An extraordinary story of survival, faith and military teamwork is capturing national attention after an Air Force officer spoke publicly for the first time about surviving nearly 2 days behind enemy lines in Iran.
CBS News’ 60 Minutes, with correspondent Norah O’Donnell, reported the story of an Air Force colonel identified publicly by his mission call sign as Bravo because of continuing security concerns.
Bravo was the weapons systems officer in the back seat of a 2-seat F-15E fighter jet. His pilot was identified by the call sign Alpha.
During an April 2 mission near Isfahan, Iran, their aircraft was struck by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile. The crew attempted to save the aircraft before realizing they had no choice but to eject.
Bravo’s parachute was damaged.
CBS News reports that he fell toward the ground at an estimated 70 to 100 miles per hour.
Bravo told 60 Minutes that when he looked up and realized the danger he was in, he prayed and placed what happened next in God’s hands.
He survived the impact but suffered severe injuries, including a broken back, broken arm and broken shoulder.
He then found himself alone, injured and behind enemy lines.
Bravo landed approximately 5 miles from Alpha and began moving away from the area despite his injuries. As daylight revealed the rugged terrain around him, he determined that climbing higher offered his best chance of survival.
Despite his broken bones, Bravo climbed onto a 7,000-foot ridgeline.
Iranian forces were searching for the downed American crew.
According to CBS News, military sources said Iranian personnel came within a few hundred meters of Bravo as the search intensified.
Alpha was rescued approximately 6 hours after the aircraft went down, but the first rescue effort was unable to locate Bravo.
That meant another night alone.
Injured, with almost no food or water and exposed to the cold and wind of the high mountain desert, Bravo continued trying to survive.
At one point he was able to send a message home.
The message was just 3 words:
“God is good.”
Meanwhile, an enormous military effort was underway to bring him home.
CBS News reported that more than 90 U.S. service members were eventually on the ground, with several hundred people in the air and several thousand supporting the rescue operation.
When rescuers finally reached Bravo on the ridgeline, his response was short:
“Let’s go.”
Approximately 50 hours after being shot down, Bravo was safe.
His rescue came as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.
Bravo described his survival as a modern-day miracle and credited his faith with helping him through the ordeal.
But he told 60 Minutes that the story is about much more than one man.
Bravo said he wants Americans to remember the teamwork, training, faith and leadership behind the operation — and the commitment to bring an American service member home.
It is a remarkable story of an airman who prayed while falling from the sky, survived with broken bones behind enemy lines and waited nearly 50 hours for the people determined to bring him home.
Full credit for the original reporting and exclusive interview goes to CBS News’ 60 Minutes and Norah O’Donnell.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rescuing-bravo-air-force-officer-iran-60-minutes/
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