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U.S. Air Force officer shot down in Iran says he prayed while "free-falling" to the ground behind enemy lines - CBS News
WorldBy Norah O'Donnell, Aliza Chasan, Keith Sharman9/13/20261 min read
Badly wounded and alone in Iran's desert, downed U.S. Air Force officer Dude 44 Bravo evaded capture for days as the Iranian forces and the U.S. military searched for him.
✨ Key Highlights
- U.S. Air Force Colonel "Bravo," the weapons-systems officer on an F-15E crew flying under call sign Dude 44, was shot down over a mountainous desert region of Iran in April after an Iranian shoulder-fired missile struck the aircraft.
- With his parachute damaged, Bravo free-fell an estimated 70-100 mph before hitting the ground, breaking his back, an arm and a shoulder, and became separated from his pilot, known as "Alpha."
- Recounting the ordeal publicly for the first time, Bravo described looking up to see no parachute as "the most terrifying thing I've ever seen," and said he paused to pray for help during the fall.
- Bravo hid and survived two days behind enemy lines before being rescued, describing his survival without catastrophic injuries as a "modern-day miracle" and a testament to what he called God's provision.
- Bravo's identity is being withheld and he is referred to only by his mission call sign due to ongoing security threats.
- According to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, the U.S. military has flown roughly 13,000 missions so far in the war with Iran, with Dude 44's flight taking place the night of April 2.
The Air Force colonel needed help when he crashed over a mountainous part of Iran's desert, separated from his crewmate, the pilot of the F-15E, after being shot down by Iran in April.
The U.S. avia