US launches 155-plane operation to rescue F-15 crewman from Iran
After an F-15E was shot down, one airman was pulled out quickly while the other hid for nearly two days in hostile terrain. Washington deployed bombers, fighters, tankers and decoys to mask the true rescue site and draw Iranian forces away.
Apr 6, 2026, 3:37 PM EDT
Why it matters:
- A high-risk, multi-domain rescue inside Iran shows how the US can project power and protect personnel even in denied territory.
- The operation’s scale and deception tactics highlight the complexity of modern combat search and rescue.
Driving the news:
- After an F-15E Strike Eagle was downed by a shoulder-fired missile, President Donald Trump ordered the military to retrieve both crew members.
- The pilot was located and extracted quickly by an HH-60 Jolly Green II helicopter after a first wave of 21 aircraft flew low under fire.
- The weapon systems officer landed miles away, was injured, and hid in mountain terrain for nearly 48 hours before rescue.
State of play:
- The US dispatched 155 aircraft for the second rescue, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers and 13 rescue aircraft.
- A-10 Thunderbolt IIs engaged in close-in firefights to keep Iranian forces away; one A-10 was lost to enemy fire.
- Some aircraft were damaged by gunfire during the operation.
The big picture:
- The mission relied on a broad deception campaign to mask the officer’s true location and draw Iranian forces away from the actual rescue site.
- The US scattered activity across seven locations and kept planes circling dozens of miles down the coast to mislead Iran.
What they're saying:
- “We wanted them to think he was in a different location,” Trump said of the subterfuge.
- He added that Iran had thousands of people looking for the airman, promising a reward.
What to watch:
- Whether the US publicly details the officer’s signaling method and the full extent of the decoy operations.
- Any follow-on actions as Iran responds to the incursion and the loss of an A-10.
The bottom line:
- A massive, deceptive, multi-domain effort pulled a stranded airman out of Iran — and at a cost.