{"id":2587465,"date":"2026-04-06T06:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T10:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-downed-officer-follow-up\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T06:59:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T10:59:46","slug":"iranian-downed-officer-follow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-downed-officer-follow-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian Downed Officer Follow-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">8<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firanian-downed-officer-follow-up%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587465&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An extensive, days-long rescue operation over Iran culminated in the recovery of a downed F-15E <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/review-top-gun-maverick\/\" title=\"REVIEW: \u2018Top Gun: Maverick\u2019\">weapons officer<\/a>, following the earlier rescue of the aircraft\u2019s pilot. The weapons officer, who landed far from the pilot after ejecting, survived by hiking to a 7,000-foot crevice and waiting for rescue. Roughly 100 U.S.and allied Special operations forces, including SEAL Team 6, Delta Force, and Army Rangers, conducted the mission with helicopters, drones, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stealth-fighters-performance-not-living-up-to-the-price-tag\/\" title=\"Stealth Fighter\u2019s Performance Not Living Up to the Price Tag\">air support<\/a>, while U.S. and Israeli strikes were used to deter Iranian patrols. The CIA attempted a deception to mislead Iran about a rescue convoy, and officials located the officer 14 hours after the crash via his beacon before evacuating him to a prepped airstrip and then to Kuwait. Two C-130s could not depart and were destroyed to prevent Iranian capture, and reports also noted the destruction of two MH-6 helicopters; the operation ended with no injuries. The rescue was described as daring and remarkable,with praise from U.S. officials and coverage by The New York Times and The washington Post.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>In the end, no one was left behind.<\/p>\n<p>But it was not easy, as the tale of Saturday&rsquo;s rescue of an F-15E weapons officer illustrated, according to a report in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/04\/05\/us\/iran-airman-fighter-jet-rescue-mission.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of people were involved in the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >days-long operation<\/a> that began Friday after the U.S. Air Force plane was hit by enemy fire over Iran. Amid heavy Iranian fire, the pilot was picked up about six hours after the crash.<\/p>\n<p>But the weapons officer was nowhere to be found, having landed far from the pilot after being ejected.<\/p>\n<p>It did not look good. Drones and surveillance planes found no trace of the weapons officer. But the officer was alive and battling to survive. He hiked up 7,000 feet and hid in a crevice awaiting the rescue he knew would come.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Over the past 48 hours, I had the privilege of witnessing two of the most daring, bold, and courageous rescue operations in American history.<br \/> Each phase was marked by profound moments of grace&mdash;small miracles made possible through unrelenting tenacity, extensive experience, and&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SeanParnellUSA\/status\/2040825277555658762?\">April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It was not until 14 hours after the crash that officials located him through the beacon he carried, but used sparingly to ensure Iranian forces did not find him. By the time Americans entered the scene, a force was amassing at the base of the elevation where he had taken shelter.<\/p>\n<p>The CIA tried to create a ruse, sending word into Iran that the downed airman was rescued and in a convoy heading out of Iran. Iran partially bought the ploy, but kept searching nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>As time passed, American and Israeli officials ensured the weapons officer was alone and not captured.<\/p>\n<p>As that took place, a massive operation unfolded with about 100 Special Operations forces, including SEAL Team 6, with Delta Force members and Army Rangers ready if needed. Helicopters, surveillance planes, fighters, and aerial tankers were assembled.<\/p>\n<p>Special Operations helicopters carried U.S. forces to the location where the weapons officer was waiting. To forestall an Iranian attack, American and Israeli warplanes bombed nearby mountains. Commandos fired into thin air to ward off any Iranian patrols who wanted to attack.<\/p>\n<p>No fight took place. Officials told The New York Times that the region where the weapons officer landed is broadly opposed to the regime.<\/p>\n<p>The rescued airman was ferried by helicopter to an airstrip Special Operations forces had previously prepared. But the plan developed a glitch.<\/p>\n<p>Two C-130 aircraft were unable to take off. The New York Times reported that their nose gear was stuck in the dirt of the airstrip.<\/p>\n<p>After hours of failed efforts to free the C-130s, three replacement aircraft were sent. The C-130s were destroyed to ensure Iran could not use them, and the weapons officer was flown to Kuwait.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZqujhrFC4d\">pic.twitter.com\/ZqujhrFC4d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RapidResponse47\/status\/2040643331491811687?\">April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2026\/04\/04\/us-pilot-rescue-iran-f15-crash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Post<\/a> reported that two MH-6 helicopters were also destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>The mission had been a gamble and experienced complications, but the officer was safe, and no one was injured in freeing him.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member\/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran. The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close. He is a highly respected Colonel,&rdquo; President Donald Trump posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116351956955900185\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to &lsquo;man and equipment.&rsquo; It just doesn&rsquo;t happen! The second raid came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran. An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump said further details would be released Monday.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New York Times described Saturday\u2019s rescue of an F-15E weapons officer as the culmination of a days-long, men-and-machinery effort that began Friday after a U.S. Air Force jet was shot down over Iran. While rescuers managed to pull the pilot out about six hours after the crash, the weapons officer, who had ejected at a different location, was initially missing. Early drone and surveillance sweeps found nothing, but the officer survived by climbing about 7,000 feet and sheltering in a crevice, expecting that rescue would come.<\/p>\n<p>Over roughly 48 hours, hundreds of special operators-with about 100 personnel from units such as SEAL Team 6, Delta Force, and Army Rangers-worked alongside helicopters, surveillance aircraft, fighters, and tanker aircraft to reach him. To prevent Iranian attacks, American and Israeli airstrikes targeted nearby mountains. The plan was to extract the officer by helicopter to a prepped airstrip, but two C-130s became stuck on the ground. After hours of failed attempts, three replacement planes were flown in, and the original C-130s were destroyed to deny Iran access to them; the weapons officer was then flown to Kuwait. Two MH-6 helicopters were also destroyed as part of the operation. Officials characterized the mission as a dangerous gamble that ultimately succeeded with no injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Public remarks on the operation followed, including praise from President Trump, who highlighted the rarity and bravery involved in such raids. The reporting relied on coverage from The New York Times and The Washington Post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2587466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-04-05T201944.247.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[77227,4819,3823,4505,4707],"class_list":["post-2587465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-follow-up","tag-incident","tag-iran","tag-military","tag-officer"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-04-05T201944.247.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587465"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587465\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587470,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587465\/revisions\/2587470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}