US Shot down airman reveals terrifying 50-hour escape from Iran

Shot-down American survived a broken parachute, broken bones and 50 hours hiding from Iranian forces

An American airman has revealed for the first time how he survived a terrifying 50 hours alone inside Iran after his F-15 was shot down during the war.

Known only by his call sign "Bravo" to protect his identity, the US weapon systems officer told CBS' 60 Minutes that his parachute was badly damaged after his aircraft was hit.

As he plunged towards the ground, he desperately tried to pull pieces of the parachute loose.

He survived the fall — but suffered a broken back, broken arm and shoulder, a sprained ankle and cuts to his head and face.

Then came the even more frightening part.

Hiding from the Iranians

After ejecting from the aircraft, Bravo managed to evade Iranian forces and began climbing a 7,000-foot ridge despite his injuries.

He had little more than a pistol, communications equipment and a tracking beacon.

He eventually found a concealed position in a mountain crevice and remained hidden while American forces searched for him.

The pilot of the F-15 was rescued relatively quickly.

Bravo waited 50 hours.

"When I got to the moment where I could review and think about all that I'd gone through, I sent 'God is good,'" he told interviewer Norah O'Donnell, describing the first message he transmitted after establishing communications.

A massive rescue operation

The recovery became a huge American military and intelligence operation involving hundreds of personnel.

Elite special operations forces, including Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six, were involved, while US aircraft carried out strikes to clear the way for the rescuers.

The CIA had also mounted a deception operation designed to prevent Iranian forces from discovering where the airman was being rescued.

Declassified Pentagon footage shown during the programme revealed American pararescue operators making their way towards Bravo's hiding place.

Then, after 50 hours alone and injured, he finally saw them coming over the ridge.

He described the moment as "one of the greatest moments of my life."

Even the escape aircraft were sacrificed

The rescue itself was not without further drama.

Two damaged MC-130J special operations transport aircraft used during the mission became stranded, leaving more than 90 American special operators temporarily stuck inside Iran.

The personnel were eventually recovered by other aircraft.

The damaged planes, however, could not simply be abandoned.

The US military deliberately destroyed them to prevent the aircraft from falling into Iranian hands.

The interview controversy

The remarkable story has also triggered a political row in Washington.

CNN reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's political appointees had pushed for the two airmen to participate in the highly publicised interview, despite initial reservations from the men and concerns within the military about operational security.

The pilot declined to take part.

The Pentagon strongly rejected CNN's account, saying participation was the individual decision of each airman and that extensive care had been taken to protect sensitive information.

For Bravo, however, the interview was ultimately about something much more personal.

After falling from a damaged aircraft, suffering multiple injuries, hiding alone in hostile territory and waiting two days for rescue, he finally watched American rescuers appear on the ridge.

His response was simple:

"Thank you."

SOURCE

Nice story, Excursion Bro* 😄

*We can't call them soldiers because this isn't a war, more like a rafting trip with cannabalism

Edited yesterday at 04:11 AM1 day by SiSePuede419
Cannabalism

4 minutes ago, Social Media said:

He survived the fall — but suffered a broken back, broken arm and shoulder, a sprained ankle and cuts to his head and face.

5 minutes ago, Social Media said:

After ejecting from the aircraft, Bravo managed to evade Iranian forces and began climbing a 7,000-foot ridge despite his injuries.

Come on !!! if you believe this you will believe anything its ludicrous.