Newly declassified footage obtained by 60 Minutes reveals the dramatic rescue operations of two U.S. Air Force officers who were shot down in Iran. Identified by their mission call signs ‘Alpha’ and ‘Bravo’ for security reasons, the aviators ejected from their fighter jet and landed about five miles apart in a mountainous region south of Isfahan while Iranian forces actively hunted them. The daytime mission to rescue Alpha took place eight hours after his ejection, utilizing a striking deployment of 21 aircraft. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine noted that conducting operations behind enemy lines in daylight is inherently perilous, but the high threat level to Alpha necessitated immediate action to reach him first. A separate declassified infrared video captures the tense moments when weapon systems officer Bravo was rescued approximately two days later. Footage shows two elite U.S. Air Force pararescuers advancing toward Bravo to pull him safely aboard an American helicopter. Bravo suffered severe injuries during his ejection when his parachute was damaged, causing him to plummet to the ground with a broken back and other trauma. Despite his injuries, he managed to climb a 7,000-foot ridgeline to await extraction. In his first-ever interview, Bravo described seeing his rescuers as one of the greatest moments of his life.
Source: cbsnews.com
