US EditionRisky rescue of US crew downed in Iran relied on dozens of aircraft and subterfuge, Trump says
The CIA used deception and specialized technology to mislead Iranian forces as rescuers deployed 155 aircraft and recovered both crew members.
- On Monday, President Donald Trump detailed a risky rescue operation involving dozens of aircraft and secret CIA technology to recover a two-man F-15E Strike Eagle crew downed deep inside Iran.
- U.S. forces rescued the pilot within hours of the crash late Thursday, but locating the injured weapons systems officer, Dude-44 Bravo, proved far more complex, requiring nearly two days of searching.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency used "exquisite technologies that no other intelligence service" possesses to locate the aviator, while Trump described monitoring a camera feed for 45 minutes before confirming, "We have him."
- Protected by an "air armada" of drones and strike aircraft, rescuers moved in on Sunday to extract the officer using three "lighter, faster aircraft" after cargo planes proved too heavy to depart.
- Trump claimed the operation relied on extensive subterfuge to mislead Iranian forces, boasting that "hundreds" of personnel were involved, despite his aides' efforts to protect military and intelligence secrets.
67 Articles
67 Articles
US President Trump has announced details of the rescue of an American pilot in Iran.
The biggest question is what the F-15E fighter jet was doing in central Iran. The US says it was on a routine mission, but a former CIA officer claimed it was preparing for a ground attack.
The Rescue Of DUDE 44: Inside The Massive Operation To Save Two Downed Airmen In Iran - Armed Forces Press
An HH-60W Jolly Green II hoists a simulated survivor during an aerial demonstration for Saluting Our Aviation Roots, Feb. 25, 2026, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The demonstration highlighted combat search and rescue capabilities for students and families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Bre Lewis) The dramatic and sprawling two-day operation to save the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran on April 3 involved hundreds of personnel, …
Why the US military risks so much to save downed airmen stuck behind enemy lines
A special mission aviator looks out of an HH-60W Jolly Green II after a personnel recovery exercise.U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melany BermudezUS forces executed two high-risk missions into Iran to rescue a pair of downed airmen.Dozens of aircraft and elite troops were sent into hostile territory to bring them home.The US carries out these missions for multiple reasons.Over the past few days, US forces launched high-risk missions into …
On Voice News news, journalist and executive director Karina Yapor interviewed retired U.S. Navy Corvette Captain Jesús Romero about the latest developments in Iran's war, including President Donald Trump's threat to destroy the Persian country in just one day.Read more
7 Locations, 176 Aircraft, 45 Hours: US' "Air Armada" Rescue Ops In Iran
The American rescue fleet included bombers, fighters, refuelling tankers, helicopters, and unmanned systems. Among the few designated by the US were the A-10 Warthog, the H-60 Jolly Green II, and the HC-130 Combat King II.
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