Iran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 205
From: aus
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.
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.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 330
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From: Cluedo
Tongue in cheek of course
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Overseas
Joined: Jun 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 1,851
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From: florida
Salute!
Well, AR et al, one reason we who flew those missions, besides getting our friend back, was it was a "pure" fight. Us vs them, with no politics. Our ROE was also a pleasure - the ROE was simply "we could engage anything, anybody if in our opinion it interferred with getting our friend out."
Our std procedure was only the SAR folks and big cheese knew the status of the survivor, and sometimes the big guy didn't know untl we told him. The SAR folks knew if we had radio contact with the survivor. The press did not. I gotta tellya it would be almost impossible to rescue the survivor without a radiohe/she was. Only if he/she was well clear of enemy forces and in favorable terrain. Not to say that mirror flashes or crude signals don't help. But we all carried two voice radios and had an electronic beeper on the parachute riser. Extra batteries in g-suit. One USAF Chief of Staff can tell you all about that.
Gums sends...
Well, AR et al, one reason we who flew those missions, besides getting our friend back, was it was a "pure" fight. Us vs them, with no politics. Our ROE was also a pleasure - the ROE was simply "we could engage anything, anybody if in our opinion it interferred with getting our friend out."
Our std procedure was only the SAR folks and big cheese knew the status of the survivor, and sometimes the big guy didn't know untl we told him. The SAR folks knew if we had radio contact with the survivor. The press did not. I gotta tellya it would be almost impossible to rescue the survivor without a radiohe/she was. Only if he/she was well clear of enemy forces and in favorable terrain. Not to say that mirror flashes or crude signals don't help. But we all carried two voice radios and had an electronic beeper on the parachute riser. Extra batteries in g-suit. One USAF Chief of Staff can tell you all about that.
Gums sends...
Last edited by gums; 5th April 2026 at 00:48.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 330
Likes: 136
From: Cluedo
Salute!
Well, AR et al, one reason we who flew those missions, besides getting our friend back, was it was a "pure" fight. Us vs them, with no politics. Our ROE was also a pleaure - the ROE was simply "we could engage anything, anybody if in our opinion it interferred with getting our friend out."
Gums sends...
Well, AR et al, one reason we who flew those missions, besides getting our friend back, was it was a "pure" fight. Us vs them, with no politics. Our ROE was also a pleaure - the ROE was simply "we could engage anything, anybody if in our opinion it interferred with getting our friend out."
Gums sends...
I too share AR’s admiration for the US policy of leaving no man behind.
Hats off to you!
Done plenty of ops with your A10 and blackhawk colleagues. Not in a CSAR scenario, but for sure it would be comforting knowing they’re coming to get me should the worst happen.
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: florida
Salute!
Thanks, Prof. I volunteered for it when USAF turned over the A-1's to the south Vee and we A-7 folks took over Sandy and Hobo missions. I have a good tape of the Bobbin 05 rescue pickup, and maybe I can upload some of it on another thread.
Best words I ever heard was on Bobbin when pilot and backseater got on the Jolly. "BOTH SOULS ONBOARD!" was the call, and the King bird said," Rog, sh..t hot!". Then Sandy lead got hit and his radio faded while he headed for the sea, so #2 got the Jolly headed out toward Thailand. That one was tough, and my boss was Sandy 1 and got the Air Force Cross for his ten hour mission (single seat, single engine). See Colin Clarke:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/reci...ecipient-3522/
Gums sends...
Thanks, Prof. I volunteered for it when USAF turned over the A-1's to the south Vee and we A-7 folks took over Sandy and Hobo missions. I have a good tape of the Bobbin 05 rescue pickup, and maybe I can upload some of it on another thread.
Best words I ever heard was on Bobbin when pilot and backseater got on the Jolly. "BOTH SOULS ONBOARD!" was the call, and the King bird said," Rog, sh..t hot!". Then Sandy lead got hit and his radio faded while he headed for the sea, so #2 got the Jolly headed out toward Thailand. That one was tough, and my boss was Sandy 1 and got the Air Force Cross for his ten hour mission (single seat, single engine). See Colin Clarke:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/reci...ecipient-3522/
Gums sends...
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: troposphere
Missing airman recovered reports Al Jazeera
The US has “recovered” the second crew member from the downed F-15E jet in Iran following a “heavy firefight”, a US government official says.
We were told by the US government source that overnight in Iran, a missing crew member of the downed F-15E has been located, and there was a rescue effort, but there was a fierce firefight.
The latest information we have with them is that the crew member has not left Iranian territory, and because of the ongoing hostilities, there could be still danger to that person and to other people involved in that rescue effort.
So, this is an ongoing, active, rescue effort, but that airman is not basically out of Iranian territory, and I want to be clear when I say airman in the US military parlance, that doesn’t necessarily mean a male.
We don’t know the gender of this person.
The US rescue team still needs to successfully exfiltrate them out of the country and to safety, and we have no confirmation that that has happened.
The latest information we have with them is that the crew member has not left Iranian territory, and because of the ongoing hostilities, there could be still danger to that person and to other people involved in that rescue effort.
So, this is an ongoing, active, rescue effort, but that airman is not basically out of Iranian territory, and I want to be clear when I say airman in the US military parlance, that doesn’t necessarily mean a male.
We don’t know the gender of this person.
The US rescue team still needs to successfully exfiltrate them out of the country and to safety, and we have no confirmation that that has happened.
...
...
...
Last edited by TWT; 5th April 2026 at 04:04.
Thread Starter
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
If I read post 4825 right, they set up a FARP (Forward Arming And Refueling Point)* inside Iran to fly in SF and refuel their helicopters, one of the C-130s got a wheel dug in and, presumably due to time/risk, they blew it up and left it behind.
No doubt we will get the details, and the movie, after the war.
* Example:
No doubt we will get the details, and the movie, after the war.
* Example:
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
At least they did this one at night, the first one in daylight, the US didn’t have the advantage of their capabilities. Though they probably didn’t have time to use their advantages.
Good to hear though.
.
Good to hear though.
.
Last edited by NutLoose; 5th April 2026 at 06:05.
Joined: Nov 2025
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 102
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From: Brisbane
You forgot the book(s)... 
The Iran SWO SAR Rescue.
The Untold F15 SAR Rescue.
The Real SAR F15 Rescue.
The F15 Rescue by the people who knew.
F15 Rescue - by the Pilot himself.
The SF F15 rescue told by Delta.
Tongue in cheek, but glad to hear that the SWO got out ok.
If no SAR's were killed (or anyone besides, the baddies), that's pretty damn good!!
The Iran SWO SAR Rescue.
The Untold F15 SAR Rescue.
The Real SAR F15 Rescue.
The F15 Rescue by the people who knew.
F15 Rescue - by the Pilot himself.
The SF F15 rescue told by Delta.
Tongue in cheek, but glad to hear that the SWO got out ok.
If no SAR's were killed (or anyone besides, the baddies), that's pretty damn good!!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,687
Likes: 2,030
From: Reading, UK
It appears that a pair of Hercs had to be destroyed by US special forces during the operation.