The U.S. military released dramatic video on Tuesday that captures portions of a massive combat search‑and‑rescue operation conducted in April inside Iran. The footage shows elite Air Force pararescue (PJ) operators reaching a badly injured American airman after his F‑15E Strike Eagle, call sign Dude 44, was shot down by an Iranian shoulder‑fired missile.
Background of the incident
The two‑man crew – pilot “Dude44 Alpha” and weapons systems officer “Dude44 Bravo” – ejected from the aircraft and landed miles apart in hostile territory. Alpha was rescued after a little more than six hours. Bravo, however, suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder when a damaged parachute caused a hard landing. He remained stranded for nearly two days before U.S. forces located him.
Rescue effort details
The newly released video shows U.S. helicopters searching for Bravo while American bombers and drones strike nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces. Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and began climbing toward a roughly 7,000‑foot ridgeline as daylight revealed the surrounding desert valley and steep cliffs.
On April 5, two large search‑and‑rescue aircraft landed on a makeshift desert runway. Smaller “Little Bird” helicopters then flew toward Bravo’s position on the ridgeline. The moment the pararescue operators reached him, Bravo described it as “one of the greatest moments of my life,” recalling his words, “Let’s go.”
Scale of the operation
The mission placed 92 U.S. service members on the ground in Iran – the first time American boots have been in the country since 1980. Hundreds more supported the effort from the air, and between 3,000 and 5,000 service members contributed overall, according to U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
Complications arose when the landing gear of the two rescue aircraft became trapped in desert sand, temporarily stranding the rescue team. A clandestine Air Force unit was later brought in to extract the group. Bravo was finally brought to safety roughly 50 hours after Dude 44 was shot down, with the rescue concluding as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.
Official comments
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told CBS News that there was “clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys.” The operation underscores the U.S. military’s commitment to recovering service members even in the most hostile environments.
Fox News reporters Liz Friden and Stepheny Price contributed to the original report.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
