Overview
- In April an F-15E call sign Dude 44 was struck over Iran and its two crewmen ejected and landed about five miles apart behind enemy lines.
- U.S. forces launched a large, risky daytime recovery that officials say involved roughly 21 aircraft to reach the pilot about eight hours after ejection.
- The weapons systems officer known as Bravo suffered a broken back and other serious injuries when his parachute was damaged and then evaded capture by climbing a roughly 7,000-foot ridgeline for about two days.
- Newly declassified infrared and video footage obtained by 60 Minutes show elite pararescuers locating and extracting Bravo and show U.S. forces destroying a marooned rescue aircraft to prevent its capture by Iranian forces.
- The public release and Bravo’s first interview provide visual confirmation of U.S. accounts and underline both the military’s priority on recovering personnel and the operational risks that may shape public and policy debate about the broader war.