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-   -   Iran (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/586655-iran.html)

ORAC 5th April 2026 07:43


​​​​​​​Remains of the USAF M/HC-130 Hercules transport aircraft destroyed by US forces before departing their forward base in Iran, used successfully to recover the downed F-15 aircrew.…
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a6d03c5e2.jpeg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4ac48ff43.jpeg


​​​​​​​Appears that at least one MH-6 Little Bird helicopter was destroyed as well.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....21f1c911b.jpeg
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ORAC 5th April 2026 07:45

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....149154d89.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ce5f149c1.jpeg
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ORAC 5th April 2026 07:53

Iranian attacks on oil facilities in other Gulf states have started.

Video

​​​​​​​Iranian forces struck Bahrain's BAPCO oil refinery this morning, setting the facility's tank farm ablaze.
I’ll take the “falling debris” with a large pinch of salt……


​​​​​​​Abu Dhabi authorities are responding to multiple fires in Borouge petrochemicals plant, caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defence systems.

Operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported.

An update will be provided once further information is available.


CharlieMike 5th April 2026 08:09


Originally Posted by ozbiggles (Post 12064588)
Just wondering if any one else here had some more TTPs to pass onto Iran about Combat SAR? You are doing such a good job.


Originally Posted by LateArmLive (Post 12064596)
100% this. Classic ex-mil retired experts trying to remain relevant by parading their knowledge.

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Which TTPs about CSAR have been posted here that aren’t open source could possibly have aided Iran? Which posts upset you as I scrolled back and can't see anything.

mmitch 5th April 2026 08:27

May be they used the Fulton recovery system? :uhoh:
​​​​​​​What ever it worked.
mmitch.

Wyntor 5th April 2026 09:15

Exceptional effort. Great job by all the operators involved.

I look forward to the film - Donny does CSAR.

Beyond the celebrations there will be a lot of questions to be answered.

The post mortem will be interesting. The root cause analysis of a shoot down that resulted in the loss of an E Model, 2 A-10s, 2 MC130Js, at least one Little Bird and one ISR UAV will be case study for the future.

As indeed, will the PM on Op Epic Goat but that's for later.

Thankfully, as far as we know, everyone will be there for the outbrief on this particular effort over the last couple of days.





BEagle 5th April 2026 09:29

Incredible effort and a successful outcome. Well done indeed to all those involved!

A truly Happy Easter!!

ORAC 5th April 2026 09:33


​​​​​​​Bomber Mission 54 - Quad Bomber Run #FreeIran!

--- Operation EPIC FURY ---

Yesterday, RAF Fairford (EGVA) launched a single flight of 4 B-1B "Lancer" bombers to Iran for
#OperationEpicFury, which returned to RAF Fairford within the last hour.

Amidst the chaos of the CSAR mission that was ongoing in Iran, I haven't identified the return-flight tankers so if any of my followers did pick them up, let me know!!

Mission LIV
B-1B "MORAN32" 86-0120
#AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete"
B-1B "MORAN33" 85-0060
#AE6BD1 "Doolittle Raiders"
B-1B "MORAN34" 86-0108
#AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"
B-1B "MORAN35" 86-0139
#AE6C0A "Drifter"
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....03bbffbe90.png
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ORAC 5th April 2026 09:36

................

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BREAKING: CENTCOM sources confirm that not just one, but two aircraft were destroyed inside Iran by U.S. forces, along with two helicopters of the U.S. Army’s 160th SOAR.

The two aircraft were one HC-130J and one MC-130J. The crews of these aircraft and two MH-6M helicopters, along with U.S. Army Special Forces (Delta Force), were evacuated by three other MC-130Js operating inside Iran.

All of these aircraft and helicopters were subsequently destroyed on the ground, as they were no longer airworthy after sustaining heavy damage from MANPADS engagements and intensive small-arms, heavy-weapons fire and mortar firing during the operation.


Bell_ringer 5th April 2026 09:37

Are there any accurate numbers to what this little exercise is costing the taxpayer?
It must be quite impressive by now.

ORAC 5th April 2026 09:39


NASA's FIRMS has detected multiple large fires at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, a staging post for US troops in the northwest part of the country.

