Pentagon Details High-Risk Rescue of F-15E Crew Shot Down Over Iran
On April 7, 2026, U.S. officials briefed the media on the rescue of 'Dude 44,' the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over southwest Iran on April 3. The pilot was successfully recovered during a high-risk daytime operation that involved intense exchanges with Iranian ground forces. The extraction mission saw two HH-60W rescue helicopters and an A-10 Thunderbolt II hit by hostile fire, resulting in injuries to several crew members. The status of the second crew member remains unconfirmed.