Months after the US Air Force rescued two of its pilots shot down in Iran, newly declassified videos have shown the risky operation.
The videos, first obtained by CBSE News’ ’60 minutes’, showed the search and rescue of the two officers – “Alpha” and “Bravo” – who ejected their jets after being shot down by Iranian forces.
In response to the incident, the US deployed over 90 US service members to Iran for the search and rescue of the two officers. Along with this, hundreds of personnel were involved in the air, and several thousand others provided support, CBS News added.
The rescue operation, which was carried out in broad daylight, shows rescue officers reaching officer “Bravo”, two days after the fighter jet was shot down.
Bravo, who is being referred to by his callsign for security purposes, had been badly wounded when he ejected as his parachute was damaged and he plummeted to the ground.
“At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen,” Bravo told ’60 Minutes’ in his first public account.
CBS News reported that the pilot, despite a broken back and other injuries, climbed a 7,000-foot ridgeline to await rescue.
The report added that Bravo was eventually able to communicate with US forces and indicate that he was injured but moving, after which the CIA used a combination of intelligence capabilities and a deception operation to help locate him.
In his first-ever interview, Bravo told 60 Minutes that seeing his rescuers “was one of the greatest moments of his life.”
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Pilot “Alpha”, who landed five miles away from Bravo, was also rescued in a similar manner, but eight hours after he ejected from the jet.
Speaking to CBS reporter Norah O’Donnell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said that going behind enemy lines in broad daylight at anytime is “risky.”
“But given the threat to 44 Alpha, the decision was taken to boldly go behind enemy lines in daylight to make sure that we could get to him before anybody else could,” Caine added further.