Kuwait had come under heavy missile and drone attack overnight.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a8f38ed0b4.png
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ORAC 5th April 2026 09:44


​​​​​​​Tonight’s operation in Southern Iran which resulted in the successful rescue of a Weapons System Officer (WSO) onboard an American F-15E Strike Eagle downed Friday over Iran, involved hundreds of special forces troops and other military personnel, including members of the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six, dozens of fighter and strike aircraft, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities, officials tell The New York Times.

Senior military officials described the mission to rescue the airman as “one of the most challenging and complex in the history of U.S. Special Operations” given the mountainous terrain, the airman’s injuries and Iranian forces rushing to the location in the mountains of Southern Iran.

The WSO evaded Iranian forces for more than 24 hours, at one point hiking up a 7,000ft ridgeline, a senior U.S. military official said. U.S. attack aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys to keep them away from the area where the airman was hiding.

As U.S. Special Forces converged on the downed airman, they fired their weapons to keep Iranian forces away from the rescue site, but did not engage in a firefight with the Iranians.

In a final twist after the officer was rescued, two transport planes that would carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran. Commanders decided to fly in three new planes to extract all the U.S. military personnel and the airman, and they blew up the two disabled planes rather than have them fall into the hands of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c1fe9560d5.png
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EDLB 5th April 2026 09:47


Originally Posted by Bell_ringer (Post 12064789)
Are there any accurate numbers to what this little exercise is costing the taxpayer?
It must be quite impressive by now.

With 20 million barrels/day gas consumption = 20*42 = 840 million gallons per day alone the price increase at the pump adds up to 1 billion/day.

https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10324



ORAC 5th April 2026 09:58


Location of the USAF forward base set up deep within Iran for the F-15 crew rescue mission.

The base was set up just outside of Isfahan, a critical Iranian strategic hub with missile and army bases, nuclear facilities, and the airbase home to Iran’s F-14 fleet.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a9ddd105e0.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b551983f33.png
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​​​​​​​Estimated location of 2 hc/mc130 and 2 little birds south of Isfahan. est C: 32.258394, 51.901927S

:
https://t.me/mehrnews/368255 h/t @acceladealer for the stitching and help with the geo
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4f0e47fa3a.png
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Tashengurt 5th April 2026 10:01

Sky news describing the Herc wreckage as a crash site.

keri 5th April 2026 10:05


Originally Posted by ORAC (Post 12064787)
................

I wonder whether they considered V22s. I suppose they might be more vulnerable to small arms fire etc...

ORAC 5th April 2026 10:19

Video

​​​​​​​Spotted flying at low level over western Iran this morning; a C-295W from the USAF’s 427th Special Operations Squadron, a clandestine unit that reportedly specializes in infiltration and exfiltration into enemy territory.

NutLoose 5th April 2026 10:23


Originally Posted by Bell_ringer (Post 12064789)
Are there any accurate numbers to what this little exercise is costing the taxpayer?
It must be quite impressive by now.

Last quote I saw was north of 60 billion and that will not include replacing munitions I would doubt, with requests for nearly 200 billion more

BBadanov 5th April 2026 10:27

Was watching the Sky UK News coverage (cripes those reporters are left wingers) and they had their "Defence expert" on - AVM (Ret'd) Sean Bell, an ex-Jumpjet boner mate apparently. He went into detail of video of the LZ wreckage of a Herc of how it was clearly a Yank one with 6 prop blades, as "ours" (i.e. RAF) have 4 blades. As it's Easter I guess I can say Christ!! Where do they find these "experts".

BANANASBANANAS 5th April 2026 10:41


Originally Posted by BBadanov (Post 12064827)
Was watching the Sky UK News coverage (cripes those reporters are left wingers) and they had their "Defence expert" on - AVM (Ret'd) Sean Bell, an ex-Jumpjet boner mate apparently. He went into detail of video of the LZ wreckage of a Herc of how it was clearly a Yank one with 6 prop blades, as "ours" (i.e. RAF) have 4 blades. As it's Easter I guess I can say Christ!! Where do they find these "experts".

Try watching GB News Channel for a bit of balance.


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