US Air Force officer survives 50 hours after F-15E downed in Iran, rescued on Easter
A US Air Force weapons officer known as “Dude 44 Bravo” evaded capture for nearly 50 hours after his F-15E was shot down over Iran and was rescued on Easter Sunday.
An Iranian shoulder‑launched missile struck a US Air Force F‑15E near Isfahan in April, forcing the crew to eject. The pilot, call sign Alpha, was recovered in a daylight raid eight hours after ejection. The back‑seater, call sign Bravo, suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder when his parachute was damaged and spent nearly 50 hours evading Iranian forces in the mountainous desert before being rescued on Easter Sunday.
Declassified video now shows the daylight rescue of Alpha and infrared footage of pararescuers retrieving Bravo. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine described the operation as one of the most complex in recent US history.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The episode illustrates the lengths the United States will go to recover service members from hostile territory.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 US Air Force officer survives 50 hours after F-15E downed in Iran, rescued on Easter
- Sep 14 Declassified footage of the rescues has been released to the public.
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