U.S. Air Force officer rescued after F-15E shot down over Iran

An Air Force colonel serving as the weapons-systems officer on a two-seat F-15E was shot down by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile on April 2 near a mountainous area south of Isfahan. The missile damaged his parachute, causing him to free-fall at an estimated 70-100 mph before landing about five miles from his pilot, who was rescued the same day.

The officer, identified by the mission call sign Dude 44 Bravo, suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder but evaded capture for two days in the high desert, moving toward higher ground despite his injuries. He communicated his condition to U.S. forces and later described the experience as a test of faith.

U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the mission was intended to strike industrial facilities linked to Iran’s drone and missile program. The aircraft, valued at $30 million, was lost after the missile strike.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that rescue efforts began immediately after the incident. The pilot, call sign Alpha, was recovered in a daytime raid that involved helicopters under fire. Bravo’s location was tracked by intelligence agencies, and a multi-service rescue operation involving more than 90 personnel on the ground, several hundred aircraft, and support from the CIA was launched.

Rescue teams used large search-and-rescue planes and small “Little Bird” helicopters to reach the colonel on a 7,000-foot ridgeline. After his extraction, the stranded aircraft and helicopters were destroyed to prevent Iranian acquisition. Bravo was brought to safety about 50 hours after the shoot-down, and later expressed gratitude for the teamwork and leadership that enabled the operation.