Defiant thumbs-up of US airman who cheated death: Hero shot down over Iran smiles in selfie after dramatic 50-hour rescue from enemy territory
A US Air Force colonel, known by the call sign “Dude 44 Bravo”, survived after his F-15E was shot down over Iran on 3 April. Injured during ejection, he evaded Iranian forces for almost 50 hours before a large-scale US rescue operation extracted him, making his survival significant both militarily and symbolically.
The airman suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder, plus a sprained ankle, after his parachute was damaged and he fell at high speed. He hid in a mountain crevice, used his emergency beacon sparingly and was eventually located by the CIA; more than 150 US aircraft, thousands of personnel and over 90 special operators were involved, while rescue aircraft initially became stuck in sand.
- Injured US airman survived nearly 50 hours behind enemy lines.
- He hid in Iran’s mountains while evading pursuing forces.
- A major US operation eventually rescued him.