Iran
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From: Glorious Devon
True, but is it a realistic proposition, or a fig leaf (like hiding behind a taken down door under your stairs during a nuclear war) to give the illusion that there is some provision, and we won't simply abandon our shot down aircrew.
A Puma/Merlin/Chinook with a couple of accompanying troops who practice CSAR once or twice a year as a tertiary role is not the same as a dedicated, practised and fully supported CSAR unit.
A Puma/Merlin/Chinook with a couple of accompanying troops who practice CSAR once or twice a year as a tertiary role is not the same as a dedicated, practised and fully supported CSAR unit.
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From: Toronto
Yep, you can land on sand. Takeoff is a different story. When it takes near full power to taxi, the initial acceleration (if any) will be slow. I was grateful for the gap in the short trees at the other end. That was 4-up in a 172.
It could have been a very different story if the backup 130s got stuck.
Edit: Good thing they had the 295s
It could have been a very different story if the backup 130s got stuck.
Edit: Good thing they had the 295s
Last edited by RatherBeFlying; 5th April 2026 at 18:11.
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From: Charlie Mike
I’ll be honest, from all my previous SERE training and short stint in a CAOC, most of the SERE stuff seemed geared towards joint operations and highly likely to be US capability being the CSAR lead.
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From: surfing, watching for sharks
Thread Starter
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
So it looks like the additional aircraft flown in weren't more C-130s. Logical if both the previous C-130s got bogged down. C-295W not Dash-8 though.
Ties in with post 4847: Iran
Ties in with post 4847: Iran
Details about the rescue op for the U.S. Weapon Systems Officer, via a U.S. military official:
"The mountain top area on the left is where the WSO was hiding (he ejected 5ish miles northwest of there). The right area is the makeshift landing strip where they landed 2 C-130s and had 4 MH-6 Little Birds.
"One Little Bird flew to that mountain top area and rescued the WSO and brought him back to the landing strip. And of course the two C-130s' nose gears got stuck in the dirt. So after a few hours they had to bring in three AFSOC Dash-8s to fly out the rescued WSO and the 100 or so personnel involved in the op."
"The op basically cost $300 million because they had to abandon the two AFSOC C-130s and the four MH-6 Little Birds. Then the U.S. Air Force had to use multiple bombs to blow up all the aircraft they abandoned at that airstrip. And the Iranians shot down 2 MQ-9s Reaper drones.
"Luckily the U.S. suffered no casualties and we had to use multiple bombs and missiles to blow up IRGC vehicles that tried to drive up the mountain and also those that tried to drive to the airstrip."
"The mountain top area on the left is where the WSO was hiding (he ejected 5ish miles northwest of there). The right area is the makeshift landing strip where they landed 2 C-130s and had 4 MH-6 Little Birds.
"One Little Bird flew to that mountain top area and rescued the WSO and brought him back to the landing strip. And of course the two C-130s' nose gears got stuck in the dirt. So after a few hours they had to bring in three AFSOC Dash-8s to fly out the rescued WSO and the 100 or so personnel involved in the op."
"The op basically cost $300 million because they had to abandon the two AFSOC C-130s and the four MH-6 Little Birds. Then the U.S. Air Force had to use multiple bombs to blow up all the aircraft they abandoned at that airstrip. And the Iranians shot down 2 MQ-9s Reaper drones.
"Luckily the U.S. suffered no casualties and we had to use multiple bombs and missiles to blow up IRGC vehicles that tried to drive up the mountain and also those that tried to drive to the airstrip."
Last edited by ORAC; 5th April 2026 at 16:17.
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From: surfing, watching for sharks
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From: UK/Philippines/Italy
In the 24 hrs to 5 April around 15 to 18 ships have passed through the SofH. This marks the highest traffic since early March.
Of note is that a number of these vessels have been carrying Iranian oil meaning that Iran is now exporting more oil in money terms than before the conflict began.
Of note is that a number of these vessels have been carrying Iranian oil meaning that Iran is now exporting more oil in money terms than before the conflict began.
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From: The Roman Empire
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From: 3rd Rock, #29B
langleybaston
A bit late but I have just read the marvellous news of the successful rescue.
This is an amazing feat of arms. Surely no other nation in the world could have achieved it?
My congratulations USA.
Well said
Sandy Operations of old, good job they still have the A10 the modern verson of the A-1H Skyraider.
If those boys had been RAF or other Nato crew, could they have been rescued????
***
A bit late but I have just read the marvellous news of the successful rescue.
This is an amazing feat of arms. Surely no other nation in the world could have achieved it?
My congratulations USA.
Well said
Sandy Operations of old, good job they still have the A10 the modern verson of the A-1H Skyraider.
If those boys had been RAF or other Nato crew, could they have been rescued????
***
The RAF, nor NATO would have the spare tin to throw at this activity:
- 1 x F15E
- 1 x F16
- 1 x A10C
- 2 x MH60
- 1 x MH6
- 2 x MC130J
to recover a single service member who would otherwise need to tolerate board and lodging provided by Iran. Iran is not the Taliban, each captured crew member adds to the bargaining power of Iran, but each one harmed while in captivity is adverse to the case Iran appears to be making. The case being made? Iran is not Israel. This case is being made by Israel, much to my frustration.
ROM, about 80+ troops were put in harms way, and fortunately no further lives were lost. Congress could reduce the risk of losses from the "no man left behind" policy by doing their job on kerning the actions of the wrecking ball that is the driver of this glorious excursion.
Last edited by fdr; 5th April 2026 at 18:08.
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From: Brantisvogan
No chance - Tomcat down. Like the predecessor it will get an academy award for best sound editing.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: UK
No chance - Tomcat down. Like the predecessor it will get an academy award for best sound editing.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
This is part of what being in the military gang is about. Certainly an expensive rescue but this crew's families will be forever grateful.
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From: Over the rainbow
All that was lost was kit. The military is structured in such a way that every part can be destroyed and replaced. So all that happened was the rescue team collapsed back to the rally point blowing up anything damaged as they went.
Think of it as returning the kit back to the tax payer.
Besides it's all small beer compared to the economic disaster that's about to befall us.
Think of it as returning the kit back to the tax payer.
Besides it's all small beer compared to the economic disaster that's about to befall us.
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From: Cluedo
Very well done
Seriously good job on the Rescue!
Doubt many other (if any) Military would have been able to pull this off on their own.
I imagine the IRGC will have been all over the place-desperate to get their hands on any US Service personnel.
And yeah-would probably make a good film too!
Doubt many other (if any) Military would have been able to pull this off on their own.
I imagine the IRGC will have been all over the place-desperate to get their hands on any US Service personnel.
And yeah-would probably make a good film too!
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Washington.
No chance - Tomcat down. Like the predecessor it will get an academy award for best sound editing.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
In all seriousness though, a lot was asked from these men and women and they delivered under difficult circumstances.
It probably deserves a film and a few documentaries.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for the debrief.
From the number of aircraft lost, whether shot down or scuttled, clearly there were some unexpected challenges.
We may never know how close this came to being a failure, and thank goodness it wasn't.
Joined: Jun 2016
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,318
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From: Brantisvogan
Good perspectives. Thank you.
Ships have been scuttled since the dawn of time, and when you’re burning up to $2B per day, ageing aircraft are small change when faced with the consequences of losing an airman to the enemy.
Ships have been scuttled since the dawn of time, and when you’re burning up to $2B per day, ageing aircraft are small change when faced with the consequences of losing an airman to the enemy.
