Daring rescue of downed U.S. airman in Iran

The mission to extract the stranded Air Force officer from hostile terrain unfolded over nearly 36 hours and combined electronic warfare, deception tactics, and a massive air network

Apr 3: F-15E Strike Eagle shot down by surface-to-air missile over south-western Iran. Two airmen eject. Pilot recovered within hours, but Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) lands separately – injured and only armed with pistol, begins evasion into mountains

Apr 4: While U.S. intelligence tracks WSO, CIA runs deception campaign inside Iran, spreading word that airman has already been recovered. WSO climbs 2,000-metre ridgeline seeking signal. Transmits message: “God is good”. Sends four-digit distress code. Identity confirmed via authentication question

WSO survived behind enemy lines, hiding in mountain crevice, using Boeing’s Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) to transmit encrypted bursts with GPS coordinates

In total, mission involved 155 planes, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refuelling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft, as well as 26 intelligence and jamming aircraft

Apr 5: Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) operation launched. A-10 and B-1 aircraft conduct strikes to keep Iranian forces away from recovery area

Apr 5 (night): WSO instructed to descend from high ground. Special operations rescue force inserts via MH-6 Little Bird helicopters. WSO recovered and moved to landing site

Apr 6 (early hours): Extraction runs into trouble after two primary MC-130 aircraft become bogged down in soft soil. Replacement CN-235 aircraft arrive hours later and evacuate personnel. Disabled aircraft are destroyed on site to keep them out of enemy hands

Apr 6: WSO transported to Kuwait

F-15E Strike Eagle
MC-130J
Persian Gulf
IRAQ
KUWAIT
Isfahan
IRAN
F-15E shot down over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province
Aircraft wreckage

125 miles
200km

Sources: CENTCOM, Reuters, Bloomberg, BBC
Picture: Boeing
© GRAPHIC NEWS