He Survived Two Shootdowns in Enemy Territory: The Unbelievable Story of an American F-15 Pilot

The American pilot who was rescued from Iranian soil in a dramatic and highly complex rescue mission after his aircraft was shot down in early April had survived a strikingly similar incident just about a month earlier, in which he also found himself ejecting from a fighter jet downed during combat. That is according to a report published today (Wednesday) by CBS, citing two sources familiar with the details.

According to the report, the same pilot was among the crew members of one of three F-15 aircraft mistakenly shot down by the Kuwaiti Air Force on March 2, during the opening days of the war. The incident took place during one of Iran’s large-scale attacks on the Gulf state, which hosts American forces on its soil. All three aircraft were downed in the incident, but all six crew members aboard managed to eject in time and land safely.

But it now appears that was not the last ordeal the pilot faced in that campaign. According to the report, the same crew member was also the pilot flying the F-15 that was shot down on April 3 over Iran. According to various reports, the aircraft may have been hit by a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile.

The downing of the jet led to a complex and dangerous rescue operation deep inside Iranian territory. The pilot was seriously wounded when the aircraft was hit, but was rescued within just a few hours. According to the reports, fire was even opened on the helicopter sent in to pick him up.

The navigator who was with him managed to escape and hide in a mountainous area, where he remained for nearly two days while evading enemy forces. Only afterward was he located and rescued as part of a broader operation that included the establishment of a temporary forward base in the field. President Donald Trump described the mission as "one of the boldest operations in history."

After the rescue, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States military, spoke about the crew’s conduct: "It is impossible to overstate the courage shown by the pilot and the weapons systems officer while they were isolated and evading the enemy. Their determination and commitment to the fight are a direct result of the absolute trust they have in our rescue forces, in their training, and in their will to survive and return."

The fact that the same pilot survived two aircraft shootdowns in the span of only about a month has drawn major interest among American military officials. Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who was among the planners of the American air campaign against Iraq in the First Gulf War, told CBS that this was an extraordinary event on a historical scale.

In his words, this is likely the first time since the Vietnam War that a military pilot has survived two shootdowns during the same campaign: "It’s a very unusual coincidence. It’s like being struck by lightning twice."