Originally Posted by
Bfah
Just a question about the missing F15 crew member (apologies if spoken about before...).
I assume that they have beacons for SAR, so maybe the beacon is faulty?
Do they have food/water pouchs etc?
Do they carry gold coins etc, (like the SAS (Andy McNab in Bravo Two Zero mentions handing over)).?
If both ejected 'around' the same time, I wonder what the proximity would be and surely the other pilot would have had eyes on him?
If the seat failed to eject, then the body would have been in the cockpit and all over the Iranian news.
Maybe the rescued pilot saw the eject but no chutes (seat to still be found)...?
Obvioulsy, they have evasion training, but water and shelter (food in at least a week), is going to be prime, but if no comms, it's going to be tough...
Hopefully a good outcome will ensue,,,
Others have commented. My view is that he is still alive but evading. Perhaps hiding in place. I would believe the CSAR people know where he is but given the reception they got rescuing the pilot. One A10 shot down and the helicopters taking ground fire. There might be a rethink. This is a classic Vietnam scenario. Heavy opposition.
If they have contact with the WSO, I think a night operation is probably in place, perhaps tonight. This would blind the Iranian irregulars searching for him. It's an isolated area.
Another possibility is that he fell into the hands of a sympathetic rebel group.
He may turn up later.
Of course as I write this he may be rescued.
If he was killed, no doubt the body would already be found.
I think it's ongoing.