot down near Isfahan. Despite severe injuries, he evaded Iranian forces and was eventually rescued in a complex operation involving US military and intelligence personnel, highlighting a daring mission to leave no man behind.
US Air Force Officer Survives '50 Hours' After Being Shot Down over Iran: CBS News
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The officer, identified by his mission call sign "Bravo" because of security concerns, was the weapons-systems officer aboard the two-seat fighter jet. The aircraft, operating under the mission call sign "Dude 44", was reported to be shot down by an "Iranian shoulder-fired missile" on April 2 during a mission near Isfahan. World News | US Air Force Officer Survives '50 Hours' After Being Shot…
US Air Force officer survives 50 hours after being shot down over Iran: CBS News - The Tribune
The officer, identified by his mission call sign "Bravo" because of security concerns, was the weapons-systems officer aboard the two-seat fighter jet. The aircraft, operating under the mission call sign "Dude 44", was reported to be shot down by an "Iranian shoulder-fired missile" on April 2 during a mission near Isfahan.
He ejected from the fighter jet with a damaged parachute, climbed with broken bones to a 2,100-meter ridge and waited two days for rescue.
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