A U.S. Air Force weapon systems officer, identified by the call sign Dude 44 Bravo, provided his first public account of being shot down and rescued in Iran. The interview, conducted by Norah O'Donnell for the 59th season premiere of 60 Minutes, details how the officer spent two days behind enemy lines following the downing of his aircraft in April.
The incident involved a two-man crew whose plane was shot down over Iranian territory. While the pilot was rescued within hours, Bravo remained on the ground for two days. The U.S. military described the subsequent effort to recover him as one of the largest and most complex rescue operations in U.S. military history.
During the interview, the colonel described a "harrowing" ejection process that resulted in injuries, noting he hit the ground at a speed between 70 and 100 miles per hour. He remained alone in the mountains of Iran, evading Iranian forces as they closed in on his position. The rescue operation was completed on April 5, which was Easter Sunday.
In addition to the officer's testimony, the report includes interviews with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command and operational commander of the war with Iran.
For military personnel and their families, the account provides a public record of the protocols and risks associated with combat operations over Iran. The officer’s description of surviving a high-speed ejection and evading capture for two days highlights the physical and survival training required for weapon systems officers. The successful recovery on April 5 serves as a documented instance of U.S. recovery capabilities.
The reporting of this rescue occurs amid an ongoing war with Iran, as identified by Admiral Brad Cooper. The details of the mission, such as the 50-hour duration and the injuries sustained by the officer, establish a precedent for how the U.S. military manages downed aircrews in contested environments. The full interview and further details on the "pardon economy" investigation and the Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to air on Sunday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+.